New Jersey 1994

by Bruce Springsteen / Joe Grushecky

In 1976, Joe Grushecky, a high school special education teacher from Pittsburgh, started the Brick Alley Band, a typical bar band of the day. The group signed to Cleveland International Records in 1977, who rechristened them the Iron City Houserockers. The band's first album, Love's So Tough, released in 1979, was a relative success. Their next release, Have a Good Time but Get out Alive! (1980), was an even bigger one. Two more albums followed: Blood on the Bricks in 1981 and Cracking Under Pressure in '83. By 1984, the band wasn't selling any longer however, and they were dropped by MCA Records. They broke up shortly thereafter. Following the breakup Grushecky returned home to Pittsburgh where he retook his teaching job. He also began to sharpen his song writing. He released a single entitled 'Good Bye Steeltown'. Finally, in 1989, he re-emerged with his new act, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers. Their first release, Rock & Real, came in 1989. It would be followed by seven more albums, including 1995's American Babylon, produced by Bruce Springsteen. Joe and Bruce had been friends since 1980 and had always planned to work together. While recording the album, one night Joe and the Housebreakers had a gig at the Marz Club on the Jersey shore, for which Bruce joined the group throughout quite an amazing set. Available on this CD for the first time, this legendary show, rarely heard before (despite being the subject of an FM Radio Broadcast at the time), reveals a relaxed and intimate performance, which included too an appearance from Dion - a huge and long term influence on both Bruce and Joe - with whom a stunning version of his old hit 'The Wanderer' is played. This 80 minute show is a true delight to hear and a little piece of Springsteen history that few fans are even aware exists.