Last Friday I had the opportunity to guest host Rita Houston’s Whole Wide World free form radio show on WFUV. As is my habit when I fill in on the WWW, I cooked up a theme that would be enjoyable to explore. Last fall, it was my pleasure to interview Steven Van Zandt and host a session in which he played a pair of songs from his new album Soulfire. Of course THAT

was super cool. One of the songs that he played was Down in Out in New York City originally recorded by James Brown for the Black Caesar soundtrack.

What a dynamite song and a testament to Little Steven’s great taste and eclectic knowledge that he would cover it. In our conversation, he spoke about his love of Blaxploitation film soundtracks and he got me thinking that they may constitute a subgenre unto themselves. Arguably this is true as the artists charged with scoring these films achieved the desired cinematic quality by incorporating more elements associated with jazz, like the vibraphone, than in the R&B that was their bread and butter. The results were sometimes fantastic and I had big fun doing this show. As my knowledge of Blaxploitation is not encyclopedic and as the number of great tunes from them is clearly finite in any case, I mixed in some tunes generally regarded as psychedelic soul and funk that called out across the decades as being worthy companions for the ones from soundtracks.

Here’s the playlist:

Little Steven – Down and Out in New York City

James Brown – People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul

Curtis Mayfield – Superfly

Roy Ayers – Coffy is the Color

Bobby Womack – Across 110^th Street

Dennis Coffey – Theme from Black Belt Jones

Lyn Collins – Mama Feelgood

Earth Wind & Fire – Sweet Sweetback’s Theme

Marvin Gaye – Trouble Man

The Undisputed Truth – Smiling Faces Sometimes

Shuggie Otis – Aht Uh Mi Hed

The Isley Brothers – Get Into Something

Isaac Hayes – Theme From Shaft

Swamp Dogg – Total Destruction of Your Mind

Willie Hutch – Theme from Foxy Brown

Funkadelic – One Nation Under a Groove

Jimi Hendrix (Band of Gypsys) – Who Knows

Stevie Wonder – Maybe Your Baby

Sly & The Family Stone – Sing a Simple Song

The Impressions – Three the Hard Way

The Temptations – Ball of Confusion

The Chambers Brothers – Time Has Come Today

Joe Simon – Theme from Cleopatra Jones

The Four Tops – Are You Man Enough?

Herbie Hancock – Actual Proof

Curtis Mayfield – Freddie’s Dead

Bang!  The Bert Berns Story is now available on iTunes and Apple Music.  It is one of the best music documentaries I’ve ever seen and I watch an absurd amount of music documentaries!  The film, narrated by Steven Zan Vandt is the vision of Bert’s son Brett Berns who I spoke to recently about his extraordinary father.  Here’s the trailer…

Friday, December 30 marks the 50th anniversary of the passing of Bert Berns and only now is he receiving the accolades and attention that he earned in his short life.  The Bronx native died at 38 but his body of work as well as his larger than life persona inspired a book (Here Comes the Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm and Blues by Joel Selvin published in 2014) and a jukebox musical with a book by Daniel Goldfarb as well as the documentary film co-directed by Brett Burns and Bob Sarles.  For his work as a songwriter and record producer, Bert was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year as well as given the Ahmet Ertegun Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The soundtrack to the film was released today on vinyl by Legacy Recordings.  The notes below on the track list were written by my friend (and a bit of a music biz legend in his own right) Bob Merlis…

1. Piece of My Heart – Erma Franklin – the original version of the song written and produced by Berns was recorded by Aretha Franklinâ€s older sister for Bangâ€s Shout subsidiary in 1967, shortly before Berns’ death at age 38. It went Top 10 on the R&B chart.

2. A Little Bit of Soap – The Jarmels  – one of the earliest hits written by Berns, a crossover hit in 1961 for Laurie Records and established its writer as a force to be reckoned with in the business. It has been covered many times since.

3. Tell Him – The Exciters –the first Top 5 record written by Berns.  Produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, it was released by United Artists in 1962.  Itâ€s said that when Dusty Springfield heard the record she changed career directions.  Over the years it has been covered by Linda Ronstadt, Sonny and Cher and Kenny Loggins.

4. Twist and Shout – The Isley Brothers – written and produced by Berns, was originally recorded by The Top Notes whose Phil Spector-produced version did not chart.  The Isleys†version, released on Scepterâ€s Wand subsidiary went to #2 on the R&B chart in 1962. The Beatles covered it the following year and reached #2 on the pop charts and became one of the bandâ€s signature songs.  In the film, Paul McCartney says, “People thought we wrote it.”

5. Cry Baby – Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters – Co-written and co-produced by Berns with Jerry Ragovoy, the record was released on United Artists in 1963 and went to #1 on the R&B chart and #4 on the Hot 100.  Its gospel-inflected mid-song narration is notable and innovative.

6. Show Me Your Monkey – Kenny Hamber  – While it didnâ€t chart, this track was written and produced by Berns and released on the Atlantic-distributed De Jac label.  It underscores the strong Latin influence heard in many of Berns†productions.

7. Baby, Please Don’t Go – Them – produced by Berns when he went to London in 1964 to work with British artists.  The record, released by (British) Decca went to #10 in the UK with lead vocals provided by a 19-year-old Van Morrison.  Jimmy Page, then a session player, provided the rhythm guitar parts.

8. You May Be Holding My Baby – The Pussycats – Written and produced by Berns in 1964 and released on his own (pre-Bang) Keetch label, named after his pet Siamese cat.  It represents intention, later fulfilled with Bang, to control his own destiny as songwriter, producer and label chief.

9. Everybody Needs Somebody to Love  – Solomon Burke  – Berns co-wrote (with Jerry Wexler and Burke) the song and produced it for Atlanticâ€s soul standard-bearer in 1964.  Wilson Pickett, the Rolling Stones and The Blues Brothers successfully covered it thereafter.

10. Here Comes The Night – Them – A classic, written by Berns that was earlier recorded by Lulu.  The version by Them (featuring Van Morrison) was released in 1965, going to #2 in the UK and hitting the US Top 25.  Jimmy Page participated in the sessions for the song that has become a standard over the years.

11. I Want Candy – The Strangeloves  – Released on Bang in 1965, the songâ€s title is derived from Terry Southernâ€s risqué bestseller Candy.   It was written by Berns and the bandâ€s Richard Gottherer, Bob Feldman and Jerry Goldstein. The record went to #11 and has since been successfully covered by Bow Wow Wow whose 1982 version has become an enduring new wave classic

12. Are You Lonely For Me Baby – Freddie Scott   – Released on Shout and written and produced by Berns, it went to #1 on the R&B chart the year of Berns†death (1967) and stayed there for four weeks.  Back up vocals were performed by Cissy Houston and the Sweet Inspirations. It has been covered by artists ranging from Al Green, Otis Redding & Carla Thomas to the Grateful Dead and Steve Marriott.

13. Mr. Success – Bobby Harris – was one of the first releases on Shout, an obscure B-side to an even more obscure song called “Sticky Sticky.”   The strong influence of Berns†idol Sam Cooke is on display in the lead vocal performance.  It never charted, but remains an important example of the autobiographical nature of Berns†work as the stress of his success accumulated to take his life within a year of the Bobby Harris session that included Cissy Houston and the Sweet Inspirations on background vocals.  

14. Chick-A-Boom – Van Morrison – was the artistâ€s debut solo single and released on Bang in 1967.  Co-written by Berns and the artist, it highlights Latin cadences so favored by Berns throughout his career.

15. Hang On Sloopy – The McCoys – Released on Bang in 1965, it went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Top 100.  It was co-written by Berns (with Wes Farrell) and originally recorded as “My Girl Sloopy” by the Vibrations.  The McCoys†mega-hit was produced by Feldman, Goldstein and Gottherer (a/k/a The Strangeloves). The song has gone on to become a staple of the Ohio State Universityâ€s marching band which has performed the song at OSU football games for more than 50 years.  The official website of OSUâ€s athletics department is “Hang On Sloopy.”

16. Cry To Me – Freddie Scott – Written by Berns and first recorded by Solomon Burke on Atlantic in 1961, it was released on Shout! in 1967. 

17. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison – the artistâ€s signature song was a Bang single that established Morrison and is offered here in its original stereo mix. It hit the top 10 in 1967 and has been re-recorded by Morrison many times over the years.

18. Am I Grooving You – Freddie Scott – written and produced by Berns and released on Shout, it hit the charts in 1967 and was the follow up to Scottâ€s “Cry To Me.”

19. Heart Be Still – Lorraine Ellison – masterpiece of symphonic soul, it was written and produced by Berns and Jerry Ragovoy.  It was Berns†idea to take the gospel classic “Peace Be Still” and turn it into a love song. It was one of the very last productions before Berns†untimely death on the penultimate day of 1967.

20. Piece of My Heart– Big Brother & The Holding Company â€“ a cover of the Erma Franklin song featuring Janis Joplinâ€s lead vocal, itâ€s the best-known and most successful version, recorded and released in 1968; Berns never got to hear it.

I spoke with Steven Van Zandt at Carroll Studios in Hells Kitchen before the group blasted through a pair of tunes from the Soulfire album for WFUV Public Radio. Vaz Zandt spoke about his latest album but also looked back on how a hurricane helped he and Southside Johnny create the Jersey Shore sound and forever change what it meant to be a bar band.  Springsteen fans will also enjoy his remarks about The Boss as a soul singer and his favorite E Street Band songs that were initially left unreleased.  Hear the radio show featuring a generous interview HERE. 

Little Steven toured this year behind the Soulfire album – his first as a bandleader since ’99.  It’s a marked contrast since his previous album 1999’s Born Again Savage which was a garage-y power trio recorded with Adam Clayton (who called recently) and Jason Bonham.  The stacked new group revives The Disciples Of Soul name first seen on Van Zandt’s debut, Men Without Women, that came out in ’82.

The Jersey Shore Sound architect is surrounded by a crack band boasting three fabulous backing singers as well as a five piece horn section. Here’s how it breaks down…
Marc Ribler – Guitar
Lowell “Banana” Levinger – Piano/Mandolin
Jak Daley – Bass
Charley Drayton – Drums
Andy Burton – Organ/Strings/Accordion

Eddie Manion – Baritone Sax
Stan Harrison – Tenor Sax/Flute
Clark Gayton – Trombone
Ravi Best – Trumpet
Ron Tooley – Trumpet

Soulfire was arranged and produced by Van Zandt at his own Renegade Studios in New York City, co-produced and recorded by GRAMMY® Award-winner Geoff Sanoff and co-produced and music directed by guitarist Marc Ribler.

The rare break in E Street Band action that Bruce is using to make a Broadway run allowed Steven the opportunity to revive The Disciples Of Soul concept and sing some of the best songs that he’s written throughout his career and given to the likes of Southside Johnny and Gary U.S. Bonds to sing.  Perfect touches abound with nods to doo-wop, blaxpoloitation, spaghetti westerns, and Etta James.  The 180 gram wax is recommended…natch!

Catch them if you can at The Capitol Theatre tomorrow night & The Gramercy Theatre on Monday Little Steven (AKA Steven Van Zandt and Silvio Dante among other things) is touring behind the undeniable Soulfire album – his first as a bandleader since ’99. That record, Born Again Savage was garage-y power trio.  The stacked new group revives The Disciples Of Soul name and sees the Jersey Shore Sound architect surrounded by three fabulous backing singers as well as a five piece horn section.  Here’s how it breaks down…

Stevie Van Zandt – Guitar/Vocals
Marc Ribler – Guitar
Charley Drayton – Drums
Everett Bradley – Percussion/Backing vocals
Lowell “Banana” Levinger – Piano/Mandolin
Andy Burton – Organ/Strings/Accordion
Rusty Cloud – Organ (Paris through Barcelona)
Jak Daley – Bass
Eddie Manion – Baritone Sax
Stan Harrison – Tenor Sax/Flute
Clark Gayton – Trombone
Ravi Best – Trumpet
Ron Tooley – Trumpet
Jessica Wagner – Backing Vocals
Erika Jerry – Backing Vocals
YahZarah – Backing Vocals

Soulfire was arranged and produced by Van Zandt at his own Renegade Studios in New York City, co-produced and recorded by GRAMMY® Award-winner Geoff Sanoff and co-produced and music directed by guitarist Marc Ribler.

The rare break in E Street Band action that Bruce is using to make a Broadway run allowed Steven the opportunity to revive The Disciples Of Soul concept and sing some of the best songs that he’s written throughout his career and given to the likes of Southside Johnny and Gary U.S. Bonds to sing.  Perfect touches abound with nods to doo-wop, blaxpoloitation, spaghetti westerns, and Etta James.  The 180 gram wax is recommended…natch!

I got to speak with SVZ at Carroll Studios in Hells Kitchen before the group blasted through a pair of tunes for WFUV Public Radio that will air in the future.  I took a few photographs while they tuned up and for the first short while of the performance.

Springsteen Reaches New Heights (& Lengths) In Jersey (8-23-16) 8-25-16 & Tonight at Metlife Stadium.

“I want to hear that satisfied sound!” – Bruce speaking to the audience at approximately the 3 hour, 50 minute mark of Thursday’s show shortly after refreshing himself by squeezing a sponge over his head.

It was epic because of the love! The communion between the man and his home and his hometown fans neared a religious intensity. Bruce closing his eyes and bowing his head and holding it together during Backstreets while The Professor Roy Bittan rang emotional notes on his piano. Bruce talking about how My City O Ruins was written about his adopted hometown of Asbury Park and how it’s experiencing a Renaissance these days with people on the beach again. The moment when the “Queen of E Street” Patti Scialfa shares the microphone with her husband on Tougher Than The Rest. The video tribute to Clarence Clemons during Tenth Avenue Freeze Out and the spirit of cherished friendship transmitted when Steven and Nils do vocals on Out In the Street. The feeling you get when 55,000 cheer on a 3-year-old singing Waiting On A Sunny Day. The fact that Bruce said, “My Mother’s here tonight…Take a bow Ma!” and “Tonight’s your lucky night” to the fan with the sign that said: 150 shows and No Lost In The Flood. The topper: a Jersey Girl finale with a newly engaged couple on stage.

The E Street Band was in absolute top form. Beginning with the guitars: Nils Lofgren was especially wicked offering tremendous runs on, most memorably, Youngstown and Because The Night. Steven Van Zandt, the boss’s right hand man, didn’t miss a cue or a trick all night from I’m A Rocker to Prove It All Night. Bruce Springsteen did some damage himself including complementing guest Tom Morello whose fierce, blinding work on The Ghost Of Tom Joad as well as 41 Shots was worth a trip to East Rutherford in itself. Soozie Tyrell rocking the fiddle on Cadillac Ranch. Jake Clemons strutting and burning on Rosalita. The eight violinists who helped start the show so dramatically on the rare New York Serenade. And the Max Weinberg and Garry Talent rhythm section propelling the whole glorious dynamism.

Catch ’em tonight (8-30-16) if you can and keep an eye out for the memoir and companion album next month.