Steve Goldberger - All Roads Lead To You (2022)

Canadian singer-songwriter, band leader and multi-instrumentalist Steve
Goldberger, a former RCA recording artist with 70’s band Black Creek, has
launched his 11th indie album through Shed Records.
This new release from local Niagara-on-the-Lake musician and recording artist Steve Goldberger
marks his eleventh full-length album. Like several of his others, this is an entire record of cover songs,
but ones upon which he has put his own spin, which is one of his trademarks. Unlike the others, this
one was done during the pandemic, so the musical contributions by other artists had to be done in
isolation, but gave Steve a chance to try out his newly revamped home studio, “The Shed.”
The songs themselves have been carefully chosen, with some well-known hits mixed with a lot of
lesser-known gems.
The album kicks off with “Something In The Air,” which was basically a one-hit wonder in 1969 for the
British rock band Thunderclap Newman, but what a song, and very timely even now! Steve's spin on
this one is adding some cellos to play the middle instrumental section, and it works exceedingly well,
making this track an album highlight. Another hit comes next, “Nature's Way,” an early 70's song by
the American band Spirit. This cover is fairly true to the original, featuring a very nice slide guitar solo
and female backing vocals. Again, another timely choice which addresses the destruction of our
natural world. “True Love” is one of my favourites, a really nice little love song, written by Nashville
songwriter Patrick Alger.
If you like country swing, you'll enjoy “One More Time,” a real old-fashioned style song written by
Steve’s pal, the late Bob McNiven. I can just picture the old fellows dancing with the ladies to this one
at the Maple Leaf Tavern. “Knowing What I Know Now” is a cover of a Shawn Colvin song, which Steve
does as a duet with Serena Pryne, singer of local rock bands The Mandevilles and The Triple Crowns,
and walks some pretty familiar territory for him, as does the next track, “She Belongs To Me”, a rockin’
version of Dylan’s classic.
Another big hit comes next, “Sister Golden Hair” by America, and this one definitely has a unique spin,
being done with a semi-reggae feel, and features a great slide guitar lead from Cam McInnes.
“Keep On Trying,” written by Timothy Schmit from Poco and the Eagles, also has a bit of a reggae
groove to it, and a soulful one as well, with some lovely female backing vocals.
Another favourite comes next, “Just My Luck,” a really sweet little song about reluctantly falling in love,
written by Kim Richey. “Anybody Can Be Somebody's Fool” is a heartfelt ballad, written by the late
Nanci Griffith. A nice tribute to a great singer-songwriter. “Another Round Of Blues” is a second
Shawn Colvin cover, and a good one. I love the instrumentation on this, and the backing vocals. Dylan
comes up again next as well, with “You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go,” which is pretty
country for Mr. Zimmerman, but Steve does a playful, fun interpretation, with a banjo solo! The album
ends with a very unique take on the Badfinger classic, “No Matter What.” Gone are the crunchy guitars,
and instead some chiming 12-strings. This might be how Tom Petty might have approached this song,
and it works nicely.
Anyone can imitate original recordings exactly, but if you're not going to add your own touch to a
song, why bother recording it? That's the realm of the majority of cover bands, and probably what
their crowd wants to hear. It's much more interesting when an artist takes a song and gives it a new
twist or a new feel, and Steve Goldberger has always done that, and continues to do so on this new
album. I think I've found another summer staple for my car's CD player! - Review by: Martin Murray, The Diamond Mine - February 2022