Joe Grushecky has released "Goodbye Steeltown," a track off the forthcoming Houserocker: A Joe Grushecky Anthology, out on May 24, 2024 via Omnivore Recordings. This song and the remaining 35 tracks on the 2 disc set are newly remastered by multiple Grammy-winner Michael Graves, and co-Produced by Johnny Grushecky and multiple Grammy-winner Cheryl Pawelski.
The rock ‘n’ roll legend recently announced two new albums, the anthology, and a new studio album Can’t Outrun A Memory, which is out on July 12 also on Omnivore. It’s the first release of new material in 7 years from Joe and The Houserockers, featuring 13 Grushecky originals coupled with a blistering cover of The Animals classic “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place.”
“The Steel Industry was a defining part of our lives growing up in coal country as a kid and living in Pittsburgh as an adult,” recalls Grushecky. “There was no escaping it. I vividly remember reading the newspaper one morning in 1984 about another steel mill shutting down. I recall saying out loud to nobody in particular ‘That’s It. Goodbye Steeltown.’ I grabbed my guitar and the song just poured out of me.
“The Iron City Houserockers were in the process of breaking up and I decided to work with some different people. We were lucky to assemble a group of legendary Pittsburgh musicians and rush into Jeree's Studio to record it. Good luck to any one trying to find an original pressing.”
Joe Grushecky grew up in the coal mining town of Biddle, Pittsburgh, but after seeing The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show—he soon had a guitar in hand, and a future in Rock ahead of him.
Joe worked as a Special Education educator by day, while his band, Iron City Houserockers gigged by night. They were signed in 1979 by Steve Popovich to his Cleveland International (home of Meat Loaf, Jim Steinman, Ronnie Spector). From the first album Love’s So Tough through the present day, Joe solo, and with various incarnations of the Houserockers, journeyed through albums filled with hard-edged rock with lyrics true to their Pittsburgh Steeltown roots. Albums have included productions and contributions from Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople), Mick Ronson (David Bowie), Steve Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Cropper (Booker T. & The MG’s), and many others.
Houserocker: A Joe Grushecky Anthology covers 40 years of these performances from Iron City Houserockers, Joey G., Joe Grushecky And The Houserockers, and under his own name. Newly remastered by multiple Grammy-winner Michael Graves, and co-Produced by Joe’s son and current Houserocker Johnny Grushecky, and multiple Grammy-winner Cheryl Pawelski, Houserocker’s packaging includes photos from across the years and comprehensive liner notes from Mike Ragogna with Joe, and special Track-by-Track remarks from Grushecky himself. Houserocker: A Joe Grushecky Anthology is the ultimate look at the hardest working band in Rock and Roll and Pittsburgh legend, Joe Grushecky.
Available on double-LP, CD, and Digital, Can’t Outrun A Memory features 17 tracks of pure Rock and Roll and shows that Grushecky and crew can still deliver the same driving music they have for decades. Hitting the road in support for this release, including an Anthology release show in Pittsburgh on May 25, the lucky will get to experience their power live. But, Can’t Outrun A Memory will always find a home in anyone’s musical collection of pure and timeless rock.
“This one was a long time coming,” says Grushecky of Can’t Outrun A Memory, “but we worked through never losing sight that we were creating one of our best records. I believe we captured the band at its peak.”
Throughout the 40 years of Joe’s career, he has always balanced his passion for caring for those in need with delivering blistering, energetic rock, while simultaneously breaking boundaries on other fronts. Currently a Board Member on the Light Of Day Foundation, Joe continues to rock the house at the annual Light of Day benefits.
UPCOMING SHOWS
May 25 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Bottlerocket *Anthology release show (sponsored by Iron City Beer and WDVE-FM)
May 31 – Connellsville, PA @ Yough River Rally
June 29 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe
July 20 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Wonder Bar
July 27 – Pittsburgh, PA @ City Winery *Can’t Outrun A Memory album release show
August 3 – Vienna, VA @ Jammin' Java
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