Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes Better Days 1991

 

Southside Johnny's first three records are a real trifecta. Then, between The Jukes 1979 and At Least We Got Shoes 1986, things were less exciting, and sometimes downright disheartening. In 1991, Steven Van Zandt returned to writing and playing guitar on Better Days. 

Bruce Springsteen even showed up to do a vocal trio with Southside and Van Zandt on It's Been A Long Time. It's a good slice of buddy nostalgia that works, and Van Zandt can write a Springsteen song just like the boss. The rest of the record is a vast improvement on his work without Van Zandt in the eighties. It might not be Hearts of Stone 1978, but it is a solid return to form, and was the comeback Southside needed. Coming Back, Soul's On Fire, Better Days, I've Been Working Too Hard, All Night Long, and Shake 'Em Down all rock hard, and Southside is in fine voice. It's a good, dense recording that sounds big on every song.

Messin' With The Blues 2000 was a fine return to form, and saw Southside writing with Gary Tallent, longtime Springsteen bass player. Messin' With The Blues is not to be missed, and rivals his first three. In the 2000s, Southside teamed up with keyboardist/songwriter Jeff Kazee to produce a string of very good records. Into The Harbour 2005 and Pills And Ammo 2010 are both good. 

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes never again reached the height of fame that they began with, but they toured endlessly and always put on a great show. Southside Johnny Lyon is a fine singer and a showman that always left it all on the stage. If you saw them live you know.