Wicked Cool/Big Machine/UMeLongtime E Street Band guitarist “Little Steven” Van Zandt hasn’t released a solo album since 1999, but that changes May 19, with the arrival of Soulfire.
The new collection features a variety of songs Van Zandt wrote or co-wrote for other artists over the years, as well as a couple of new tunes and a couple of covers.
Among the album’s 12 tracks are new versions of four tunes Little Steven penned or co-wrote for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, including “I Don’t Want to Go Home” and “Love on The Wrong Side of Town,” the latter of which was written with Bruce Springsteen.
Soulfire also features a rendition of “Standing in the Line of Fire,” a song co-written with Gary U.S. Bonds for Bonds’ 1984 album of the same name.
The new tunes on the record include the title track; a song called “I Saw the Light” initially intended for ex-Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora‘s upcoming album with Orianthi; and “The City Weeps Tonight,” which Van Zandt began writing for his first solo album, but shelved until completing it for this project.
Soulfire also features covers of songs previously recorded by James Brown and Etta James.
“I’ve always been very thematic with my work, very conceptual,” says Van Zandt says. “In this case, the concept became me…So I tried to pick material that, when you added it all up, really represented me.”
To record Soulfire, Little Steven assembled a new, 15-piece version of his old band The Disciples of Soul, which includes original Asbury Jukes saxophonists Stan Harrison and Eddie Manion. Van Zandt has lined up a European summer tour with the group that will be preceded by an April 22 concert in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
Here’s track list of the Soulfire:
“Soulfire”
“I’m Coming Back”
“The Blues Is My Business”
“I Saw the Light”
“Some Things Just Don’t Change”
“Love on the Wrong Side of Town”
“The City Weeps Tonight”
“Down and Out in New York City”
“Standing in the Line of Fire”
“Saint Valentine’s Day”
“I Don’t Want to Go Home”
“Ride the Night Away”
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