New York, NY (Top40 Charts) In the fall of 2017, when
Little Steven landed in Liverpool on his sold out European tour with his newly reformed band the
Disciples of Soul in support of Soulfire, his first new album in nearly two decades, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician, songwriter and lifelong
Beatles fan played an extraordinary surprise set outside of the legendary Cavern Club as a tribute to the seminal band that inspired him and so many others to pick up a guitar and start a band after witnessing their musical revolution on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964. The intimate lunchtime gig saw
Little Steven aka Stevie Van Zandt lead his 15-strong band through rocking renditions of "Magical Mystery Tour," "Good Morning, Good Morning," "Got To Get You Into My Life," and "All You Need Is Love," alongside iconic songs famously performed by the nascent Fab Four, including "Boys" (originally by The Shirelles), "
Slow Down" (by Larry Williams) and "
Soldier Of Love" (first recorded by Arthur Alexander).
"Playing in the same venue where The
Beatles started their careers was a childhood dream of mine come true," says Van Zandt. "This was a band that set me on course for a life of music. For my rock 'n' roll religion, The Cavern is the first sacred site (after the 4 clubs in Hamburg they played!). It was an honor - no, make that an epiphany - to perform there."
Fortunately for those that weren't there to witness this once-in-a-lifetime event, the concert was professionally filmed and expertly recorded by Van Zandt's touring film and audio crew and is now available on CD/DVD as Macca To Mecca via Wicked Cool Records/UMe. The 10-song love letter to the
Beatles kicks off with a riveting performance of "I Saw Her Standing There" recorded at The Roundhouse in London in November of 2017 with a special appearance by Paul McCartney.
Macca To Mecca, which was previously only available as part of the vinyl box set and Blu-ray editions of his concert album, Soulfire Live!, includes the complete Cavern Club concert in both video and audio, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and a special documentary that sees Van Zandt honored with a brick in the club's hallowed Wall of Fame before leading his band through swift rehearsals of
Beatles songs mere minutes ahead of their performance.
The Macca To Mecca concert audio has also been added to a newly expanded 4CD version of SOULFIRE LIVE!, also out today. Culled from the best performances from the band's North American and European concerts, this live collection features Van Zandt and the
Disciples of Soul taking listeners through a musical history lesson as they blast through an arsenal of songs spanning rock, pop, soul, blues, funk, doo-wop, reggae and everything in between. Nearly every song from his 2016 album SOULFIRE is represented along with inspired covers and classic tracks from his early catalog. Among the album's many highlights are original songs from throughout
Little Steven's illustrious solo career - including classics like "Standing In The Line Of Fire" and "I Don't Want To Go Home" - alongside a number of favorite cover versions like The Electric Flag's "Groovin' Is Easy," Etta James' "Blues Is My Business," and
James Brown's "Down And Out In New York City. In addition, SOULFIRE LIVE! includes Van Zandt's inimitable introductions, detailing each song's unique history and singular spot in his life and illustrious career. Disc 3 showcases special guest appearances from some of Van Zand'ts closest friends, collaborators, and favorite artists and includes inspired versions of Moby Grape's "Can't Be So Bad" performed with the legendary San Francisco band's founding member, Jerry Miller; the Motown classic, "Can I Get A Witness," performed with New Jersey's own Richie Sambora; The J. Geils Band's "Freeze Frame" with vocals from the one and only
Peter Wolf; and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" and
Little Steven's own "I Don't Want To Go Home," both joined by Bruce Springsteen.
MACCA TO MECCA TRACKLISTING
CD
I Saw Her Standing There (Intro)
2. I Saw Her Standing There (feat. Paul McCartney)
3. Cavern Club Intro
4. Magical Mystery Tour
5. Boys
6. Slow Down (Intro)
7. Slow Down
8. Some Other Guy
9. Soldier Of Love (Intro)
10. Soldier Of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)
11. Good Morning Good Morning
12. Got To Get You Into My Life
13. All You Need Is Love
14. Birthday
DVD
1. I Saw Her Standing There (Intro)
2. I Saw Her Standing There (feat. Paul McCartney)
3. Cavern Club Featurette
4. Cavern Club
5. Magical Mystery Tour
6. Boys
7. Slow Down (Intro)
8. Slow Down
9. Some Other Guy
10. Soldier Of Love (Intro)
11. Soldier Of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)
12. Good Morning Good Morning
13. Got To Get You Into My Life
14. All You Need Is Love
15. Birthday
SOULFIRE LIVE! (4CD) TRACKLISTING
CD1
1. Mike Stoller (Intro)
2. Sweet Soul Music
3. Soulfire
4. I'm Coming Back
5. Blues Is My Business (Intro)
6. Blues Is My Business
7. Love On The Wrong Side Of Town
8. Until The Good Is Gone
9.
Angel Eyes
10. Some Things Just Don't Change
11. Saint Valentine's Day (Intro)
12. Saint Valentine's Day
13. Standing In The Line Of Fire (Intro)
14. Standing In The Line Of Fire
15. I Saw The Light
16. Salvation
CD2
1. The City Weeps
Tonight (Intro)
2. The City Weeps Tonight
3. Down and Out in New York City
4. Princess Of
Little Italy (Intro)
5. Princess Of
Little Italy
6. Solidarity
7. Leonard Peltier
8. I Am A Patriot
9. Groovin' Is Easy
10. Ride The Night Away (Intro)
11. Ride The Night Away
12. Bitter Fruit
13. Forever
14. I Don't Want To Go Home
15. Out Of The
Darkness (Intro)
16. Out Of The Darkness
CD3
1. Checkpoint Charlie (Intro)
2. Checkpoint Charlie
3. Even The Losers
4. Can't Be So Bad (feat. Jerry Miller)
5.You Shook Me All Night Long
6. Working Class Hero
7. We Gotta Get Out Of This Place
8. Can I Get A Witness (feat. Richie Sambora)
9. It's Not My Cross To Bear (Intro)
10. It's Not My Cross To Bear
11. Freeze Frame (feat.
Peter Wolf)
12. The Time Of Your Life
13. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out (feat. Bruce Springsteen)
14. I Don't Want To Go Home (feat. Bruce Springsteen)
15. Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)
CD4 - Macca To Mecca
1. Saw Her Standing There (Intro)
2. I Saw Her Standing There (feat. Paul McCartney)
3. Cavern Club Intro
4. Magical Mystery Tour
5. Boys
6. Slow Down (Intro)
7. Slow Down
8. Some Other Guy
9. Soldier Of Love (Intro)
10. Soldier Of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)
11. Good Morning Good Morning
12. Got To Get You Into My Life
13. All You Need Is Love
14. Birthday
