New Springsteen Album on its way?

[Uncle Kram]

Meanwhile, sources familiar with the Springsteen project say that he has nearly completed his covers album, which has the working title The Seeger Sessions and will include both Seeger-penned tunes and American standards the folk patriarch helped popularize. Seeger, 86, is the author of folk classics such as "If I Had a Hammer" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"

One source says that this project began in 1998, when Springsteen recorded the protest anthem "We Shall Overcome" for the Seeger tribute album Where Have All the Flowers Gone? There have been two recording sessions since, and Springsteen is likely to hit the studio once more.

On the new disc, Springsteen is backed by a small group featuring his wife, Patti Scialfa, E Street Band violinist Soozie Tyrell and other New Jersey musicians playing largely traditional folk instruments like mandolin and banjo. "The Tom Joad tour [from 1995 to 1997] helped me realize I like to play a lot of different ways," Springsteen told Rolling Stone last year. "I love playing with the E Street Band, I love playing by myself, and at some point I'll probably stumble onto something that might work for a small band." The album is due out in May, and Springsteen is planning to tour this spring, backed by the musicians who recorded the disc."