Love's So Tough

Last updated
Love's So Tough
Lovessotough.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 14, 1979
Recorded1978
StudioAgency Recording, Cleveland, Ohio; Asterick Recording, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Genre Rock, Hard Rock, Heartland Rock
Length37:30
Label MCA
Producer The Slimmer Twins (Steve Popovich and Marty Mooney)
Iron City Houserockers chronology
Love's So Tough
(1979)
Have a Good Time but Get Out Alive!
(1980)
Singles from Love's So Tough
  1. "Hideaway / Blondie"
    Released: July 1979
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Christgau's Record Guide B [2]
Rolling Stone Favorable [3]

Love's So Tough is a studio album by the Iron City Houserockers. Released in 1979, the Iron City Houserocker's first album attempts to capture the presence of what was essentially a Pittsburgh bar band playing to a blue collar crowd every night. While Joe Grushecky's songwriting skills are clearly still developing, his potential is visible in cuts such as "Dance With Me" and "Heroes Are Hard to Find". The general sound of the album is reminiscent of a slightly "harder" Bruce Springsteen, and the heavy use of harmonica would be a distinguishing factor of the Houserockers for several albums to come.

Contents

Background

In the spring of 1977 Joe Grushecky's brother Jon sent him a full page advertisement from Billboard , about the release of a Ronnie Spector record on Cleveland International Records. The band was known at that time as the Brick Alley Band, and they sent a demo tape to Steve Popovich at Cleveland International Records. After a personal phone call from Steve Popovich, Joe Grushecky and his band drove out to Cleveland and under the guidance of Steve Popovich and Marty Mooney, made a series of recordings that landed a deal with MCA Records. [4]

The song "Blondie" was originally recorded during the Love's So Tough sessions and issued as the B-side to the "Hideaway" single. [5] The song would go on to be completely re-written with the help of Steve Van Zandt and re-recorded during the Have a Good Time... But Get Out Alive sessions and issued on that album in 1980. [6]

The Chuck Berry song "School Days (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell)" was also recorded for the album but was cut from the final release. The track was then released on Pumping Iron & Sweating Steel: The Best of the Iron City Houserockers . [7]

A promotional-only picture disc LP containing an exclusive pre-release mix of the album as well as the track "Blondie" was released early to attendees of the 1979 NARM National Convention in North Canton, Ohio. [8]

The album was reissued in CD format in 1999 by Rock Heritage, and again in 2019 in remastered digital format by Cleveland International Records for its 40th anniversary. [9]

Track listing

Side one

  1. "I Can't Take It" (Joe Grushecky) – 3:54
  2. "Hideaway" (Fred Goodman) – 4:31
  3. "Turn It Up" (Grushecky) – 4:54
  4. "Dance with Me" (Grushecky, Art Nardini) – 4:46

Side two

  1. "Love So Tough" (Grushecky, Gil Snyder) – 3:42
  2. "Veronica" (Grushecky) – 3:38
  3. "Heroes Are Hard to Find" (Grushecky, Nardini, Gary Scalese) – 2:55
  4. "Stay with Me Tonight" (Grushecky) – 4:43
  5. "I'm Lucky" (Grushecky, Nardini) – 4:27

Personnel

Iron City Houserockers

with:

"Turn It Up" was recorded at Asterick Recording, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Chart performance

Chart (1979)Peak
position
Billboard Bubbling Under the Top LP's201
Cash Box Top Albums164

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Wilson</span> American musician (1946–1998)

Carl Dean Wilson was an American musician who co-founded the Beach Boys. He was their lead guitarist, the youngest sibling of bandmates Brian and Dennis, and the group's de facto leader in the early to mid-1970s. He was also the band's musical director on stage from 1965 until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Mason</span> British singer-songwriter and guitarist

David Thomas Mason is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist from Worcester, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic, and went on to play and record with many notable pop and rock musicians, including Paul McCartney, George Harrison, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Steve Winwood, Fleetwood Mac, Delaney & Bonnie, Leon Russell, and Cass Elliot.

<i>Retro Active</i> 1993 compilation album by Def Leppard

Retro Active is a compilation album by the English rock band Def Leppard, released in 1993. The album features touched-up versions of B-sides and previously unreleased recordings from the band's recording sessions from 1984 to 1993. The album charted at number 9 on the Billboard 200 and No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blondie Chaplin</span> South African musician; member of the Beach Boys

Terrence William "Blondie" Chaplin is a South African singer and guitarist from Durban, where he played in the band the Flames in the mid to late 1960s. From 1972 to 1973, he was a member of the Beach Boys and contributed to their albums Carl and the Passions – "So Tough" (1972) and Holland (1973). During his stint with the Beach Boys, he sang the lead on the popular song, "Sail On Sailor". Chaplin was a long-term backing vocalist, percussionist, and acoustic rhythm guitarist for the Rolling Stones on their recordings and tours over a 15-year period, starting in 1997. Chaplin has released two solo albums, Blondie Chaplin (1977) and Between Us (2008).

The Iron City Houserockers were an American rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, led by the singer and guitarist Joe Grushecky, from 1976 to 1984.

"School Days" is a rock-and-roll song written and recorded by Chuck Berry and released by Chess Records as a single in March 1957 and on the LP After School Session two months later. It is one of his best-known songs and is often considered a rock-and-roll anthem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Reunion Tour</span> 1999–2000 concert tour by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

The Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Reunion Tour was a lengthy, top-grossing concert tour featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band that took place over 1999 and 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Flames</span>

The Flames were a South African musical group formed in 1962, with their best-known lineup consisting of guitarists and vocalists Steve Fataar and Blondie Chaplin, bassist Edries "Brother" Fataar, and drummer Ricky Fataar. Considered one of the most important and unique bands of 1960s South Africa, they stood out with their blend of soul and rock music, Indian background, and material centered around albums and covers rather than singles and original songs. Their 1968 cover of The Impressions' "For Your Precious Love" reached #1 on the domestic charts and has since been considered their most popular and enduring song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. M. Stevens</span> American bass guitarist (1951–2024)

Thomas Michael Stevens was an American bass guitarist from New York City. He recorded and toured with an array of rock, R&B, and pop acts as a session musician and also worked as a solo performer.

<i>Poletown</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Donnie Iris and the Cruisers

Poletown is the eighth studio album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1997. It was Iris' third post-major label release, and was released independently on Seathru Records.

"Light of Day", sometimes written as "(Just Around the Corner to the) Light of Day", is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and performed initially by Joan Jett and Michael J. Fox with their fictitious band The Barbusters in the 1987 film Light of Day. The song has since become a staple in Jett's concerts.

Joe Grushecky is a rock musician in the United States known for his work with the Iron City Houserockers in the late 1970s and early 1980s; and for his works since the late the 1980s with his act Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers; and for his solo career. After his days with the Iron City Houserockers he continued to have moderate success, mainly in the Pittsburgh area.

<i>Have a Good Time but Get Out Alive!</i> 1980 studio album by Iron City Houserockers

Have a Good Time But Get Out Alive! is a studio album by the Iron City Houserockers. Although well-received critically, commercial success eluded the Iron City Houserockers outside of the rust belt. Among the strongest tracks are the title track, "Don't Let Them Push You Around", "We're Not Dead Yet", the two-part medley of "Old Man Bar" and Junior's Bar", and "Rock Ola" - Grushecky's first truly competent ballad.

<i>Blood on the Bricks</i> (Iron City Houserockers album) 1981 studio album by Iron City Houserockers

Blood on the Bricks is a studio album by the Iron City Houserockers released in 1981. A more restrained album than their previous two efforts, the album was produced by Steve Cropper instead of hard rock producers as on Have a Good Time but Get out Alive!. Among the more popular songs on the album were the title track, along with "Saints and Sinners", and "Be My Friend" which includes a guitar riff in tribute to Van Morrison's "Here Comes the Night"; all of which still feature in Joe Grushecky's modern live performances. Like the band's previous two albums, Blood on the Bricks would be praised by critics but largely ignored by the public. Before their next album the band would change their name to simply "The Houserockers" in an attempt to achieve success outside of their native region.

<i>Cracking Under Pressure</i> 1983 studio album by Iron City Houserockers

Cracking Under Pressure is a 1983 studio album by the Iron City Houserockers. Cracking Under Pressure was the Iron City Houserockers' fourth and final album under the moniker and also their final album released under MCA. Veterans Ned E. Rankin and Marc Reisman had left the band and in their place was heavy keyboards and synthesizers, as was the style at the time. Also unlike previous albums, Cracking Under Pressure included several cover songs: "Loving Cup" by Earth Quake and "Hit the Road Jack" by Percy Mayfield. The songs "Angels", "Cracking Under Pressure", and "There'll Never be Enough Time" have appeared on several later compilations, most of the rest of this album is absent from later compilations and live shows. The band was dropped from MCA Records two days after the album was released, and six months after that - in June 1984 - the band broke up. When the band resurfaced in 1989, it would go by "Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers" - the name by which they still tour today.

<i>Pumping Iron & Sweating Steel</i> 1992 compilation album by Iron City Houserockers

Pumping Iron & Sweating Steel: The Best of the Iron City Houserockers is a compilation album by the Iron City Houserockers. Released in 1992 under Rhino Records, it was at the time the only Iron City Houserockers material available on compact disc.

<i>Tuesday Knight</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Tuesday Knight

Tuesday Knight is the eponymous debut album by American recording artist and actress Tuesday Knight. The album was released by Parc/CBS Records in August 1987 on Vinyl and cassette, and was accompanied by the lead single "Out of Control".

<i>No Pier Pressure</i> 2015 studio album by Brian Wilson

No Pier Pressure is the tenth studio album by American musician Brian Wilson, released April 7, 2015 on Capitol Records. Originally planned as a follow-up to the Beach Boys' 2012 reunion album That's Why God Made the Radio, No Pier Pressure is the first solo Wilson LP devoted primarily to new and original material since That Lucky Old Sun (2008). It features guest performances by contemporary artists Sebu Simonian of Capital Cities, Kacey Musgraves, She & Him, Nate Ruess of Fun and Peter Hollens. Original Beach Boys members Al Jardine and David Marks also feature alongside former band member Blondie Chaplin.

<i>Pollinator</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Blondie

Pollinator is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band Blondie, released on May 5, 2017 by BMG Rights Management.

<i>American Babylon</i> 1995 studio album by Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers

American Babylon is an album by Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers, released in 1995. Grushecky supported the album by playing some East Coast and Midwest shows with Bruce Springsteen, his producer.

References

  1. AllMusic review
  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: I". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved February 27, 2019 via robertchristgau.com.
  3. Marcus, Greil (September 6, 1979). "Rough bar-band stuff from Pittsburgh". Rolling Stone. New York, New York: Straight Arrow Publishers Inc.
  4. Liner notes from Love's So Tough 1999 re-issue
  5. "Iron City Houserockers – Hideaway (1979, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  6. Liner notes from Have a Good Time... But Get Out Alive 1999 re-issue
  7. "Music.aol.com" . Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  8. "Iron City House Rockers - Love's So Tough". Discogs .
  9. "Love's So Tough". Orcd.co.