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''Men Without Women'' is the debut solo studio album by American musician
Steven Van Zandt Steven Van Zandt (né Lento; born November 22, 1950), also known as Little Steven or Miami Steve, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He is a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, in which he plays guitar and mandolin ...
, credited as Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul. It was released on October 1, 1982 by
EMI America EMI America Records was started in 1978 by EMI as a second US label next to Capitol Records. It absorbed Liberty Records in 1984. In the late 1980s, EMI America was consolidated with Manhattan Records to form EMI Manhattan Records, which lat ...
. The title track was inspired by the
Ernest Hemingway Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. His economical and understated style—which he termed the iceberg theory—had a strong influence on 20th-century ...
collection of short stories of the same name.


Background

In 1980, Van Zandt produced ''
Dedication Dedication is the act of consecrating an altar, temple, church, or other sacred building. Feast of Dedication The Feast of Dedication, today Hanukkah, once also called "Feast of the Maccabees," is a Jewish festival observed for eight days f ...
'', a comeback album for singer Gary U.S. Bonds. Gary Gersh, who was in charge of the Bonds album at
EMI America Records EMI America Records was started in 1978 by EMI as a second US label next to Capitol Records. It absorbed Liberty Records in 1984. In the late 1980s, EMI America was consolidated with Manhattan Records to form EMI Manhattan Records, which later ...
, subsequently approached Van Zandt and indicated that the label would be interested in a Van Zandt solo project. In November 1981, Van Zandt began recording the album at The Power Station, using musicians from the E Street Band, the Asbury Jukes and
the Miami Horns The Miami Horns are an American horn section best known for touring and recording with Southside Johnny, Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven and The Max Weinberg 7. They have also toured, performed or recorded with, among others, Diana Ross, Ga ...
. Among the songs recorded at these sessions were "Inside of Me", "Princess of Little Italy" and "I've Been Waiting," the last of these originally written by Van Zandt for the Jukes album '' Hearts of Stone''.
Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter. He has released 21 studio albums, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band. Originally from the Jersey Shore, he is an originat ...
also took part in these sessions, providing backing vocals on "Angel Eyes", "Until The Good Is Gone" and "Men Without Women". Springsteen’s contributions, however, went uncredited but have been confirmed in interview by Van Zandt.Bruce Springsteen guest appearances
/ref>
 Before finishing ''Men Without Women'', Van Zandt produced a second Bonds album, '' On the Line'', and also began recording ''
Born in the U.S.A. ''Born in the U.S.A.'' is the seventh studio album by American recording artist Bruce Springsteen, released by Columbia Records on June 4, 1984. It topped the charts in nine countries, including the US and UK, becoming his most commercially succ ...
'' with Springsteen. By Summer 1982, Van Zandt had recruited his own band, the Disciples of Soul, featuring drummer Dino Danelli and bassist Jean Beauvoir, and it was this line up that completed the album, recording "Under the Gun" and "Lyin' in a Bed of Fire". Van Zandt had also decided to adopt the pseudonym Little Steven, partly to distance himself from any Springsteen comparisons and partly as a tribute to
Little Richard Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the " ...
and
Little Walter Marion Walter Jacobs (May 1, 1930 – February 15, 1968), known as Little Walter, was an American blues musician, singer, and songwriter, whose revolutionary approach to the harmonica had a strong impact on succeeding generations, earning him ...
. On July 18, 1982, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul made their live debut at the Peppermint Lounge in
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
.
Max Weinberg Max Weinberg (born April 13, 1951) is an American drummer and television personality, most widely known as the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and as the bandleader for Conan O'Brien on ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' an ...
with Robert Santelli. ''The Big Beat: Conversations with Rock's Great Drummers''. Contemporary Books, 1987 The concert was filmed for video release and as a companion to the album. On May 13 the film version of ''Men Without Women'' was given a European premiere at the
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...
. As a single, "Forever" spent nine weeks on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, peaking at #63. The album did little better, reaching only #118 on the ''Billboard'' 200. A music video for "Forever" was played in heavy rotation on early
MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a d ...
. "Inside of Me" was later featured on ''
The Sopranos ''The Sopranos'' is an American Crime film#Crime drama, crime drama television series created by David Chase. The story revolves around Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a New Jersey-based American Mafia, Italian-American mobster, portraying h ...
'' in which Van Zandt himself also starred. On July 2, 2011, the album was performed in its entirety by
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes are an American musical group from the Jersey Shore led by Southside Johnny. They have been recording albums since 1976 and are closely associated with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. They have reco ...
at
The Stone Pony The Stone Pony is a New Jersey music venue in Asbury Park, New Jersey known for launching the careers of many New Jersey music legends, including Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.Asbury Park, NJ. Richie La Bamba, Mark Pender, Ed Manion and
Stan Harrison Stan Harrison (born December 8, 1953) is an American saxophonist who is also accomplished in playing other woodwind instruments, namely the horn, flute and clarinet. He has also written music for television. Harrison released his first solo album ...
from the original Disciples of Soul were part of the horn section. In 2019, the album was remastered for release as part of Van Zandt's career-spanning box set '' Rock N Roll Rebel: The Early Work''. The digital deluxe edition of the album was released on October 18, 2019 containing 10 bonus tracks, including the previously unknown studio outtake "Time".


Track listing

All songs written by
Steven Van Zandt Steven Van Zandt (né Lento; born November 22, 1950), also known as Little Steven or Miami Steve, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He is a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, in which he plays guitar and mandolin ...
, except where noted. # "Lyin' in a Bed of Fire" – 4:23 # "Inside of Me" – 5:03 # "Until the Good Is Gone" – 4:01 # "Men Without Women" – 2:49 # "Under the Gun" – 3:59 # "Save Me" – 4:52 # "Princess of Little Italy" – 5:14 # "Angel Eyes" – 4:32 # "Forever" – 3:56 # "I've Been Waiting" – 3:54


2019 digital deluxe edition bonus tracks

#
  • "''Men Without Women'' radio spot" (1982) - 1:15 # "Angel Eyes" (Britt Row version, 1982 – previously unreleased) - 4:29 # "Forever" (Britt Row version, 1982 – previously unreleased) - 3:39 # "Until the Good Is Gone" (Britt Row version, 1982 – previously unreleased) - 4:52 # "I've Been Waiting" (early version, 1982 – previously unreleased) (with
    Southside Johnny John Lyon (born December 4, 1948), better known by his stage name Southside Johnny, is an American singer-songwriter who usually fronts his band Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. Southside Johnny has long been considered the Grandfather o ...
    )     - 3:57 # "
    Caravan Caravan or caravans may refer to: Transport and travel *Caravan (travellers), a group of travellers journeying together **Caravanserai, a place where a caravan could stop *Camel train, a convoy using camels as pack animals *Convoy, a group of veh ...
    " (
    Juan Tizol Juan Tizol Martínez (22 January 1900 – 23 April 1984) was a Puerto Rican jazz trombonist and composer. He is best known as a member of Duke Ellington's big band, and as the writer of the jazz standards "Caravan", "Pyramid", and " Perdido ...
    ,
    Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was bas ...
    ) (live, 7" single, 1982) - 3:57 # "Save Me" (live at Peppermint Lounge, New York, NY, July 18, 1982 – previously unreleased) - 5:06 # "Time" (studio track, 1982 – previously unreleased) - 5:01 # "Princess of Little Italy" ( Vin Scelsa Hungerthon, 1995 – previously unreleased) - 6:04 # "This Time It's for Real" (live at
    Marquee Club The Marquee Club was a music venue first located at 165 Oxford Street in London, when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts. Its most famous period was from 1964 to 1988 at 90 Wardour Street in Soho, and it finally close ...
    , London, UK, October 18, 1982/Live at Peppermint Lounge, New York, NY, July 18, 1982 – previously unreleased)     - 5:26


    Personnel


    Musicians

    *
    Steven Van Zandt Steven Van Zandt (né Lento; born November 22, 1950), also known as Little Steven or Miami Steve, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He is a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, in which he plays guitar and mandolin ...
    – lead vocals, guitar * The Disciples of Soul ** Jean Beauvoir – bass, backing vocals ** Dino Danelli – drums on "Under the Gun" and "Lyin' in a Bed of Fire" ** Monti Louis Ellison – percussion,
    berimbau The berimbau () is a single-string percussion instrument, a musical bow, originally from Africa, that is now commonly used in Brazil. The berimbau would eventually be incorporated into the practice of the Afro-Brazilian martial art '' capoeir ...
    ,
    djembe A djembe or jembe ( ; from Maninka language, Malinke ''jembe'' , N'Ko script, N'Ko: ) is a rope-tuned skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands, originally from West Africa. According to the Bambara people in Mali, the name of the djembe ...
    ** Zoë Yanakis – oboe solo on "Under the Gun" * The E Street Band **
    Clarence Clemons Clarence Anicholas Clemons Jr. (January 11, 1942 – June 18, 2011), also known as The Big Man, was an American musician and actor. From 1972 until his death in 2011, he was the saxophonist for The E Street Band. Clemons released several s ...
    – backing vocals **
    Danny Federici Daniel Paul Federici (January 23, 1950 – April 17, 2008) was an American musician, best known as the organ, glockenspiel, and accordion player and a founding member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. In 2014, Federici was posthumously induct ...
    – organ, accordion **
    Garry Tallent Garry Wayne Tallent (born October 27, 1949), sometimes billed as Garry W. Tallent, is an American musician and record producer, best known for being bass player and founding member of the E Street Band, Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band si ...
    – bass **
    Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter. He has released 21 studio albums, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band. Originally from the Jersey Shore, he is an originat ...
    – backing vocals on "Angel Eyes", "Until the Good Is Gone" and "Men Without Women" **
    Max Weinberg Max Weinberg (born April 13, 1951) is an American drummer and television personality, most widely known as the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and as the bandleader for Conan O'Brien on ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' an ...
    – drums * La Bamba's Mambomen ** Mark Pender – trumpet ** Mike Spengler – trumpet **
    Stan Harrison Stan Harrison (born December 8, 1953) is an American saxophonist who is also accomplished in playing other woodwind instruments, namely the horn, flute and clarinet. He has also written music for television. Harrison released his first solo album ...
    – tenor sax, flute ** Richie "La Bamba" Rosenberg – trombone, backing vocals **
    Eddie Manion Ed Manion (born February 28, 1952), also known as Eddie "Kingfish" Manion, is an American saxophonist, who plays both tenor and baritone sax. As a solo artist, he released his own instrumental album titled Nightlife in 2015. Manion is currently a ...
    – baritone sax, solo on "Forever" www.southsidejohnny.com
     * Additional musicians **
    Manolo Badrena Manolo Badrena (born March 17, 1952, in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a percussionist most noted for his work with Weather Report from 1976 to 1977. He has made contributions to over 100 recordings that span jazz, world music, pop, and Latin music ...
    – percussion ** Gary U.S. Bonds – backing vocals ** John "J.T." Bowen – backing vocals **
    Felix Cavaliere Felix Cavaliere (born November 29, 1942) is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known for being the lead vocalist and keyboard player for the Young Rascals. Although he was a member of Joey Dee and the Starliters, known for ...
    – piano, organ ** Rusty Cloud – organ ** Sammy Figueroa – percussion ** Kevin Kavanaugh – piano ** Benjamin Newberry – chimes ** Bob Werner – tambourine


    Technical

    *
    Steven Van Zandt Steven Van Zandt (né Lento; born November 22, 1950), also known as Little Steven or Miami Steve, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He is a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, in which he plays guitar and mandolin ...
    – producer, arranger *
    Bob Clearmountain Bob Clearmountain (born January 15, 1953) is an American recording engineer, mixer and record producer. He has worked with many major acts, including Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Toto, Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams, with whom he has a very ...
    – engineer, mixing on "Forever" * Toby Scott – engineer on "Under the Gun", "Lyin' in a Bed of Fire" and "I've Been Waiting", mixing engineer * Garry Rindfuss – additional engineer * Zoë Yanakis – assistant engineer * Josh Abbey – assistant engineer * Malcolm Pollack – assistant engineer * Dana Bisbee – assistant engineer * Bobby Cohen – assistant engineer * Wally Traugott – mastering (at Capitol Records,
    Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
    ) * Bill Burks – art direction * Henry Marquez – art direction * Dino Danelli – art direction assistance * Mike Diehl – art direction assistance * Jim Marchese – photography


    Charts


    Album


    Singles


    References

    {{Authority control 1982 debut albums Steven Van Zandt albums Albums produced by Steven Van Zandt Capitol Records albums