Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes

Intro

This is the sound of the Jersey Shore before it was a punchline. It is a high-octane blend of barroom rock and roll and classic Stax-influenced soul, anchored by a horn section that feels like a freight train. The music carries a certain salt-of-the-earth weight, balancing the joy of a Saturday night out with the weary reality of a Monday morning. It is big, loud, and unashamedly sentimental.

What sets the Jukes apart is the sheer muscle of their arrangements. While their contemporaries were stripping things down, Southside Johnny doubled down on the 'Miami Horns,' creating a wall of brass that pushes the vocals to their limit. Johnny’s voice is a weathered instrument, full of gravel and soul, sounding like a man who has spent decades singing over the roar of a crowd. It is music that demands to be heard live, or at least played loud enough to rattle the windows.

Start with 'Hearts of Stone.' It is the definitive document of the Jersey Shore sound, featuring songwriting from Bruce Springsteen and production by Steven Van Zandt. From the opening blast of the title track to the soulful ache of 'The Fever,' it captures a band at the absolute peak of their powers, bridging the gap between rock grit and R&B elegance.

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes are an American musical group from the Jersey Shore formerly led by Southside Johnny. They have been recording albums since 1976 and are closely associated with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. They have recorded or performed several Springsteen songs, including "The Fever" (1973) and "Fade Away" (1980). Springsteen has also performed with the band on several occasions. In 1991, Springsteen and the E Street band appeared on Southside Johnny's Better Days album. During the band's formative years, Steven Van Zandt was the band's co-leader, guitarist, songwriter, arranger, and producer, and other members of the E Street Band, including Clarence Clemons, Max Weinberg, Garry Tallent, Ernest Carter, Patti Scialfa, and Soozie Tyrell performed, toured, or recorded with the Jukes. The band's horn section, known as the Miami Horns, has also toured and recorded with Springsteen. More than one hundred musicians can claim to have been members of the Asbury Jukes, including Jon Bon Jovi who toured with the band as a special guest during 1990. Bon Jovi has also cited the band as an influence and Jukes' Bobby Bandiera and Jeff Kazee have also toured with Bon Jovi. Other notable band members include Mark Pender and Richie "La Bamba" Rosenberg who have played regularly with the Max Weinberg 7 on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA →

Our Catalog15 Albums · 1976 · 2015