BOOK ‘EM: The much anticipated “Down Thunder...

BOOK ‘EM: The much anticipated “Down Thunder Road: The Making of Bruce Springsteen” is set for a July 23 publication, adding a probing look at the Boss’ back pages to the recent overload of examinations of his recent history that has accompanied his two new albums and his first concert tour in four years.

The book, written by Marc Elliot “with the participation of” Springsteen’s former manager, Mike Appel, uses depositions from ‘70s lawsuits over the control of the singer’s career as the centerpiece of an in-depth look at the machinery behind one of rock’s most prized stars.

But some of the best insights--and most fun tidbits--are in an appendix containing copies of numerous documents, including contracts and deal memos between Springsteen and Appel and Columbia Records. Among the choicer items:

* A 1972 rejection letter from A&M; Records, received after Springsteen had already been signed by Columbia.

* A 1974 letter to Appel from Holiday Inns regarding a past due bill for $307.88 from a Springsteen stay in Springfield, Mass. (He already had two albums out, but neither had been a hit.)

* Two 1976 letters from Appel rejecting offers of $500,000 apiece for Springsteen to perform at Philadelphia’s J.F.K. Stadium and to star in a one-hour prime-time television special.

“As you know, the artist didn’t want to play such a large venue,” the first says.

“Unfortunately, at this particular time the artist sees no reason to do telivision (sic),” reads the second.