THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2000

The Upbeat goes on

Lead singer Jordan recasts ‘70s country rock band Heartsfield

By Lynn Van Matre

TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

    When popular ‘70s country rock band Heartsfield announced plans to re­group late last year, long­-time fans cheered. But some of them had second thoughts when they heard that the reconstituted lineup boasted only one original member, lead singer and songwriter Perry Jordan. 

“Our old fans were skeptical,” said Jordan, who founded the Chi­cago-area band with singer-song­writer and guitarist J.C. Hartsfield in Hyde Park in 1971 The group is booked for a half dozen shows and community festivals this summer in the Chicago area, including ap­pearances Saturday at Town Center in Carol Stream, Sunday at Heri­tage Fest in Downers Grove, June 29 at Navy Pier in Chicago and July 4 at Taste of Chicago. 

“I knew it would be an issue, that there was only one original mem­ber in the band,” Jordan added. “A lot of fans told me they were really concerned about it. But after they saw the show, they told me that this band has nailed the music and the good-time vibe of the old Heart­sfield.” 

Rob Brown, owner of Rory’s Mu­sic Café in Addison, where the band recently headlined, agreed that the band’s old fans have embraced the new sound. 

“I wouldn’t know the difference, because I hadn’t heard Heartsfield in the ‘70s,” Brown said. “But they drew a crowd and everybody seemed satisfied.”

Originally based in Chicago and later in ‘San Francisco, Heartsfield toured the country and recorded four albums for major labels during the 1970s. “Heartsfield,” the band’s first and most successful release, sold approximately 250,000 copies. But by the early 1980s, road burnout had taken its toll and band mem­bers called it quits. 

“We had been doing 250 or 300 dates a year for 10 years,” said Jor­dan, who moved back to the Chica­go suburbs after the band broke up. “We were fortunate; we got to live the rock ‘n’ roll dream. But every­body needed a few years off to get their feet back on the ground.” 

Hartsfield settled in South Haven, Mich., where he raised horses and later went into building management. Other band members pursued careers outside of music. Jordan bought a Chicago restau­rant and tavern, which he later sold, and he more recently owned a mineral-wrap spa in south subur­ban Crestwood. 

“About a year and three months ago, though, I made up my mind that I wanted to go back into mu­sic,” Jordan said. “The other mem­bers of Heartsfield didn’t want to get back together, but they told me they didn’t mind if I wanted to car­ry on the band’s name and tradi­tion. So I started auditioning new members. I probably auditioned more than 50 musicians.” 

By late last fall, Jordan had put together the new Heartsfield li­neup: Steve Eddington on bass; Scott Bonshire on drums; David Nelson on guitar, dobro and slide guitar; Tim Johnson on mandolin, guitar and harp; and John Bright-well on guitar and banjo.

The band’s repertoire is about 60 percent old Heartsfield songs in­cluding “Racin’ the Sun” and “The Only Tune I’m Sober Is When You’re Gone,” and 40 percent guitar-driven new country rock. 

“Right now, we’re still in the launching stage,” Jordan said. “We only have done about 18 dates since last fall; I don’t want to over-sat­urate the market. We would rather play less and do bigger shows. The big jobs aren’t as easy to get, but I want to hold out for them. So when I recruited people for the band, I made sure they didn’t have to make a full-time living from music right now.” 

According to Jordan, the group plans to record a new Heartsfield CD this fall. Two Heartsfield al­bums from, the 1970s, “Foolish Plea­sures” and “The Wonder of It All,” were reissued as CDs on Bedrock Records in the late 1990s. A live CD of music recorded during a mid-1970s show in St. Louis, “Live in ‘75,” also is available. 

In addition to the band’s original fans, who are now mostly in their 40s, Jordan hopes to woo younger listeners with an upbeat approach.

 “There has been a lot of bitching and moaning going on in music lately and I think there’s a void in the area of music that lifts your spirits,” Jordan said. “I think young people see that [spirit] in us. We’re a band that loves what we’re doing and wants to have a good time with the audience. 

‘There never have been any big egos in Heartsfield and there never will be. We’ve always been a band of the people.”

For a more complete listing of Heartsfield dates, visit the Bedrock Records Website at www.discconnec­tion.com and click on Special Fea­tuied Artists.