Eddie moved to New Jersey in the 1970s and became a popular club circuit musician there, occasionally performing with Bruce Springsteen.
John's first studio presence was singing backing vocals on Bryan Adams' song "Somebody" on the 1984 album Reckless. John then signed with Columbia Records and released two albums including his 1986 self-titled debut, John Eddie.
The first single, "Jungle Boy", from John Eddie peaked on Billboard at #17 Rock and #52 Hot 100.
At the label's behest, his long-time band, the Front Street Runners, was replaced for the album by members of Springsteen's E Street Band. He opened for Bob Seger and The Kinks in the late 1980s but was dropped by the label early in the 1990s after the release of his second album.
John Eddie has been a staple of Jersey bar scene for over thirty years. Unfortunately, his self-titled album is nothing more than a bad Bruce Springsteen knock-off. Back in 1986 when the album was released the music industry was looking to capitalize on the massive success of The Boss and Mr. Eddie got a record deal with Mr. Springsteen's label Columbia.
The album failed as the public saw Mr. Eddie as basically a Springsteen rip-off. It's too bad, because Mr. Eddie is a very good live performer (Mr. Springsteen had joined him on stage a few times in previous four or five years before the album's release) and he would have been better served with a more rootsy rock album than this over-produced mess.
There definitely are parallels that can be drawn between this album to Bruce Springsteen and John Cafferty. "Jungle Boy" might not be the song to draw these parallels, but the other 11 tracks on this album really show the simularities.
John Eddie was the primary songwriter on this album. As for the album itself, he is joined from some big studio musician names that helped to shape the music. For starters - there is a connection to Bruce Springsteen. Max Weinberg, the E Street Band Drummer is the drummer on all of the tracks.
Weinberg also lends a hand with the production credits and John Eddie gives him thanks in the credits for giving the album a "rock and roll" sound.
Springsteen E Street Band alumnus Nils Lofgren plays lead guitar on the tracks "Pretty Little Rebel", "Romance", "Just Some Guy", and "Waste Me". Acclaimed keyboard player, Greg Phillinganes plays piano on "Cool Walk". Phillinganes is best known for co-writing on several albums with Lionel Richie. Also contributing to the album is acclaimed guitarist Mike Landau.
There are a lot of great keyboards done by someone named Mitchell Froom - but as I listen to "John Eddie", I can help but think that it sounds a lot like Springsteen guitarist Roy Bittan. The person who managed John Eddie on the album was none other than former Mr Mariah Carey himself and Sony Records head - Tommy Mottola.
Track listing
A1. Dream House - 4:10
A2. Pretty Little Rebel - 3:13
Backing Vocals, Handclaps – The Gallo Road Gang
Lead Guitar – Nils Lofgren
A3. Hide Out - 4:59
Electric Guitar – Jeff Silverman
A4. Just Some Guy - 3:22
Lead Guitar – Nils Lofgren
A5. Please Jodi 4:06
A6. Cool Walk - 2:45
Horns – The Heart Attack Horns
Piano – Greg Phillinganes
B1. Jungle Boy - 3:23
Backing Vocals, Handclaps – The Gallo Road Gang
B2. Stranded 4:10
B3. Waste Me - 3:30
Lead Guitar – Nils Lofgren
B4. Romance - 4:03
Lead Guitar – Nils Lofgren
B5. Buster - 4:49
Violin, Acoustic Guitar, Dobro – David Lindley
B6. Living Doll - 2:04
Piano – Joe Sweeney
Companies, etc.
- Manufactured By – Columbia Records
- Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CBS Inc.
- Copyright © – CBS Inc.
- Mixed At – The Hit Factory
- Mixed At – The Village Recorder
- Mastered At – Sterling Sound
- Lacquer Cut At – Sterling Sound
Credits
- Bass – Phil Chen
- Design – Mark Larson
- Drums – Max Weinberg
- Engineer – Bill Drescher
- Engineer [Additional] – Clif Jones
- Engineer [Assistant] – Jay Wieloszynski
- Guitar – Joe Sweeney (2), Mike Landau
- Keyboards – Mitchell Froom
- Management [Management + Direction] – Tommy Mottola
- Mastered By – George Marino
- Mixed By – Bill Drescher (tracks: B2, B6), David Thoener (tracks: A1 to A6, B1, B3 to B5)
- Percussion – Mike Fischer
- Photography By – Caroline Greyshock
- Piano, Organ – Ian McLagan
- Producer – Bill Drescher
- Producer [Assistance], Mixed By [Assistance] – Max Weinberg
- Written-By – J. Eddie
Notes
Released: 1986
Mixed at: The Hit Factory except for "Stranded" and "Living Doll" mixed at Village Recorder.
Mastered at: Sterling Sound.
Genre: Rock
Length: 45:10
Label - Columbia Records
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