Little Steven Announces New Album ‘Soulfire’

Guitarist Little Steven has confirmed the release of his solo album Soulfire on May 19 via Wicked Cool/Big Machine/UMe. The new record marks the first solo album by The E Street Band guitarist Stevie Van Zandt since 1999’s Born Again Savage.

Included among the 12 tracks making up Soulfire is the previously shared lead single “Saint Valentine’s Day,” which appeared originally on the 2009 The Cocktail Slippers’ album Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre. Van Zandt arranged and produced the LP at his Renegade Studios in New York City, while enlsiting the assistance of co-producers Geoff Sanoff and Marc Ribler. Centered on the Van Zandt’s “‘soul horns-meet-rock ‘n’ roll guitars’ approach he first pioneered on Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes’ classic first three albums,” the songs on the record were culled from across the guitarist’s career performing, producing, writing and arranging.

“I’ve always been very thematic with my work, very conceptual,” said Van Zandt. “I need a big picture, I can’t just do a collection of songs, that doesn’t work for me. In this case, the concept became me. Who am I? I’m kind of my own genre at this point. So I tried to pick material that when you added it all up, really represented me. So there are a couple of covers, a couple of new songs, and some of what I feel are the best songs I’ve written and co-written over the years. This record is me doing me.”

The record will be supported by a number of concerts staged by Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul, featuring original Asbury Jukes/Miami Horns saxophonists Stan Harrison and Eddie Manion. The recently resurrected band will appear on April 22 at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, New Jersey, followed by several additional headlining and festival stops.

Listen to “Saint Valentine’s Day” below:

Soulfire Tracklist

1. Soulfire
2. I’m Coming Back
3. The Blues Is My Business
4. I Saw The Light
5. Some Things Just Don’t Change
6. Love On The Wrong Side Of Town
7. The City Weeps Tonight
8. Down And Out In New York City
9. Standing In The Line Of Fire
10. Saint Valentine’s Day
11. I Don’t Want TO Go Home
12. Ride The Night Away