Yesterday, a Wal-Mart exclusive Bruce Springsteen greatest hits compilation hit shelves to little fanfare. The release didn't have the promotion that other Wal-Mart exclusives get (or hell, that Chinese Democracy got), and that has led to speculation that the Boss, who claims to be pro-union, didn't want to promote the album for fear of backlash. And as added fuel to the fire, the Boss and his camp refuse to talk about the release.

A story ran yesterday in the Boston Herald asking what the deal was, and the reporter was rebuffed by everyone from the Boss himself to his manager in request of an interview to talk about the greatest hits comp.

What's even stranger is that Springsteen is about to start promotion on his new album, Working On A Dream, and couldn't be bothered about the greatest hits album.

No one really knows what the real story is here-- did Springsteen okay the album on the grounds he wouldn't promote it, or did his camp okay the album without his knowledge and he doesn't care-- and it's seeming likely that no one from Springsteen's circle will explain what's what. [Boston Herald]