Cafferty had been enjoying a modest amount of success as a bar act in New England when he was picked to provide music for an independent film called Eddie and the Cruisers in 1983. The film dealt with a Springsteen/Dylan-esque fictional rocker who creates a masterpiece album but is prevented from making the transition from good time rocker to serious artist by the evil executives in the music industry. The master tapes to the album disappear and, at the same time, reports of Eddie’s death surface. The idea was built on the myth that …entire summary
John Cafferty - guitar, vocals
Bob Cotoia - keyboards
Gary Gramolini - guitars
Kenny Jo Silva - drums
Pat Lupo - bass
Michael Antunes - saxophone
Cafferty had been enjoying a modest amount of success as a bar act in New England when he was picked to provide music for an independent film called Eddie and the Cruisers in 1983. The film dealt with a Springsteen/Dylan-esque fictional rocker who creates a masterpiece album but is prevented from making the transition from good time rocker to serious artist by the evil executives in the music industry. The master tapes to the album disappear and, at the same time, reports of Eddie’s death surface. The idea was built on the myth that Jim Morrison of the Doors faked his death to exit the music industry and now lives quietly in Paris.
Needless to say, the movie was a huge hit in the new media of home video tapes. It spawned a hit song called "On The Dark Side," and single handedly launched the national career of John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. Cafferty and his group, who could never live down the comparisons to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, became a successful college touring act.
The obvious debt to Springsteen is undeniable. "On The Dark Side” is Cafferty’s rewrite of the Boss classic "She’s The One.” "Tender Years” sounds remarkably like it was built around the same structure as Springsteen’s 1975 epic "Jungleland”; but even so, John and his band have a charm all their own.
This recording was made at a large Spring Break event in Daytona Florida where Cafferty was the headline act. With the exception of the aforementioned "On The Dark Side” hit, most of the material here is somewhat predictable, but the show will give you a good idea of the group’s ability to put on an entertaining show for the MTV generation of that time.
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