Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul - Men Without Women
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On this episode, we finally complete our look at the Holy Trinity of the Jersey Shore sound by diving headfirst into the 1982 debut by Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul - Men Without Women (We talked about the other two on Episode 34 - Springsteen and Episode 38 - Southside Johnny). It is not hyperbole to say that Steven Van Zandt has likely done more to promote rock-n-roll and rhythm and blues than any other musician alive today. A fine musician in his own right, Van Zandt cut his teeth working with Springsteen in several bands before joining the E Street Band as a rhythm guitarist and horn arranger. He’s also a top-notch songwriter, having written a great many of Southside Johnny's best songs.
On Men Without Women Van Zandt uses his horn arranging skills to full effect. Little Steven is deadly serious about his rock-n-roll. Backed by the Miami Horns and getting some assistance from fellow E-Street band members (including Springsteen himself), the songs on this album are powerful and earnest. Fortunately, they are also flat-out fun.
THINGS WE DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE
The Shadows were the first band of note to feature Steven VAn Zandt (Pictured L to R: Christopher Plunkett, John Miller, Buddy Norris, Steven Van Zandt, Bruce Gumbert, and Robert McEvilly).
Newspaper article announcing the Shadows as the big winner of the 1966 Asbury Park Battle of the Bands. The prize was $100, the equivalent to around $1000 today.
At the time Van Zandt is playing with the Shadows, Bruce Springsteen is in a band called the Castiles. The two bands often played at the same places and became friends. Here’s an ad for a battle of the band featuring both the Shadows and the Castiles.
When the Castiles broke up, Springsteen formed a band called Child but changed their name to Steel Mill because another band was already using the name Child. Springsteen asked Van Zandt to play bass for Steel Mill shortly after the name change. (Pictured L to R) Danny Federici, Bruce Springsteen, Vini Lopez, and Steven Van Zandt.)
In March of 1971, Steel Mill were asked to open for the Allman Brothers. There was one problem, Steel Mill were no more. So Springsteen and Van Zandt gather a bunch of their friends together from the Upstage Club and formed Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom to fill the spot. The band continued to play after this first gig.
The band had a large cast of characters, but the core was made up of Bruce Springsteen (guitar & vocals), Steve Van Zandt (guitar), John "Hotkeys" Waasdorp (piano), David Sancious (keyboards), Garry Tallent (bass and tuba), Southside Johnny (harmonica), Bobby Williams (drums), Vini Lopez (drums) Albee Tellone (sax),and Bobby Feigenbaum (sax).
Some performances also included a Zoom Chorus and several people playing monopoly on stage.
Listen to Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom perform “The Zoom Song” live in 1971.
At the same time as Dr. Zoom was a going concern, the Sundance Blues Band made their commercial debut. (Pictured L to R) Steven Van Zandt, Vini Lopez, Joe Hagstrom, Southside Johnny, and Gary Talent.
Springsteen was a member for a short time but left to form the Bruce Springsteen Band. David Sancious took Springsteen’s place.
In 1975 Van Zandt helped Springsteen on the Born to Run sessions. Most notably he arranged the horns on "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" and was responsible for the signature guitar line in "Born To Run",
While not an official member of the E Street Band at the time of recording Born to Run, Van Zandt officially joined the band during the tour in support of the LP.
Van Zandt was responsible for writing the vast majority of songs for Southside Johhny and the Asbury Jukes. Here’s a video of Southside Johnny, Little Steven, and Bruce Springsteen, and perform “Its Been a Long Time” from Southside Johhny’s 1991 album Better Days.
Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul.
Watch the video for “Forever” by Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul from their debut LP Men Without Women. This video received pretty heavy airplay in the early years of MTV.
As has been discussed frequently, our host Doug Cooper (pictured under the yellow arrow) worked as a camp counselor during his formative years. When this album came out, it had an immense impact on the young Doug. So much so that he started a “Men Without Women” group to keep the boys under his guidance from being distracted from the girls at the camp. They even went as far as donning the iconic Little Steven head-ware as part of the process.
