In the 1980s, after a successful run as a key member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band as well as a key architect of the rock-and-soul-infused “Jersey Shore sound,” Steven Van Zandt struck out on his own. A new box set from UMe will showcase his solo evolution.

The singer/songwriter/producer/guitarist’s RockNRoll Rebel – The Early Work will collect five of Little Steven’s solo works on colored vinyl – Men Without Women (1982), Voice Of America (1984), Freedom – No Compromise (1987), Revolution (1989 – making its official debut in the U.S.) and Born Again Savage (1999, available for the first time on LP) – as well as 1985’s all-star Sun City, an project Van Zandt organized to raise awareness about the struggle in South Africa under the racism and authoritarianism of apartheid.

Together, this material is a fascinating complement to what “Miami Steve” brought to four of Springsteen’s albums (Born To Run, Darkness On The Edge Of Town, The River and Born In The U.S.A.). Van Zandt shared The Boss’ love of rock and roll and wasn’t afraid to pack a powerful political message into his work, but his restless musical spirit resulted in a discography that dabbled in stripped-down rock, R&B, synth-driven, electronic dance grooves and even some hip-hop elements!

If all that vinyl wasn’t enough, the box set also includes four CDs of rare and unreleased material covering not only this era but material on either side of these releases. These 51 tracks include B-sides, studio outtakes, 12″ remixes, alternate versions (including an unreleased version of Sun City‘s “The Struggle Continues” featuring additional trumpet work from Miles Davis, backed by four of the members of his second classic quintet), radio spots and live tracks – including nearly a disc’s worth of rehearsals and performance with Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes that dovetails with their earliest studio albums).

“It’s been a blast going through the archives and finding all these hidden gems,” Van Zandt said in a statement. “In addition to demos in various stages of completion, there are entire songs I’d completely forgotten about, and we found some really early things pre-Jukes like Southside Johnny and The Kid (the kid being me!). I’m excited to have my stuff back on vinyl for the first time in decades!” Van Zandt has also penned liner notes including track notes on the bonus material, to be included in an accompanying 144-page booklet.

RockNRoll Rebel is strictly limited to 1000 copies – but fans will be able to hear the bonus material digitally, with deluxe editions of each album (starting with Men Without Women) to be rolled out weekly leading up to the set’s release on December 6. You can pre-order the box now exclusively at the uDiscover Music store, at the link below.

RockNRoll Rebel – The Early Work (Wicked Cool/UMe, 2019)

LP 1: Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul, Men Without Women (EMI America ST-17086, 1982)

1. Lyin’ In a Bed Of Fire
2. Inside Of Me
3. Until The Good Is Gone
4. Men Without Women
5. Under The Gun
6. Save Me
7. Princess Of Little Italy
8. Angel Eyes
9. Forever
10. I’ve Been Waiting

LP 2: Little Steven, Voice Of America (EMI America ST-17120, 1984)

1. Voice Of America
2. Justice
3. Checkpoint Charlie
4. Solidarity
5. Out Of The Darkness
6. Los Desaparecidos (The Disappeared Ones)
7. Fear
8. I Am a Patriot (and The River Opens For The Righteous)
9. Among The Believers
10. Undefeated (Everybody Goes Home)

LP 3: Little Steven, Freedom – No Compromise (Manhattan ST-53048, 1987)

1. Freedom
2. Trail Of Broken Treaties
3. Pretoria
4. Bitter Fruit
5. No More Party’s
6. Can’t You Feel The Fire
7. Native American
8. Sanctuary

LP 4: Little Steven, Revolution (RCA PL 83431, 1989 – previously unreleased in the U.S.)

1. Where Do We Go From Here?
2. Revolution
3. Education
4. Balance
5. Love and Forgiveness
6. Newspeak
7. Sexy
8. Leonard Peltier
9. Liberation Theology
10. Discipline

LP 5-6: Little Steven Van Zandt, Born Again Savage (Renegade Nation LS00199CD, 1999 – previously unreleased on LP)

1. Born Again Savage
2. Camouflage Of Righteousness
3. Guns, Drugs, and Gasoline
4. Face Of God
5. Saint Francis
6. Salvation
7. Organize
8. Flesheater
9. Lust For Enlightenment
10. Tongues Of Angels

LP 7: Artists United Against Apartheid, Sun City (Manhattan ST-53019, 1985)

1. Sun City – Artists United Against Apartheid
2. No More Apartheid – Peter Gabriel & L. Shankar
3. Revolutionary Situation – Keith LeBlanc
4. Sun City (Version II) – Artists United Against Apartheid
5. Let Me See Your I.D. – Gil Scott-Heron, Melle Mel & Duke Bootee
6. The Struggle Continues – Miles Davis, Ron Carter, Stanley Jordan, Tony Williams & Herbie Hancock
7. Silver and Gold – Bono, Keith Richards & Ron Wood

CD 1: Bonus Tracks – Men Without Women (and Before) (previously unreleased except where noted)

1. RockNRoll Rebel (Studio Track – 1983) – Little Steven
2. Who Told You? (Live @ Gulliver’s Pub, Red Bank, NJ – 6/15/1973) – Southside Johnny and The Kid
3. That’s How It Feels (Live @ The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ – 5/30/1976) – Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes
4. When You Dance (Mono Rehearsal – 1976) – The Asbury Jukes
5. Little Darlin’ (Stone Pony Rehearsal, Mono – 1977) – The Asbury Jukes
6. Ain’t No Lady (Stone Pony Rehearsal, Mono – 1977) – The Asbury Jukes
7. Love On The Wrong Side Of Town (Stone Pony Rehearsal, Mono – 1977) – The Asbury Jukes
8. Little Girl So Fine (Mono Rehearsal – 1976) – The Asbury Jukes
9. Some Things Just Don’t Change (Stone Pony Rehearsal, Mono – 1977) – The Asbury Jukes
10. She Got Me Where She Wants Me (Stone Pony Rehearsal, Mono – 1977) – The Asbury Jukes
11. Men Without Women Radio Spot (1982)
12. Angel Eyes (Britt Row Version – 1982) – Little Steven and The Disciples Of Soul
13. Forever (Britt Row Version – 1982) – Little Steven and The Disciples Of Soul
14. Until The Good Is Gone (Britt Row Version – 1982) – Little Steven and The Disciples Of Soul
15. I’ve Been Waiting (Early Version – 1982) – Little Steven and The Disciples Of Soul with Southside Johnny
16. Caravan – Little Steven and The Disciples Of Soul (B-side to “Caravan” – EMI America B-8144, 1982)
17. Save Me (Live @ The Peppermint Lounge, New York, NY – 7/18/1982) – Little Steven and The Disciples Of Soul
18. Time (Studio Track – 1982) – Little Steven and The Disciples Of Soul

CD 2: Bonus Tracks – Voice Of America (previously unreleased except where noted)

1. This Time It’s For Real (Live @ The Marquee Club, London – 10/18/1982/The Peppermint Lounge, New York, NY – 7/18/1982) – Little Steven and The Disciples Of Soul
2. It’s Possible (Mono Studio Track – Date Unknown) – Little Steven
3. Vote! (That Mutha Out) – Little Steven (12″ A-side – EMI STEVEN 1, 1984)
4. Vote! Part II (Rap Version) – Little Steven
5. Vote! Part III (After World War III) – Little Steven (12″ B-side – EMI STEVEN 1, 1984)
6. Vote! Part IV (Instrumental) – Little Steven (12″ B-side – EMI STEVEN 1, 1984)
7. Vote! Part V (Rap Version)
8. Caravan (Live @ The Marquee Club, London – 10/18/1982) – Little Steven and The Disciples Of Soul
9. I Don’t Want To Go Home (Live @ The Marquee Club, London – 10/18/1982) – Little Steven and The Disciples Of Soul
10. US Festival Radio Spot (1983)
11. Alive For The First Time (Writing Session, The Birth Of a Song – 1983) – Little Steven
12. Voice Of America Radio Spot (1984)
13. Out Of The Darkness (Remix) – Little Steven (U.K. 12″ A-side – EMI 1C K 060-20 1036 6, 1984)
14. Inside Of Me (Live On French TV – 1983) – Little Steven

CD 3: Bonus Tracks – Sun City (previously unreleased except where noted)

1. Let Me See Your I.D. (Extended Mix) (12″ A-side – Manhattan V-56015, 1985)
2. Let Me See Your I.D. (Extended Street Mix) (12″ B-side – Manhattan V-56015, 1985)
3. Let Me See Your I.D. (Beat and Scratch Mix) (12″ B-side – Manhattan V-56015, 1985)
4. Not So Far Away (Dub Mix) (U.K. 12″ B-side – Manhattan 12MT 7, 1985)
5. Sun City (Last Remix) (U.K. 12″ A-side – Manhattan 12MT 7, 1985)
6. Soweto Nights
7. The Struggle Continues (Extra Miles Davis Version)

CD 4: Bonus Tracks – Freedom – No Compromise, Revolution (and Later) (previously unreleased except where noted)

1. Bitter Fruit (Cana No Mas Dub Mix) – Little Steven with Rubén Blades (U.K. 12″ B-side – Manhattan 12 MT 21, 1987)
2. Bitter Fruit (No Pasaran Mix) – Little Steven with Rubén Blades (U.K. 12″ A-side – Manhattan 12 MT 21, 1987)
3. Bitter Fruit (Platano Quemado Mix) – Little Steven with Rubén Blades (U.K. 12″ A-side – Manhattan 12 MTX 21, 1987)
4. Fruta Amarga – Little Steven with Rubén Blades (Spanish 12″ A-side – Manhattan 052-2019166, 1987)
5. No More Party’s (For Those About To Party…) – Little Steven (12″ B-side – Manhattan V-56066, 1987)
6. No More Party’s (Funky Party Edit) – Little Steven (12″ A-side – Manhattan V-56066, 1987)
7. Vote Jesse In (Jesse Jackson Campaign Song – 1988) – Little Steven
8. Revolution (Naked City Mix) – Little Steven (12″ A-side – RCA PT 49444, 1989)
9. Revolution (Naked City Mix Part 2 – Maceo’s Thang) – Little Steven (12″ B-side – RCA PT 49444, 1989)
10. I Wish It Would Rain (Live @ Vin Scelsa Hungerthon – 1995) – Little Steven, Southside Johnny, Rusty Cloud, Bobby Bandiera & David Hayes
11. Princess Of Little Italy (Live @ Vin Scelsa Hungerthon – 1995) – Little Steven, Rusty Cloud, Bobby Bandiera & David Hayes
12. It’s Been A Long Time (Solo Acoustic – 2019) – Little Steven