Joe Grushecky – Houserocker – A Joe Grushecky 2 CD Anthology
Joe’s a native of Pittsburgh, PA so he’s closer to the prevailing musical tendencies of Donnie Iris than NJ’s Bruce Springsteen but these artists both have the spirit that Joe thrives on with his distinctive spin & delivery for 40 years. And therein lies the artistry of Mr. Grushecky who started with the Iron City Houserockers (1979).
Ironically, I bought their 3rd (Blood On the Bricks) in a used record store for $1.99. So much for helping sell units, huh? Don’t kill the messenger. I was working in NYC & never heard of the group, but they went on my radar.
Houserocker – A Joe Grushecky Anthology 2-CD compilation (36 tracks) was produced for release by Grammy winner Cheryl Pawelski & Johnny Grushecky (acoustic guitar/guitar/drums). The LPs represented originally appeared on various record labels & many name musicians play on this showcase.
The 2 CDs drop May 24 (Omnivore/CD 1: 75:00/CD 2: 80:00) & anyone who appreciates Springsteen, Southside Johnny, the late Michael Stanley, Willie Nile, Graham Parker, or Donnie Iris with vocal assertiveness run through a colander of steel mills & Bruno Sammartino strength will come away with the identity Joe Grushecky created.
The majority are rollicking tunes (“American Son”) that possess the grit & aggression of NYC’s The Dictators (“Stay With Me”), with Billy Falcon rawness in a Graham Parker tradition. I’ll say this – it’s never too late to dig into this & discover. The music stands up. There are many different chocolates in this box. And for those unfamiliar — it’ll be like finding life on Mars.
On CD 2 familiarity pours in with “Talking To The King.” It seems Joe was thinking of another Presley, the late vocalist Reg Presley since the infectious guitar riff-hook is similar to Reg’s 1966 hit for The Troggs’ “I Can’t Control Myself.”
The addition of Bruce Springsteen’s mandolin on “Labor of Love” shows the diversity of Joe laying down a strong performance with a charged melody & tight band. Joe’s tonality often cruises into a well-developed Graham Parker (“I’m Not Sleeping” & “A Good Life”). However, he sounds engaging & powerful in this gear because it isn’t imitation – these aren’t the kinds of songs Parker wouldn’t do. But Michael Stanley might.
The duet with Bruce (also on guitar) on “Another Thin Line,” works excellently. They sound good together & the contrast is punctuated so professionally. Great performance. They sound as tight as a knot in a string & the E Street Band. Remarkable music.
With “More Yesterdays Than Tomorrow,” the arrangement & approach is closer to a mainstream tradition to what a 1980s band called Eddie & The Tide (“This Could Be The One,” “What Love Is All About”) were turning out. Slick, driving music deeply melodic with Eddie Rice’s voice quite determined & attractive as Joe’s.
It all comes down to 2 words: Entertaining & ballsy.
Highlights – CD #1: “I Can’t Take It,” “Hideaway,” “Love’s So Tough,” “Pumping Iron,” (this is hot — a touch of the Fabulous Thunderbirds’ type harmonica), “We’re Not Dead Yet,” (with The Peels’ “Juanita Banana” type chorus drive with male voices. Good), “Blood On the Bricks,” “Friday Night,” (very Graham Parker vocally with a great sax solo), “American Son, “Goodbye Steeltown,” “How Long” & “Swimming With the Sharks.”
CD #2: “Talking To The King,” “Never Be Enough Time,” “Labor of Love,” “Everything’s Going To Work Out Fine,” “I’m Not Sleeping,” “Fingerprints,” “A Good Life,” “East Carson Street,” “Another Thin Line,” “Who Cares About Those Kids” & “More Yesterdays Than Tomorrow.”
Musicians – Bill Toms, Gary Scalese, Billy Cross, Eddie Britt, Martin Shallard & Danny Gochnour (guitar), Art Nardini, Ed Brown, Jerome Smith & Jeff Garrison (bass), Jeffrey Simmons & Ned E. Rankin, Zack Alford & Tony Morra (drums), Anthony Rankin (drums/bass/keys), Ron Foster (drums/vocals), Bernie Herr & Steve Forman (percussion), Steve Madeo (trumpet), Joe Pelesky (keys/vocals/organ), Gil Snyder (keys/vocals), Leon Pendarvis & Robin Scott (keys), Randy Baughman (organ), Marc Reisman (harmonica), Scott Mowry (synth programming), Richard Reising, Susan Lynch, Rodney Psyka, Ellen Foley (bgv), Donnie Iris, B.E. Taylor, Donnie Marsico, Frank Czuri, Michael Barrozzi (vocals),
Varied tracks produced by Joe (vocals/guitar/mandolin/harmonica), Bruce Springsteen (guitar/vocals/mandolin), Mick Ronson (guitar), Ian Hunter, Steve van Zandt (guitar), Steve Cropper (guitar), Steve Popovich, Marty Mooney, Mark Dodson, Hermie Granati (keys/vocals), Bob Corbin, Barney Lee, Rick Witkowski (guitar/bass/vocals/percussion), Philip Tennant (guitar/vocals), Johnny Grushecky & Brian Coleman.
Stitched 20pp color insert included. Color image by Steamworks Creative & Joe’s Facebook. 6-panel CD @ https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/houserocker/ & https://www.joegrushecky.com/