{"id":20802,"date":"1988-09-15T11:00:00","date_gmt":"1988-09-15T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/?p=20802"},"modified":"2026-02-25T21:37:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T05:37:16","slug":"matr-southside-johnny-little-steven-and-bruce-springsteen-all-i-needed-was-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/1988\/09\/15\/matr-southside-johnny-little-steven-and-bruce-springsteen-all-i-needed-was-you\/","title":{"rendered":"All I Needed Was You"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Little Steven may have written it, but on the evening of December 17, 2000, it belonged to three longtime friends.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;All I Needed Was You&#8221; was the second track on Southside Johnny&#8217;s 1991 don&#8217;t-call-it-a-comeback album, <em>Better Days<\/em>. (Its first three tracks&#8211;&#8220;Coming Back,&#8221; &#8220;All I Needed Was You,&#8221; and &#8220;It&#8217;s Been a Long Time&#8221; certainly send a pointed message, though.)<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;All I Needed Was You&#8221; sounds like classic Southside Johnny, which is to say it sounds like classic Steve Van Zandt, who wrote most of the tracks on\u00a0<em>Better Days <\/em>(&#8220;All the Way Home&#8221; was a notable exception) as well as many of Southside&#8217;s greatest songs throughout his career.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"758\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ueh1z_w4umk?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<p>But despite the close bond between Southside, Steve, and Bruce (who wrote his fair share of Southside hits as well), the three lifelong amigos have only performed &#8220;All I Needed Was You&#8221; twice&#8211;on back-to-back nights&#8211;during Bruce&#8217;s original Asbury Park holiday benefit shows in December 2000.<\/p>\n<p>The song choice came as a surprise (one of many during those nights), capping off a Southside\/Little Steven mini-set in the middle of each show. All three songs were penned by Steve, starting with an old favorite, &#8220;This Time It&#8217;s For Real.&#8221; &#8220;Until the Good is Gone&#8221; (only performed by Bruce once before) followed.<\/p>\n<p>But it was the third selection that raised eyebrows at that first holiday show: &#8220;All I Needed Was You&#8221; was much more than a first-time Springsteen performance&#8211;it was a true team-up, with all three vocalists taking a turn at the lead.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"758\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oDeiR7JsZUA?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<p>And if the final minute-and-a-half&#8211;with Southside, Steve, and Bruce weaving a coda effortlessly as only musicians with a lifetime of performing together can do&#8211;doesn&#8217;t bring joy to your ears, I don&#8217;t know what will.<\/p>\n<p><strong>All I Needed Was You<br \/>\nFirst performed:<\/strong> December 17, 2000 (Asbury Park, NJ)<br \/>\n<strong>Last performed:<\/strong> December 18, 2000 (Asbury Park, NJ)<\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 August 28, 2020<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Twice only: Bruce, Southside, and Little Steven trade lead vocals on Steve&#8217;s standout track from Southside&#8217;s 1991 don&#8217;t-call-it-a-comeback album. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20808,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4,3612,5],"tags":[2869,480,87],"class_list":["post-20802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-me","category-great","category-meeting-across-the-river","tag-all-i-needed-was-you","tag-little-steven","tag-southside-johnny"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/stevesouthbruce.jpg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9w3Lk-5pw","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11077,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/1988\/09\/24\/matr-southside-johnny-and-bruce-springsteen-ive-been-working-too-hard\/","url_meta":{"origin":20802,"position":0},"title":"I&#8217;ve Been Working Too Hard","author":"Ken","date":"September 24, 1988","format":false,"excerpt":"Twice only: Bruce joins Southside Johnny on the Little Steven-penned 1991 rave-up, \"I've Been Working Too Hard.\"","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cover Me&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cover Me","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/cover-me\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/ive-been-working.jpg?fit=1000%2C1000&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/ive-been-working.jpg?fit=1000%2C1000&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/ive-been-working.jpg?fit=1000%2C1000&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/ive-been-working.jpg?fit=1000%2C1000&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27325,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/1988\/09\/29\/matr-southside-johnny-bruce-springsteen-little-steven-and-jon-bon-jovi-this-time-babys-gone-for-good\/","url_meta":{"origin":20802,"position":1},"title":"This Time Baby&#8217;s Gone for Good","author":"Ken","date":"September 29, 1988","format":false,"excerpt":"One time only: Jon Bon Jovi joins Bruce, Southside Johnny, and Little Steven on Steve's classic song from Southside's Hearts of Stone album.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cover Me&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cover Me","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/cover-me\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/thistime.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/thistime.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, 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Ice with backing vocals by The Drifters, and you've got pure pop confection.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cover Me&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cover Me","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/cover-me\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/littlegirl.jpg?fit=750%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/littlegirl.jpg?fit=750%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/littlegirl.jpg?fit=750%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/littlegirl.jpg?fit=750%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6282,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2018\/12\/23\/meeting-across-the-river-southside-johnny-and-bruce-springsteen-trapped-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":20802,"position":3},"title":"MatR: Southside Johnny and Bruce Springsteen, Trapped Again","author":"Ken","date":"December 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Bruce co-wrote \"Trapped Again\" with Southside Johnny and Steve Van Zandt, but he's only performed it live once. Check it out inside.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Meeting Across the River&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Meeting Across the River","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/meeting-across-the-river\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/southside-johnny-and-the-asbury-jukes-trapped-again-stereo-epic.jpg?fit=700%2C701&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/southside-johnny-and-the-asbury-jukes-trapped-again-stereo-epic.jpg?fit=700%2C701&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/southside-johnny-and-the-asbury-jukes-trapped-again-stereo-epic.jpg?fit=700%2C701&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/southside-johnny-and-the-asbury-jukes-trapped-again-stereo-epic.jpg?fit=700%2C701&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25001,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2021\/03\/19\/matr-little-steven-bruce-springsteen-and-the-asbury-park-all-star-revue-little-by-little\/","url_meta":{"origin":20802,"position":4},"title":"MatR: Little Steven, Bruce Springsteen and the Asbury Park All-Star Revue: Little by Little","author":"Ken","date":"March 19, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"When Southside Johnny took ill and couldn't perform, Little Steven saved the day by assembling an All-Star Revue to cover Junior Wells' classic \"Little By Little.\"","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cover Me&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cover Me","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/cover-me\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/littlebylittle.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/littlebylittle.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/littlebylittle.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/littlebylittle.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/littlebylittle.jpg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25934,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/1988\/08\/18\/matr-bruce-springsteen-and-the-asbury-park-all-star-revue-she-got-me-where-she-wants-me\/","url_meta":{"origin":20802,"position":5},"title":"She Got Me Where She Wants Me","author":"Ken","date":"August 18, 1988","format":false,"excerpt":"Two nights only: Little Steven takes the lead and Bruce Springsteen plays the sideman when Southside Jonny takes ill.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cover Me&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cover Me","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/cover-me\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/shegotme.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/shegotme.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, 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3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20802","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20802"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20802\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68043,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20802\/revisions\/68043"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}