LITTLE STEVEN : FREEDOM NO COMPROMISE

1. Freedom
2. Trail Of Broken Treaties
3. Pretoria
4. Bitter Fruit (with Ruben Blades)
5. No More Party's
6. Can't You Feel The Fire
7. Native American (with Bruce Springsteen)
8. Sanctuary

Label : Manhattan Records

Release Date : 1987

Length : 44:50

Review (AllMusic) : 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.