“Voice of America” is the second solo album by Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul released in 1983.
E-Street Band guitarist Steve Van Zandt left the band following the recording of “Born In The U.S.A.” and released his own album, “Voice Of America”. It was Van Zandt's second album, after his prior release “Men Without Women”, and he was again backed by the Disciples Of Soul, including bassist Jean Beauvoir, and drummer Dino Danelli. Van Zandt himself handled vocals and guitars, as well as writing and producing the record's ten songs (the 1991 reissue included two bonus cuts). “Voice Of America” is a straight-ahead rock record with punk underpinnings and strong percussive rhythms. Van Zandt is a bit thin and reedy as a singer, but manages to carry through on passion and bravado. This album traded in the horns and the R & B influences of the previous “Men Without Women” for a raw, garage rock sound. Politics came to the lyrical forefront, with the general theme being opposition to Ronald Reagan-era American foreign policy. "I Am a Patriot", which held roughly that dissent was not disloyalty, became a favorite song of Jackson Browne, who covered it on his 1989 album "World in Motion" and who frequently performed it in his concerts. There's still some riveting stuff here including the rave-up rocking wake-up call of the title track, the propulsive, synth-driven anthem "Out Of The Darkness," and "Los Desaparecidos," a compelling, percussive-laden cut detailing the casualties of South American politics.
Track listing
01. "Voice of America" - 3:29
02. "Justice" - 3:19
03. "Checkpoint Charlie" - 4:39
04. "Solidarity" - 3:29
05. "Out of the Darkness" - 4:36
06. "Los Desaparecidos" - 5:15
07. "Fear" - 4:45
08. "I Am a Patriot" - 3:28
09. "Among the Believers" - 3:54
10. "Undefeated" - 3:56
1991 CD Bonus tracks
1."Vote!" - 4:35
2."Caravan" - 3:56
Credits
Little Steven – guitars, lead vocals
Jean Beauvoir – bass guitar, vocals
Dino Danelli – drums
Monti Louis Ellison – congas, African talking drum, shekere, wind chimes, tambourine, timbales, backing vocals
Pee Wee Weber – keyboards, backing vocals
Zoë Yanakis – oboe, backing vocals, additional keyboards
Notes
All songs written by Little Steven
Mixed By, Producer [Assistance] – Bob Clearmountain
Producer, Arranged By – Little Steven
Genre: Rock
Length: 40:51
Label: EMI America Records
© 1983
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