Better Days
IMPACT 1991
- Coming Back
- All I Needed Was You
- It’s Been a Long Time
- Soul’s on Fire
- Better Days
- I’ve Been Working Too Hard
- Ride The Night Away
- The Right To Walk Away
- All Night Long
- All The Way Home
- Shake ‘em Down
CAN YOU HAVE TWO BOSSES?
By wolfman309 | Mar 27 ’01
Pros: Classic Jersey shore rock and roll.
Cons: Still trying to think of one
The Bottom Line: Great rock and roll from start to finish.
Recommended: Yes
One of the best kept secrets in rock and roll, Southside Johnny proves with this album that he is one of the best rockers to come out of the Jersey scene.
The main problem is that he is destined to forever be in the shadow of that other guy from Jersey, the one they call “The Boss.” Their styles are very similar. So close, I wonder why all of these Springsteen groupies haven’t discovered Johnny yet!
This album, “Better Days”, is one of the finest put out by Johnny. A true masterpiece of rock and roll, this one has that special ability to touch you deep. From the wailing of the guitars, to the soulful vocals of Johnny, this album is rich in the qualities that define the Jersey sound!!
I will try and keep down the Springsteen comparisons in this review. Sufficient to say, this could have easily been a Bruce album. If it was, it would have sold a zillion copies, it is that good!!
From the very first, you will understand just how good this album is. “Coming Back” is the type of song that hits you hard. A terrific tune that combines the real life lyrics with a fantastic brassy rock sound that uses the guitar of Little Stevie Van Zant and the rhythm section of Max Weinberg and Gary Tallent to the utmost. A signature of Johnny is the horn section. This is the added ingredient that makes this a special blend. A piece that would qualify as a foot stompin’ good time rock and roll anthem!
“All I Needed Was You” brings back all those memories of the teenage lament tunes that were popular in the early 60′s. A great do-wop feel to this one, it will remind you of Bruce’s own “Hungry Hearts.” A great tune in every aspect. I just love the old time horn section. It gives this song that terrific soulful quality!
Well if you are going to sound like someone, it might just be easier to have them help you sing. That is what John does here. “It’s Been A Long Time” is a special treat. The vocals on this great tune are divided between Johnny, Little Stevie and this guy by the name of Bruce!! Each taking a turn at the lead vocals on this ode to old friends. This is one of those really great moments in music. Terrific stuff that is a highlight all by itself!!
The next song, “Soul On Fire” is one of the best songs that I have heard in many moons. It starts out with this very eerie instrumental intro that breaks into a wailing guitar that blast you from the ears, down to the toes!! It then backs off as Johnny starts out this deeply touching, powerful ballad. A rich piano backing by Rusty Cloud helps give this one a very full and soulful feeling. But also the horn section and the magnificent guitar work of Little Stevie enrich this song. This one reminds me of Bruce Hornsby’s work on the Eddie and Cruisers soundtrack. A great piece once more.
The title track “Better Days” is a rollicking number that will keep you from sitting still. This one is amazing in all aspects. It will remind you of the old J. Geils band. It has that unique sound the horn section provides. Then you have Little Stevie showing just how good of a guitarist he is. Add to that musical combination, the vocals that Johnny provides, you have another winner. This is good time rock and roll at it’s best!!
“I’ve Been Working Too Hard” will bring back the spectre of Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, etc.. High energy type piano based old time music. Backed by the horns once again this one just smokes!! Not to mention that Johnny has a special guest helping on the lead vocals. This time it is the other Jersey guy, the one everyone forgets is from there, Jon Bon Jovi. Believe me when I tell you, you will need a rest after this one!!
A song about a troubled guy, “Ride The Night Away” is good, that it gives this poor guy something to keep going for! A fantastic melody with a really catchy chorus that you will be singing under your breath for quite some time!
Johnny slows it down with the next number. A bluesy lament to love, “The Right To Walk Away” is one of those old tear jerker ballads about a guy who will do anything for the girl he loves. Johnny puts so much soul into this song it is hard to not think he is singing from personal experience!
Well he won’t keep you down for long. After that brief ballad, he fires off one more time with a dynamite rocker titled “All Night Long!” A really dynamic tune that has one of the wildest guitar solos on the whole album! The musical backing on this one is just super. All the way from the acoustic guitar and harmonica to the wailing of the electric six string and the powerful horns! This one overwhelms with it’s sound. Another of the highlights of the disc.
Bruce Springsteen penned the next number for Johnny. “All The Way Home” is a great little ballad that reminds me of Bruce’s other tune, “My Hometown.” With the E Street Band rhythm section, a terrific piano accompaniment and the backing vocals of Mr. Springsteen himself, this one is as close to another Bruce song as you will get. The thing that makes it work though is the smoother sound of Johnny’s vocals. A great number once again.
The album ends with the one song that takes a 90 degree turn from the rest of the album. “Shake ‘Em Down” can best be described as a bit of rockabilly. The first time I heard it, I thought of the Stray Cats and their song Rock This Town. A great mixture of big band and rock and roll! Now that I think about it, not a bad way to finish off the disc. Start with great rock and roll….and end the same way!!!
If you want to find a gem of an album that will really amaze you, take a look in the bargin bins for this one. Yes, I said the bargain bins. That is where I found it. The music on here is fantastic. I still say, if this album would have been put out by Bruce, it would have set sales records!!! It is that good!
Great Music to Play While: Exercising
REVIEW BY: WOLFMAN309
IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME – Live at the Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ (September 26. 1991)
COMING BACK – CBS Late Show with David Letterman (1991)
PRODUCTION
Produced and arranged by Little Steven
Additional Arrangements by Southside Johnny
Associate Producer: Dave Mc Nair
Recorded and mixed by: Dave Mc Nair at Sigma Sound Studios, New York, NY
Assisted by Mike Salcione
Production Coordinators: Zoe Yanakis and Jill Lyon
Equipment: Benjamin Newberry
MUSICIANS:
Vocals and Harmonica: Southside Johnny
Drums: Max Weinberg
Bass: Garry Tallent
Piano and B-3 Organ: Rusty Cloud
GUITARS:
Little Steven: Lead Guitar on “Coming Back”, “It’s Been a Long Time”, “All I Needed Was You”, “Better Days”, “Soul’s On Fire”
Bobby Bandiera: Lead Guitar on “Ride The Night Away”, “I’ve Been Working Too Hard”, “All night long”, “Shake ‘em Down”, “The Right To Walk Away”, “All The Way Home”
THE MIAMI HORNS:
Trumpets: Mark Pender and Rick Gazda
Trombone: La Bamba
Baritone Saxophone: Eddie Manion
JUKE HORNS:
Tenor Saxophone: Joey Stann,
Trumpet: Barry Danielian,
Trombone: Dan Levine,
Tenor Saxophone: Jimmy Vivino Jr.,
Baritone Saxophone: Frank Elmo
Horns arranged by Little Steven, Charts by La Bamba
SECOND LEAD VOCALS:
Jon Bon Jovi (“I’ve Been Working Too Hard”)
Little Steven (“It’s Been a Long Time”),
Bruce Springsteen (“It’s Been a Long Time”)
BACKGROUND VOCALS:
Bruce Springsteen (“All The Way Home”),
Jon Bon Jovi (“Soul’s On Fire”),
Flo & Eddie (“Ride The Night Away”),
Bobby Bandiera (“All Night Long”),
Steve Jordan (“It’s Been A Long Time”),
Charley Drayton (“It’s Been a Long Time”),
Little Steven (“Coming Back”, “All I Needed Was You”, “Better Days”, “Ride The Night Away”, “Right To Walk Away”, “Shake ‘em Down”, “I’ve Been Working too Hard”)
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND VOCALS:
La Bamba, Mark Pender, Mick Seeley, Joey Stann
VARIOUS AND ASSORTED KEYBOARDS AND GUITARS:
Bruce Springsteen (“All The Way Home”)
MASTERED BY:
Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk, New York, NY
MANAGEMENT:
Danny Goldberg, Dave Bendett, Dana Millman
THANKS TO:
Little Steven for his hard work and great songs; Zoe and Ben, Dave and Mike, Danny, Dave,
Dana, Lisa and Cynthia at Gold Mountain; Allen Kovac, Jeff Sydney, Randy Nicklaus, and John Hey at Impact Records for having faith;
Bruce for all the years of support, Jon Bon Jovi (Melvis) for kicking my ass; Steve Popovitch for getting us into this mess in the first place; Luke and everyone at Sigma Sound for their patience; The Rental Co., Mort Cooperman at The Roadhouse Cafe, New York; Black and Bloo, Los Angeles; Frank III for comming back; and, of course, Jillie.
This one’s for Dad & Doc Pomus
