Surrounding himself with a sensational cast of studio pros including drummer
Steve Jordan, bass players
TM Stevens/
Doug Wimbish (who would later join the ranks of
Living Colour), and keyboard guru
Bernie Worrell, in 1987,
Little Steven would release
Freedom No Compromise --
the E-Street-er's third solo record to date. Synth-ladden textures, samples, and programming aside,
Freedom No Compromise is an ambitious if somewhat over-produced effort. Although, certainly not as accomplished as
Steven's sensational debut
Men Without Women, the album features some fair to very good material. With a heavy political agenda in toe,
"Freedom" opens the record.
"Freedom" is quickly followed by the riveting
"Trail of Broken Tears" -- the latter hindered only by some ill-advised drum programming.
Little Steven's weathered voice is in full-on
Bob Dylan-meets-
Keith Richards mode as he pronounces that "there ain't no love here, love's been sacrificed, promises buried beneath, the trail of broken tears." The Latin-flavored
"Pretoria" runs side by side with the album's best track, the monstrous-sounding
"Bitter Fruit" (a duet with
Ruben Blades. And although the track sounds like one big party, upon closer inspection, it's clear that the song is a solemn condemnation on the state of intrusive U.S. anti-communism Reaganomics in Latin America. Surprisingly, in Europe, the track proved to be a massive hit for
Little Steven. Coupled with the success of another one of
Freedom No Compromise's tracks,
"No More Partys," the E-Street sideman would return to the old continent as an arena sensation in his own right. Another track worth noting is
"Native American," a lackluster collaboration with
Bruce Springsteen which yet again gets lost in some weak programming and over-produced synth action that results in the song sounding like a bad
UB40 outtake.
Freedom No Compromise comes to an end with
"Sanctuary" (a not so distant cousin of
"Bitter Fruit"). Overall, a good effort, but not a great one. For a better taste of the artist, spend some quality time with
Men Without Women. ~ John Franck