I wanted to elect one of the Southside Johnny albums for the Forgotten Album Friday slot but simply could not choose between the first three albums which are all classics - albeit for different reasons.
Southside is of course associated to a great extent with Springsteen and the Boss has appeared on stage with him and on his records frequently over the years.
The first album "I Don't Want To Go Home" is a tour de force of Southside Johnny and The Jukes style of upbeat tracks with a horn driven RnB sound. Rolling Stone called this album the best album no one has ever heard. Produced by Steve Van Zandt the album features some cracking cover versions plus some Springsteen and van Zandt originals. You Mean So Much to Me has a cracking duet with Ronnie Spector.
Key tracks :
The Fever
I Don't want To Go Home
You Mean So Much To Me
The second album " This Time It's For Real" features in the main van Zandt compositions and 3 Springsteen / van Zandt compositions which in fairness are little more than Springsteen leftovers tidied up by van Zandt. Nonetheless that band and particularly the horns are in superb form throughout this album and guests spots from the Drifters and The Coasters lend some vocal class to proceedings.
Key tracks:
This Time It's For Real
Love On The Wrong Side Of Town
When You dance
In the words of Michael Jackson(!!!) as far as Hearts of Stone goes - This Is it!! A stunning album with writing producing and playing which is just about on par with anything the Boss himself has produced. The title track is performed with incredible passion both by Southside and the band. The album was released only a couple of months after Darkness and they are very similar album using the "4 corners" approach that Springsteen used when sequencing both Darkness and Born To Run. van Zandt brings his best songs to this album and there is literally not a weak track on it.
Key Tacks:
Hearts of Stone
Trapped again
The Light Don't Shine
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