Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul - Men Without Women (1982)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:
Bruce Springsteen - Chimes of Freedom (1988)

Steven Van Zandt's (of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band/Silvio on The Sopranos) first solo record. Men Without Women makes it clear just how greatly he contributed to the classic E Street Band rock/girl group/soul/folk hybrid sound, in that it plays like a lost Springsteen record, circa The River. Earnest, upbeat songs of love, lust, and heartbreak, embellished by classic soul horn sections.

Track listing:
1. Lyin' in a Bed of Fire
2. Inside of Me
3. Until the Good Is Gone
4. Men Without Women
5. Under the Gun
6. Save Me
7. Princess of Little Italy
8. Angel Eyes
9. Forever
10. I've Been Waiting

I spent my whole life just tryin' to find
Something I know I need but can't define

Gerry Rafferty - Sleepwalking (1982)

The last time I posted a Gerry Rafferty record, it got taken down due to a DMC violation within a week of being up. But that was City to City, his most commercially successful record (due to two huge singles, "Baker Street" and "Right Down the Line"), whereas this is Sleepwalking, a relative commercial flop whose dark, introspective lyrics and heavy use of synthesizers alienated fans and critics. Anyone familiar with this blog should know that "dark lyrics" and "heavy use of synthesizers" are pretty much what I'm all about, so for me, this is right up there with his more celebrated works. And maybe EMI won't care that I'm posting it, who knows?

Track listing:
1. Standing at the Gates
2. Good Intentions
3. A Change of Heart
4. On the Way
5. Sleepwalking
6. Cat and Mouse
7. The Right Moment
8. As Wise as a Serpent

Driftin' along with the wind

Bruce Springsteen - Chimes of Freedom (1988)

Bonus post for 'Merica. A live EP released to benefit Amnesty International, Chimes of Freedom features the definitive version of "Tougher Than the Rest" (the music video for which features gay and straight couples being couple-y, as well as The Boss and his future wife eye-fucking the shit out of each other), excellent The River-era B-side rave-up "Be True," a Bob Dylan cover, and an acoustic rendition of "Born to Run." Twenty-five minutes of American musical glory.

Track listing:
1. Tougher Than the Rest
2. Be True
3. Chimes of Freedom
4. Born to Run

Starry-eyed and laughing, I recall when we were caught
Trapped by no track of hours for they hanged suspended
As we listened one last time and we watched with one last look
Spellbound and swallowed as the tolling ended
Tolling for the aching ones whose wounds cannot be nursed
For the countless confused, accused, misused, strung-out ones and worse
And for every hung-up person in the whole wide universe
And we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.