Hearts of Stone

Southside Johnny | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 20, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000025DM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #277,323 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Hearts of Stone is the best album Bruce Springsteen never recorded. Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes were a hard-working Jersey rock-'n'-soul outfit who happened to count E-Streeter Miami Steve Van Zandt among its alumni. Van Zandt continued to contribute to the band as a writer, producer, and musician even after he'd joined Springsteen's band, and brought his boss aboard for this 1978 triumph. (Springsteen also penned numbers for the group's good-but-not-great first and second albums.) Springsteen and Van Zandt contributed all nine songs here and the lot of them--from the brassy, tenacious opener "Got to Be a Better Way Home" to the mournful coda, "Light Don't Shine"--are winners. Van Zandt cut his ties with the Jukes following Hearts of Stone and the group never found a new source of great material. But for one album, the light did shine for these Jersey journeymen. --Steven Stolder

Product Description

1978 New Jersey classic on 180 gm vinyl! --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There But for the Grace, February 9, 2006

By 

Mr D. "Artist/Designer/Kibitzer" (Cave Creek, Az United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hearts of Stone (Audio CD)

As the saying goes, "Timing is Everything" and I can't help but feel that with a couple breaks and a little good timing, Southside Johnny might have become the big 70s & 80s mega superstar from New Jersey instead of the BOSS. Don't get my wrong, I love Springsteen. I just think Southside Johnny and the Jukes deserved better.

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes were the second band after Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band to emerge from the New Jersey area. Though they carried a significant influence, including key personnel, from Springsteen and company, they were basically a White R&B brass band in the Bill Chase, Blood Sweat and Tears tradition.

This album is the most successful merger of old R&B with modern songwriting and sensibilities in the Jukes' catalog. "Hearts of Stone" features many great Van Zandt originals "Got to Be a Better Way Home", "Trapped Again", "I Played the Fool", "This Time Baby's Gone for Good" and my favorite "Take it Inside".

As evidence the Springsteen and Southside Johnny were close, Springsteen either wrote or had a hand in three of the songs.

As much as I like and admire Springsteen, I don't think I like any Springsteen album any better than "Hearts of Stone"

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This ain't nobody's hand me downs!, November 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hearts of Stone (Audio CD)

I agree with most of the reviews ever done on this recording, and to some extent this band - this may well be one of the top ten albums of all time, and only 46 people know about it! Johnny Lyons must wonder what he could have done differently - but I guess he just wasn't meant to achieve commercial success the way Bruce and Little Steven did. This album is flawless - It ranks up there with Darkness on the Edge of Town (Bruce Springsteen), This Year's Model (Elvis Costello & the Attractions), You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic (Ian Hunter) and Damn the Torpedos (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) Bruce and Little Steven provided most of the material, but Southside & Company added a ton of Heart and Soul - it has tracks which are nothing short of haunting (Hearts of Stone, Lights dont Shine) and some that just rock (Take it Inside, Got to Find a Better way Home) I know it has been a long time, but I would love to see this album re-released - it stands up to the test of time - and I cant help but think that these guys got a raw deal. Everyone should own this CD -

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hot Jersey Rock, January 31, 2007

By 

J. Perkins "Rock Hound" (Tennessee,USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hearts of Stone (Audio CD)

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes are at their peak on this LP.The
title cut "Heart's of Stone" is one of the most soulful & unforgettable
song's your ever gonna hear,combined with hot rocker's like "Talk to Me"
& "Take it Inside" make this CD a bargain at any price.The final cut
"Light Don't Shine"is a big time tear your heart out & lay it on the
table killer.All in all this collection is smokin & a must have for 70's
Rock-n-Roll afficianados!