Little Steven
"Soulfire"
(Universal (ASTERISK)(ASTERISK)(ASTERISK))
If there's something familiar-sounding about Bruce Springsteen sidekick Steve Van Zandt's first new album in 18 years, it's because none of the songs are actually new.
Not that that's a bad thing: Starting with Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes' first and best albums in the '70s, Van Zandt has always written for others. Here, the Underground Garage satellite radio honcho covers himself, delivering soul-rock takes on tunes like the Springsteen co-written "Love on the Wrong Side of Town" (originally done by Southside in a similar arrangement) and "Saint Valentine's Day," which he wrote for Norwegian garage band the Cocktail Slippers.
Mixed in are touches of expansive Blaxploitation-era funk with the James Brown cover "Down and Out in New York City" and bold and brassy Chicago blues on the Etta James-associated "Blues Is My Business." Van Zandt may be vocally challenged compared to the singers who've sung these songs before, but his true-believer rock-and-roll spirit and intelligence as a Wall of Sound arranger won't be denied on this full-of-fire album, which is his least overtly political since the underappreciated 1982 classic "Men Without Women."
_Dan DeLuca
