| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 71/100[2] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [3] |
| American Songwriter | [4] |
| Classic Rock | [5] |
| Maximum Volume Music | 9.5/10[6] |
| The Spill Magazine | [7] |
Summer of Sorcery is the seventh solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Little Steven, released under the name Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul.[8] It was released on May 3, 2019 under Universal Music Enterprises.[9] It is Little Steven's first album of new material since 1999's Born Again Savage.[10] The album consists of 10 new songs plus a reworking of "Education" from his 1989 Revolution album, and the outtake "Suddenly You" from the Lilyhammer score.[11]
Critical reception
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Summer of Sorcery received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 71 out of 100 from 6 critic scores.[2]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Steven Van Zandt.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Communion" | 6:02 |
| 2. | "Party Mambo!" | 4:33 |
| 3. | "Love Again" | 4:35 |
| 4. | "Vortex" | 4:47 |
| 5. | "A World of Our Own" | 4:37 |
| 6. | "Gravity" | 5:26 |
| 7. | "Soul Power Twist" | 4:38 |
| 8. | "Superfly Terraplane" | 4:32 |
| 9. | "Education" | 4:51 |
| 10. | "Suddenly You" | 3:05 |
| 11. | "I Visit the Blues" | 4:38 |
| 12. | "Summer of Sorcery" | 8:09 |
Personnel
- Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul
- Steven Van Zandt – vocals, guitar, arranger
- Marc Ribler – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, music director
- Andy Burton – B3 Hammond organ, piano, synthesizer
- Lowell "Banana" Levinger – piano, Wurlitzer electric piano
- Jack Daley – bass
- Rich Mercurio – drums
- Anthony Almonte – percussion
- Eddie Manion – baritone saxophone, horn director
- Stan Harrison – tenor saxophone, flute
- Clark Gayton – trombone
- Ravi Best – trumpet
- Ron Tooley – trumpet
- Jessie Wagner – backing vocals
- Sara Devine – backing vocals
- Tania Jones – backing vocals
- The Disciples of Soul – additional backing vocals, handclaps
- Additional musicians
- Yeissonn Villamar – piano, backing vocals (track 2)
- Jorge González – bongos, cowbell, backing vocals (track 2)
- Juan Gerena – guiro, backing vocals (track 2)
- Luisito Quintero – timbales, backing vocals (track 2)
- Ryan Celli – backing vocals (track 2)
- Jonathan Dinklage – violin, viola (tracks 3–5, 12)
- Anja Wood – cello (tracks 3–5, 12)
- Joel Feitzinger – synth programming, vibraslap (track 4)
- Gary Trew – backing vocals, handclaps (track 8)
- Michael Wolf – keyboards (track 10)
- Matt McDonald – trombone (track 11)
- Duane Eddy – guitar (track 12)
- Sergio Ruelas Jr. – guitar (track 12)
- Technical
- Steven Van Zandt – producer
- Geoff Sanoff – co-producer
- Marc Ribler – co-producer
- Joel Feitzinger – assistant co-producer
- Bob Clearmountain – mixing
- Sergio Ruelas Jr. – mixing assistant
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Louis Arzonico – art direction, design
- Carlo Massarini – sleeve photography
- Jeff Ross – back cover photography
- Ryan Celli – gatefold photography
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[12] | 131 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[13] | 200 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[14] | 39 |
| Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[15] | 18 |
| Spanish Albums (Promusicae)[16] | 94 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] | 40 |
| UK Albums (Official Charts)[18] | 94 |
| UK Album Downloads (Official Charts)[19] | 92 |
References
- ↑ https://www.allmusic.com/album/summer-of-sorcery-mw0003260307
- 1 2 "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ↑ Deming, Mark. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ↑ Horowitz, Hal (May 1, 2019). "American Songwriter Review". American Songwriter. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ↑ Needs, Kris (May 2, 2019). "Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul: Summer Of Sorcery album review". Classic Rock. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ↑ Thorley, Andy (June 2, 2019). "Review: Little Steven And The Disciples Of Soul – Summer Of Sorcery (2019)". Maximum Volume Music. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ↑ Badgley, Aaron. "Spill Album Review: Little Steven and The Disciples Of Soul – Summer Of Sorcery". The Spill Magazine. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ↑ "Steven Van Zandt on His New Album & Staying as Nonpartisan as I Can During the Current Political Landscape". Billboard. May 20, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ↑ Browne, David (March 8, 2019). "Inside Steven Van Zandt's New Album "Summer of Sorcery"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ↑ "Press release: Little Steven And The Disciples Of Soul To Celebrate 'Summer Of Sorcery'". PR Newswire. March 8, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ↑ "Press release: Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul's Highly Anticipated New Album 'Summer of Sorcery' Out Today Via Wicked Cool/UMe". PR Newswire. May 3, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul – Summer of Sorcery" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul – Summer of Sorcery" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul – Summer of Sorcery" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 10/5/2019 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul – Summer of Sorcery". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul – Summer of Sorcery". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 10/5/2019 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart on 10/5/2019 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
