John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band - Voice of Eddie & The Cruisers: Tough All Over
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Free Music Notes for Voice of Eddie & The Cruisers: Tough All Over
Free Music Review: Foot Stomping, Hip Swaying, Rock&Roll !!!
Hit: 5 Stars
John Cafferty and Beaver Brown rock out on this album! Filled with both hard driving rock and roll anthems, and soft, slow, romantic ballads, this CD is sure to have something for every rock music fan! American made rock and roll at its finest!!! Loaded with hits such as "C I T Y", "Small Town Girl", and the title track "Tough All Over" it is a must have CD!Free Music Review: Forget the "Cruisers," You get Cafferty for the nasty stuff!
Hit: 5 Stars
This has to be one of my top 5 favorite "Albums" of the eighties. I bought this on cassette when I was about 15 years old. Almost twenty years later it's so great to hear these wonderful lost gems. I love the two Eddie and the Cruisers Albums, but in my opinion, this one blows them both away. Too bad more people don't know about this forgotten gem!Free Music Review: A fix for a fix
Hit: 5 Stars
The track listing on this is right....the tracks he listed off (A Music Fan) are from his Tough All Over albumFree Music Review: 1985 sound meets early 60's lyrics.
Hit: 4 Stars
From what I've read, John Cafferty's claim to fame was the voice of Eddie from Eddie & The Cruisers', and singing on that soundtrack. I recently got a buch of casettes for 50 cents at a thrift store, this being one of them.Since I'd never heard of him until very recently, I didn't expect much, figuring it couldn't be very good. What an idiot I was! This is a certainly underrated effort that sounds a lot like Bruce Springsteen's material of the same era, but maybe a little more lighthearted and retro.
In fact, try to imagine if synthesized arena rock had existed in 1962. I'm sure this is pretty much what it would sound like.
1. Voice of America's Sons -- This Survivor meets Gary U.S. Bonds uptempo opener is one of the harder rockers. Sets the mood for the rest of the album with its fun yet working class type lyrics. Also one of the more 80's sounding songs.
2. The title track, which was apparently a minor hit, happens to be my personal favorite. Mid tempo synthesized pop/rocker about Springsteen-ish themes of a "pretty little working girl," as well as being laid off and tough times, hence the title. I don't know how this failed to be a hit, but it's no less good than anything that was.
3. C-I-T-Y -- A more blues tinged somewhat hard rock tune about working in the city. Not quite as catchy as the previous two songs, but still a d*mn good one.
4. Where the Action is -- A more fun, medium rocker about getting off work, wanting to have fun and go...well, the title says it all. Also has a slight late 50s/early 60s summertime feel to it.
5. Dixieland -- Mid tempo anthemic semi ballad about packing up and taking a vacation. Sounds like something from the "River" era Springsteen.
6. Strangers in Paradise -- Another uptempo, underrated synth rock masterpiece. 80's sounding pop tune about John telling the story from the third person of a guy and girl falling in love and of their lives.
7. Small Town Girl -- The saxophone driven soft power ballad is nothing short of excellent. A sweet story of John and a girl he's just met and gone crazy over. This is yet another song that really sounds like an 80's version of the doo-wop era.
8. More Than Just One of the Boys -- Another fun uptempo, romantic, somewhat love song. Not quite as memorable as the others, but no less good. Reminds me a little of the lighter side of Mellencamp.
9. Tex-Mex (Crystal Blue) -- After 8 good songs, this closer is the only one I can't get into much. It's the only slow ballad, which is a romantic love song with a country tinge. It sounds quite old-fashioned too, but without the fun sound that many oldies had. It's also a bit too long, but certainly not terrible.
Basically, the best way I can describe it is the lyrics and vocal style sound early 60's, whereas the music and production sounds 80's. As much as that combo seems like it wouldn't fit, it really does, and would very likely appeal to fans of both eras. DON'T overlook this album just because it wasn't popular!
Free Music Review: If you liked "Eddie & the Cruisers"...
Hit: 4 Stars
JC & the BBB, the voice of "Eddie & the Cruisers" came out with this album after the soundtrack to that movie showed that people liked their sound. This Providence, RI band's first album is chock full of good tunes. I saw them live twice while in college and one of the highlights of the show was the "C-I-T-Y" audience participation ala the "YMCA" one done at sporting events today---c'mon do it with me now! You can hear traces of the Boss throughout but especially on tracks 1 and 2. Add it to your collection, you won't be disappointed.