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Session #10
Artist: The Iron City House Rockers: Love’s So Tough
Time: 38 minutes
Calories: 257
Songs: 9
Calories burned per minute: 6.77
Calories burned per song: 29
Iron City Houserockers were started in 1976 as the Brick Alley Band by band leader...

Session #10
Artist: The Iron City House Rockers: Love’s So Tough
Time: 38 minutes
Calories: 257
Songs: 9
Calories burned per minute: 6.77
Calories burned per song: 29

Iron City Houserockers were started in 1976 as the Brick Alley Band by band leader Joe Grushecky, whose former life was as a high school special education teacher in Pittsburgh. The band was a fairly typical bar band. It was distinguished by Grushecky’s taut, focused songs about life in the heartland and a distinctive, harmonica-and-guitar-driven sound borrowing heavily from the influence of the Rolling Stones and the J. Geils Band. Most of the members of the Iron City Houserockers came from a genuine blue-collar background: Art Nardini was the son of a mechanic and a part-time college student, Joe Grushecky was a coal miner’s son, and Gil Snyder’s father was a construction worker. In 1977 they signed with Cleveland International Records, headed by former Epic Records A&R chief and Pittsburgh native Steve Popovich. Popovich is credited with christening them the Iron City Houserockers, but this caused some problems when touring outside their native Pittsburgh—especially when they played Cleveland. Once, their tires were slashed. The band’s debut album, Love’s So Tough, was released in April 1979. With dense, no-frills production by Popovich and Marty Mooney (known as “The Slimmer Twins”). The album successfully captured the band’s live sound. “Hideaway” (the first single) and “Dance With Me” were viewed as standout cuts. Even if I were not aware of the Pittsburgh, PA connection, I would have guessed as such due to them thanking the Steelers so prominently in the liner. I picked this up at a flea market for a mere quarter. I figured for that price it was worth the investment to see if the derby hats on the back were worn because they were A/C D/C fans or just because they liked the show Taxi. Seems maybe more like the latter. “ I Can’t Take It” starts the platter off and it is very evident the bar rock side of the band. It almost hits you in the face like all of the stale, spilled beer (and barkeepers friend used to clean it up) when you walk into one of those basement dive bars. You know that smell. Blues and piano rock…like Eddie and The Cruisers soundtrack style. I am hearing harmonicas and Springsteen. “Hideaway” follows and is just more of the same. Actually, IS IT the same? Very similar. “Turn It Up” is strictly ballad, and weirdly confirms some of that A/C D/C influence I was looking and hoping for. Imagine Bon Scott on “Big Balls”. The next tune contains a nod I never expected in the harmonicas. “Dance With Me” starts out very Dylan, not only in the harmonica riff, but also in vocal style. Soft and gentle with Billy Joel story time elements. They are blue collar after all. “Love So Tough” A. K. A. The title track is next. And it better be good, right? They named the album in its honor. Actually so far it is one of the better tunes. More energy and power, and oh yeah, FREAKING COW BELL!!! I’ve got a fever… (#seewhatididthere). “Veronica” is next and is the obligatory girl song. This side does seem more rocking…or should I say HOUSE rocking (#seewhatididthere) than Side 1. Mayberry those beers have finally kicked in. “Heroes are Hard to Find” was a little more of a let down. I found myself daydreaming during this one. The last two songs are “Stay with Me Tonight” and “I’m Lucky”. The first is another surprise in that it sounds like Elvis Costello guests on vocals. I think maybe some of The Houserockers cover set is leaking through. It’s another slow churned turn. The latter is all power chords, bar chords, and bar stools. An homage to the Steelworkers community they serve and who most likely supports them in return. It has some really sarcastic guitar leads and solos. You know, wanky. Steely Dan?? (#seewhatididthere). It should be noted, the production values are through the roof! Overall though, meh. So, yea, with that officially ends randomecordworkoutspringtraining2018! Season six is just on the horizon, so stay “tooned”

The Iron City Houserockers: “Love So Tough”

https://youtu.be/nzZAWpQyvts

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