Customer Reviews

Dedication / On the Line

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you aren't familiar with Gary U.S. Bonds, this disc will be one heck of surprise and a treat for anyone who is interested in artists like Bruce Springsteen and Southside Johnny. These were Gary's two initial comeback records after being away from the industry for a number of years. There is not a weak track on either record - and On The Line certainly ranks among the top albums of all-time. It's THAT good. "Last Time" will bring you to tears. "Out Of Work" and "This Little Girl Of Mine" were both hits - but I never hear them on the radio anymore. It's a disc that will move you and also could be the perfect soundtrack for any party. Simply put it on and let it rip. No need to create a special mix. Also, check out his Best Of CD that covers his songs from the 60's. He had two huge hits in the early years with "Quarter To Three" and "New Orleans". You've heard both of them and probably never knew who was singing the song. Well, here's your chance - don't let it pass you by.

These are two great Gary U.S. Bonds albums produced by Bruce Springsteen. The E Street band is all over these albums as well as other related Jersey shore musicians. But Bonds is not overwhelmed by the Asbury Park musicians and these albums are uniquely his own. "Dedication" is probably the better of the two but "On The Line" is well worth having. Several of Bonds' early 60's soul contemporaries, Chuck Jackson and Ben E. King appear on "Dedication" as well as Ellie Greenwich.

Gary U.S. Bonds is a true rock'n roller. This CD collection is awesome. You can't beat the oldie but goody sound mixed with New Jersey shore. It's in my top 10 of favorite CD's of all time.

Gary U.S. Bonds' comeback album, DEDICATION, was produced and backed by Bruce Springsteen in pretty much every way: his band members are all over it, his sideman and compatriot Miami Steve/Little Steven wrote the brings-the-house-down "Daddy's Come Home," and so on. Steve's contribution may be the best song on the album, too, which is no small feat when your ringers are Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Lennon/McCartney, and so on. Bonds is in great voice here (though you can hear him cough during the shouter-reworking of "Like a Buick 6") and just plain sings the hell out of everything. This album alone would be worth five stars.

ON THE LINE, the follow up, is much closer to a retread than anyone probably would've preferred -- it comes off as a lukewarm, slightly strained Southside Johnny album. Great party music (like Clarence Clemmons' first solo album) because, in the background, it doesn't demand anything or need to command much -- just sound good, like a bar band should. Up front, though, it is noticeably weaker, though not embarrassing, really. Three stars.

If you weren't around when these two albums were released, you missed a great collaboration between Bonds/Anderson and Bruce Springsteen and his band. Old time rock 'n' roll from the 1960s meets good-time rock from the 1970s-1980s. Bonds never sounded better and the musicianship is first-rate.

These are probably the two rock albums I've wanted most on CD. And here they are, on 1 CD and in decent quality! Great musicians, great tunes (by the likes of Lennon/McCartney, Dylan, Springsteen, etc.)Two substantial hits and a couple of lesser ones don't come close to the greatness of this entire enterprise. And Bonds has one BIG voice. If only he would record, oh, say, once a decade. According to his website, Bonds is touring the UK with Bill Wyman & the Rhythm Kings. Hope they release a nice long DVD of that one!

These are probably the two rock albums I've wanted most on CD. And here they are, on 1 CD and in decent quality! Great musicians, great tunes (by the likes of Lennon/McCartney, Dylan, Springsteen, etc.)Two substantial hits and a couple of lesser ones don't come close to the greatness of this entire enterprise. And Bonds has one BIG voice. If only he would record, oh, say, once a decade. According to his website, Bonds is touring the UK with Bill Wyman & the Rhythm Kings. Hope they release a nice long DVD of that one!

All great artists stand on the shoulders of those before them. It is gratifying to see these artists acknowledge their influnces by giving them an opportunity to showcase their past and showcase new material. Bruce and Stevie clearly "get it" and this is evidence of that. Nothing short of excellent...rock on Gary!!!

DenisFX

The double-disc set of DEDICATION (1981) and ON THE LINE (1982) is the best work that Gary U.S. Bonds ever did. The songs and singing are incredibly soulful, the band is hot, and the production sure beats that on his old records. Speaking of production, both albums were written and produced by Bruce Springsteen and Steve Van Zandt, both of whom advocate sanctions against Indonesia for that country's trumped-up drug-smuggling conviction of a foreign tourist. And talk about songs! Yes, Springsteen and Van Zandt came up with several which I feel speak directly to me as to where I'm at now. The ones I refer to are "Daddy's Come Home", "Love's On The Line", and "Last Time", which, taken together, encompass the basic reasons why I've decided to place looking good for a number of pretty actresses as a higher priority than attending food-related functions at my old school, with lines like "The children have all gone away/I don't think I like what's taken their place/People's faces have changed so much/Something's missing that was there before" (from "Daddy's Come Home"), "We may grow apart, instead of closer" (from "Last Time"), and all of "Love's On The Line", which taken literally, is about a once-successful marriage that now seems like it's lost everything, but could be an allegory about the need to break away from the past and move on. Overall, these are two great albums produced (and mostly written) by two great musicians/writers/human beings.