Freedom – No Compromise

Freedom – No Compromise is the third solo album by Little Steven released in 1987.

Freedom - No Compromise
Studio album by
Little Steven
ReleasedMay 12, 1987
GenreDance-rock, world
Length44:29
LabelEMI
ProducerLittle Steven
Little Steven chronology
Voice of America
(1984)		 Freedom - No Compromise
(1987)		 Revolution
(1989)
Singles from Freedom - No Compromise
  1. "Bitter Fruit"
    Released: May, 1987
  2. "No More Party's"
    Released: September, 1987
  3. "Trail of Broken Treaties"
    Released: October, 1987
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Robert ChristgauC[2]
Kerrang! [3]

Following on the moderate success of Artists United Against Apartheid's "Sun City", Steven Van Zandt's next record was a full-on dance-rock record, verging in places on world music. Bruce Springsteen and Rubén Blades join Van Zandt on lead vocals on "Native American" and "Bitter Fruit", respectively. Politics were even more at the forefront than before, centering on U.S. transgressions in Central America, South Africa, and against Native Americans. By this time, the old Disciples of Soul band had almost completely disappeared.

In 2019, the album was remastered for release as part of Van Zandt's career-spanning box set Rock N Roll Rebel: The Early Work. The digital deluxe edition of the album was released on November 29, 2019 containing five bonus tracks, along with the reissued Bitter Fruit bonus EP.

Track listing

All songs written and arranged by Little Steven

  1. "Freedom" - 5:14
  2. "Trail of Broken Treaties" - 6:05
  3. "Pretoria" - 5:16
  4. "Bitter Fruit" - 6:18
  5. "No More Party's" - 5:40
  6. "Can't You Feel the Fire" - 4:38
  7. "Native American" - 5:38
  8. "Sanctuary" - 6:04

2019 Digital Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks
  1. "Bitter Fruit (Cana No Mas Dub) (UK 12" Single - 1987)" - 6:48
  2. "Fruta Amarga (Spanish 12" Single - 1987)" - 5:53
  3. "No More Party's (For Those About to Party...) (Rock Mix) (12" Single - 1987)" - 5:38
  4. "No More Party's (Funky Party Edit) (R&B Mix) (12" Single - 1987)" - 4:18
  5. "Vote Jesse In (Jesse Jackson Campaign Song - 1988)" - 4:45

2019 "Bitter Fruit" Bonus EP
  1. "Bitter Fruit (Cana No Mas Dub) (UK 12" Single - 1987)" - 6:48
  2. "Bitter Fruit (No Pasaran Mix) (UK 12" Single - 1987)" - 8:18
  3. "Bitter Fruit (Platano Quemado Mix) (UK 12" Single - 1987)" - 6:54
  4. "No More Party's (For Those About to Party...) (Rock Mix) (12" Single - 1987)" - 5:38
  5. "No More Party's (Funky Party Edit) (R&B Mix) (12" Single - 1987)" - 4:18

Personnel
  • Steve Van Zandt - Guitar, dulcimer, vocals
  • Steve Jordan, David Beal, Keith LeBlanc - drums
  • Romeo Williams, Doug Wimbish, T.M. Stevens - bass
  • Bernie Worrell, Paul Shaffer, Greg Phillinganes, Tommy Mandel, Richard Scher - keyboards
  • Bruce Springsteen - vocals on "Native American"
  • Rubén Blades - vocals on "Bitter Fruit", percussion
  • David Beal, Monti Louis Ellison - percussion
  • Hilario Soto - Toyo
  • Zoë Yanakis - Bass Flute
  • Kenny Moore, Cobra Jones, Will Downing, Craig Derry, Wendell Morrison, Floyd Westerman, Tina B., Audrey Wheeler, Brenda White-King, Steve Jordan, Oren Waters, Julia Waters, Luther Waters, Maxine Waters, Debra Byrd, Elicia Wright, Benjamin Newberry, Sechaba Cultural Singers, Zola Dube, Tshepo Tsotetsi, Moeketsi Bodibe, Tnemba Ntinga, Mweli Mzizi, South African Students Committee of UCLA, Abner Mariri, Mendiswa Mzamne, Ronald Kunene, Kindiza Ngubeni, Nonhlanhla Simelane, Motlole Moseki - background vocals

Reception

Freedom - No Compromise retrospectively received three out of five stars from John Franck of Allmusic. He claims that "...in 1987, Little Steven would release Freedom No Compromise - the E Street-er's third solo record to date. Synth-laden 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. Overall, a good effort, but not a great one. For a better taste of the artist, spend some quality time with Men Without Women."

Chart Performance

Album
Chart (1987) Position
The Billboard 200 80
Dutch Albums Chart[4] 51
Swedish Albums Chart[5] 3
Norwegian Albums Chart[6] 11
German Albums Chart[7] 48

Singles
Single Chart (1987) Position
"Trail of Broken Treaties" Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks[8] 29
"Bitter Fruit" Norwegian Singles Chart[6] 25
"Bitter Fruit" Swedish Singles Chart[5] 12
"Bitter Fruit" Dutch Singles Chart[4] 25
"Bitter Fruit" German Singles Chart[7] 69
  • "No More Party's" was released as a single but did not chart.
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References
  1. Franck, John. "Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul Freedom No Compromise review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  2. Christgau, Robert (December 1, 1987). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  3. Hotten, Jon (28 May 1987). "Little Steven 'Freedom No Compromise'". Kerrang!. 147. London, UK: Spotlight Publications ltd. p. 13.
  4. "Dutch Charts > Little Steven"
  5. "Swedish Charts > Little Steven"
  6. "Norwegian Charts > Little Steven"
  7. "Charts.de > Little Steven (in German)"
  8. "Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul Songs (Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography) Archived 2011-12-02 at the Wayback Machine"
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