In 1982, the sound of the ’80s was in full swing. The year produced timeless albums such as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” Duran Duran’s “Rio,” Prince’s “1999,” and John Mellencamp’s “American Fool,” among others. One LP took a completely different approach, cutting through the sound of synthesizers and drum machines by getting down to basics. 

Bruce Springsteen recorded his artistically daring sixth album, “Nebraska,” unaccompanied on a four-track recorder in his New Jersey bedroom. Although he had planned to re-record the music with the E Street Band, he decided to stick with the unpolished demos to retain the music’s raw emotion. 

Now, 43 years later, we’re hearing even more of the project. 

“The Boss” has released “Nebraska ’82,” a new collection of tracks that compiles the original songs with previously unheard outtakes, live performances, and full-band versions. The five-disc box set also has a newly shot performance film of “Nebraska” in its entirety.

“Together, they represent a wholly unprecedented look into the sonic world of this improbable lo-fi masterpiece turned enduring Springsteen classic,” Springsteen’s website explains.

The singer/songwriter never toured behind “Nebraska,” so performing the album material for the first time in four decades put it in perspective for him. 

“I think in playing these songs again to be filmed, their weight impressed upon me,” said Springsteen. “I’ve written a lot of other narrative records, but there’s just something about that batch of songs on ‘Nebraska’ that holds some sort of magic.”

One of the most enduring songs from “Nebraska” is the second track, “Atlantic City,” which has been covered by many artists from The Band to Jason Isbell to Mumford & Sons. Many of the renditions are performed by full bands, but the original proves that the composition itself carries all the power.

“Musically, it’s the catchiest number on the album, and one of the most recognizable — the same three-note melody repeats throughout, changing only slightly in the choruses and bridge,” American Songwriter explains. “It shares its sepulchral, lo-fi tone with the rest of the songs in ‘Nebraska,’ however, it’s the only one featuring BGVs: Springsteen harmonizes his choruses and provides atmosphere in his verses with melodic rock yells underneath them. Despite that being its only real technical distinction, the song can still be set aside from the rest as the one with the furthest sonic reach.”

“Atlantic City” is in the key of A and has a two-bar chord progression of F#min-A-D-A that repeats for the verse and chorus. It only breaks for the bridge.

Here’s a fantastic solo version of “Atlantic City” by Springsteen at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on October 18th, 2025. He dedicates the song to actor Jeremy Allen White, the star of a new biopic titled “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.” 

“Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition” is available on CD and vinyl on Amazon, as well as streaming services worldwide. “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” is in theaters now.

Follow along with the sheet music for “Atlantic City” by Bruce Springsteen.