MovieChat Forums > Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) Discussion > The Greatness of John Cafferty

The Greatness of John Cafferty

posted 19 years ago by bittertim
26 replies | jump to latest

I am a huge Cafferty fan ever since I heard "On The Dark Side" the first time I saw Eddie and the Cruisers, I like his music a lot more than the people he was a supposed rip-off of (Springsteen, Mellencamp.

His "Tough All Over" Album is one of the best releases of the 80's. His "Roadhouse is also a great album with not a single dud song on the disc. And I know I'm in the minority here but the soundtrack to Eddie and the Cruisers 2 is far superior than the first. Every song on that album is great.

I urge you to listen to songs like "Open Road" and "Garden of Eden" and ask yourself why these songs are not staples of radio today.

I wish Cafferty would release some new material. It has been 16 years since his last studio album.
I would buy it in a heartbeat.

[–] iggypoprocks 18 years ago

I saw him last night at the Trump Marina. Awesome show. They can still rock hard ... especially Tunes. He was amazing.

[–] acerbobg 18 years ago

I was also in the crowd at Trump Marina Sat night. WOW, whatta show! I have follwed JC & BBB for a loooong time (late 80's), but hadn't seem them for like 10 years live. I was amazed that "Tunes" still plays so well!. This guy is 66 years YOUNG, and what stamina! I only wish they would play live more often, and especially in the Philly/S. Jersey area.

I also agree that Roadhouse is an underappreciated album. Bob

[–] mcqueenfan 17 years ago

IGGY'S THE KING OF PUNK MAN.THE ROOTS.THE FOUNDATION.DA STOOGES.THE GREATEST ROCK BAND OF THE WORLD.

[–] cynical_lefty 18 years ago

I only disagree with you on three points;

1) I like Springsteen more.

2) "Roadhouse" is indeed a great record, but I've never cared for the song Customary Thing. If I had to pick a "dud" on the disc, it would be that one.

3) I love both, but I prefer the original soundtrack over the sequel.

Other than that, everything you said was spot on!

[–] jeromejunior 18 years ago

seeing him for the first time ever next weekend. Hope the reality lives up to my expectations.

[–] centericecat65 18 years ago

My husband and I got to see John and the band 5 years ago. We LOVED it. We just wish he would make some more trips out to CA. I can't seem to find out when and where they might be performing.

[–] Selish70 18 years ago

I've seen him/them perform twice, both times kind of incidentally. Not bad.

[–] Kismetra 18 years ago

John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band are fantastic. I love their music, and not just in the movie. Hearts on Fire from American Anthem is another soundtrack favorite. These guys deserve far more credit than they actually received for these soundtracks.

[–] nyntv 18 years ago

Saw John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band in the mid-80's at a great club called The Living Room in Providence. Those guys were amazing and put on an outrageous show. Haven't seen them since, but their music is most certainly in my iPod! "On the Dark Side" is one of my persoanl top-10 all time favourites, ever. Great track!

[–] sox1834 18 years ago

my friends went out and saw them with Three Dog Night!! there so lucky. i was sick. they sing one of my fav. songs (tender years)

[–] jmb721 17 years ago

I'm so jealous of all of you that have had the opportunity to see John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band live! I didn't realize they were still performing live, but I'm delighted they are. I'll have to do a little research to see where / when they're appearing. Thanks!

[–] acerbobg 17 years ago

These guys still put on a tremendous show, and will be playing in AC this September at the House of Blues. I believ they have their own "sound", even if some doubters call JC, the "K-Mart Bruce". These are blusey rockers who can jam with the best of them, and give it all they got on stage, even after all these years! Bob

[–] huckones 17 years ago

John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band are fatally overshadowed by the fact that the band and music emulate Springsteen's style so closely one may say Cafferty rode on Springsteen's wave and continues to do so as the low cost and accessible concert ticket for Springsteen fans who cannot lay hold of an E-Street Band ticket. That is not to say Cafferty and the Beaver Brown band don't have a great sound - anymore than saying Southside Johnny is a Springsteen wanna-be coattail rider (he's just a wanna-be). Southside comes from Bruce's neighborhood so it's easy to connect the styles. Cafferty, from Rhode Island, is but a short wade across the Long Island Sound and Raritan Bay from Springsteen's home turf. I was confused myself the first time I heard "On The Dark Side", even though I used to sit outside the Stone Pony and Student Prince in the early 70's and strain to hear Bruce thru the walls (I was 14 or 15 at the time). So again, it's good music, really. It's just a shame the sound is originally Springsteen's and difficult if not impossible to individualize.

[–] acerbobg 17 years ago

I can't say for a certainty if the genesis of JC & BBB was a conscious effort on their parts to "copy" Bruce or not, but being of fan of both bands, there is plenty of original rockin sounds, and slow (Tender Years, N.Y.C. Song, Just a Matter of Time), from them to entertain me and many others for many years.

I know that JC & BBB played the Poney many times and were well received there. I rather think that they gained popularity at a time when Bruce + E-Street fanatics would just not accept anyone whose "sound" was anything close to theirs. And personally, I think Michael "Tunes" Antunes can hold his own with the "Big Man", Clarence Clemens any day of the week!

I know I will be in AC at the House of Blues on 9/21 to, once again be rocked by that little bar band from Rhode Island! Bob

[–] deviousace 17 years ago

I just saw them at the Mohegan Sun Wolf Den 4 nights ago. It was a free show but I definitely would pay to see them! It's the second time I saw them play there & they never disappoint live!
John & Tunes always come out into the audience for a few songs and also sign autographs after the show.
I highly recommend seeing them if you ever get the chance!

[–] acerbobg 17 years ago

glad to here the guys are still "in Tunes"! It is a shame they don't play many dates anymore, but I get my chance on the 21st to see them in AC. Can't wait! Bob

[–] acerbobg 17 years ago

WOW! just got back from seeing John Cafferty & Beaver Brown Band in AC at the House of Blues, and they still got it! What a great show with lots of energy on the stage. Tunes is just the most amazing Sax player and JC sounded great.

Bob

[–] gypsynerdowell 17 years ago

I too love JC & BBB I really love the second movie better than the first & the songs in the second movie just rock especially "Running Thru the Fire" and "Maryia". because of these two movies I picked up a couple of JC & BBB albums, and there in "My Rotation" constantly. Without the movies I would never have heard of these guys.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] jefgg 10 years ago

I heard John Cafferty and Bruce Springsteen are friends. Is that true?

[–] cynical_lefty 9 years ago

It is. Not sure if they're still in touch with each other anymore, but Bruce would frequently sit in with Beaver Brown in the mid-late '70's. I also recall seeing an interview with John from a few years back, in which he stated that after the first time he heard it, Bruce called him on the phone just to tell him how much he loved the song "Tender Years." So they were definitely well acquainted and had a mutual respect for each other when they were both coming up through the East Coast club scene in the '70's.

[–] cynical_lefty 9 years ago

Sorry, that was supposed to be a reply to jefgg's post about whether or not Springsteen and Cafferty were friends.

[–] evanevan 9 years ago

Beaver Brown was the great bar band of the 80s. I saw them play many times in The FastLane at Asbury Park and along with all the times at the Bottom Line in New York city and they play harder than any band working the clubs.Even one night in Newark when there were only 15 people in the club, they played their hearts out. It was always a party and they never failed to get the crowd going. John Cafferty is one of the greatly underrated songwriters of his time.

[–] freejazz38 9 years ago

hahahahahahahaahahahahahahahaha. Seriously, loser, you CAN'T be serious. Cliche'd schlock. Absolute crap. NJ residents should be embarrassed, and Bruce should kick his ass regularly

[–] RRPounder 9 years ago

New York City Song by John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band is simply amazing.

[–] freejazz38 9 years ago

If by amazing you mean lame, then yes, yes, I see you're point