Half Painted Pictures

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes : Trapped Again

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In October of 1978 Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes released Hearts of Stone, the band's masterpiece. With three songs written or co-written by Bruce Springsteen and seven by Stevie Van Zandt (who also produced) , powerful drumming by Max Weinberg and a horn section propelling listeners through the album, the stage was set for Southside Johnny Lyon to give the greatest vocal performance of his career. He didn't let anyone down. Hearts of Stone is one of the best rock and roll albums of the year.

Hopes were high this would be the band's breakthrough but before the tour began, Lyons hurt his hand. The tour was derailed and the band was dropped by the label. This would be the high point of the band's career.

From a Rolling Stone article about albums baby boomers love that millennials don't know:

You'll rarely hear "Southside" Johnny Lyon's name without some mention of Bruce Springsteen, as the careers of the two Jersey acts will always be linked. Lyon's previous two albums featured songs written by Springsteen and his E Street consigliere Steven Van Zandt, as well as covers and a much less serious demeanor. On Hearts of Stone, it seems Lyon was ready to prove he had the performance chops of his pals, who again contributed to songwriting and production. A tad more explicitly indebted to classic soul than a typical Springsteen album is, Hearts of Stone, which, in 1987, snuck on to Rolling Stone's list of the best albums of the previous 20 years, is one every young and old E Street fan needs to own.

The Night The Jersey Shore Invaded Cleveland

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes : I Played the Fool

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On the last night of August 1978,  blending into the very early morning hours, Cleveland hosted Jersey Shore royalty at the Agora Ballroom. Members of the E Street band, including Clarence Clemons, Garry Tallent and the Boss himself, having just played the Richfield Coliseum, showed up with the guitarist the bands shared, Miami Steve, for a jam session with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes that went on all night. 

In another month or so, Southside's best album, Hearts of Stone, packed with songs written by Springsteen, would be released.

According to a fan:

"We were at the Agora on August 31. We had tried desperately to get tickets for Bruce that night at the Coliseum but it got sold out. The Agora gig was actually a Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes gig that started about three hours late because, as Southside stated, they had to wait for their lead guitarist (Miami Steve) to get done with another gig across town. Bruce joined the band in the second set and they rocked into the wee hours of the night, neither the band nor the crowd wanted to leave... it was about 4am when we finally got home (with little, or no voice). Great intimate concert with Bruce and Southside."

40 Year Itch: The Jersey Shore Anthem

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes : I Don't Want to Go Home

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"Southside Johnny" Lyon has played with Bruce Springsteen and Miami Steve Van Zandt in late 60's Asbury Park bands like the Sundance Blues Band and Dr Zoom and the Sonic Boom. When Springsteen hit it big in 1975, Van Zandt helped Southside Johnny's band land a recording contract with Epic. The debut, released in July of 1976, has a lot going for it: two Springsteen originals ( "The Fever" and "You Mean So Much To Me") , guest appearances by Ronnie Spector and Lee Dorsey, and Van Zandt's solid title track, which has become the unofficial anthem of the Jersey Shore.

The album was released to critical acclaim with Rolling Stone calling the debut "the most deeply felt music of 1976". The Jukes would get better, peaking in 1978 with Hearts of Stone.