The record began in 1997, when Springsteen recorded "We Shall Overcome" for the Where Have All the Flowers Gone: the Songs of Pete Seeger tribute album, released the following year.
Optakten til albummet var i 1997, hvor Springsteen indspillede "We Shall Overcome" til Where Have All the Flowers Gone: The Songs of Pete Seeger, et hyldestalbum, udgivet det efterfølgende år.