Southside Johnny & The Ashbury Jukes played a concert in Madison, Wisconsin in the mid-1970s and I’ve been a fan every since. Later, I figured out why I liked Southside Johnny’s music so much: Stevie Van Zandt and Bruce Springsteen wrote most of songs! I like the heavy use of brass in these songs. It’s sound that didn’t survive into the 1980s when music went more towards synthesizers. Hearts of Stone is Southside Johnny’s third album. The sound is great on this remastered release. If you’re a Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band fan, you’ll love this music. I’m including my favorite Southside Johnny song (written with Bruce Springsteen), “Trapped Again,” below.
TRACK LIST
1 Got to Be a Better Way Home 3:23
2 This Time Baby’s Gone for Good 3:28
3 I Played the Fool 3:29
4 Hearts of Stone 4:30
5 Take It Inside 3:23
6 Talk to Me 4:01
7 Next to You 3:39
8 Trapped Again 4:21
9 Light Don’t Shine 4:35
No wonder I always thought of this guy as a blatant Springsteen knock-off! I guess I’ll have to listen to him a bit closer now that I know of the connection between them.
The Springsteen and Van Zandt songs fill Southside Johnny’s first three albums, Deb. I DON’T WANT TO GO HOME, THIS TIME IT’S FOR REAL, and HEARTS OF STONE have plenty of great music on them.
We’ve seen them a couple of times over the years – in 1988 opening for Roy Orbison and last year opening for George Thorogood & the Destroyers – a perfect match. I believe that Little Steven played with Southside Johnny before Springsteen started his band.
That’s true, Jeff. Van Zandt was actually working for SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY and THE E-STREET BAND at the same time.