The album will feature Springsteen’s interpretations of 13 traditional folk songs that have been associated for decades with folk legend Pete Seeger, who turns 87 on May 3.

The tracks include “Jessie James,” “John Henry,” “Jacob’s Ladder,” “Shenandoah” and the civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome.”

Springsteen is planning a short tour in the U.S. and Europe to accompany the release of the album. He will be appearing with most of the musicians – some familiar faces and noted session players – who appeared on the CD.

Those folks include the Miami Horns’ Mark Pender, Ed Manion and Richie “La Bamba” Rosenberg; plus Patti Scialfa and a couple of her bandmates from way back – Lisa Lowell and Soozie Tyrell, who was also an E Streeter on the last tour.

The Boss said it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he chose folk music for his first album of cover songs. Much of his own writing, he said, “comes straight out of the folk tradition.”

“Making this album was creatively liberating because I have a love of all those different roots sounds,” Springsteen said. “They can conjure up a world with just a few notes and a few words.”