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It was sad that the band broke up, but in retrospect, it actually broke up twice. After the band’s initial record release, Lone Justice, in 1985, all members left the group except Maria McKee. Their sophomore debut, Shelter, in 1986, consisted of an entirely new band and was produced by Steven Van Zandt. Yet the spirit of Lone Justice still could be heard throughout the recording. The reason is simple: Maria Mckee.
After the release of the Shelter album, the band was again disbanded. The legend of Lone Justice came to a quick end. Geffen Records would release a Live Radio at the BBC Radio Concert in 1993 and a greatest hits package with unreleased bonus tracks in 1998. In 2014, Lone Justice fans were presented with a CD of demos entitled This Is Lone Justice: The Vaught Tapes 1983.
Some bands in classic rock history make their mark based on just one song or album. Lone Justice was one of those great bands that turned heads the second they hit the concert stage. Just one look at any of the live videos presented here, and you will understand the power this band transcended over the audience on the concert stage. And like we said before, that power resonated from the heart, soul, and spirit of their phenomenal lead singer, Maria Mckee
# 11 – Soap, Soup, and Salvation
Starting our 11 Best Lone Justice Songs list is the wonderfully original titled song “Soap. Soup, and Salvation.” The song first appeared on the band’s first album, Lone Justice. Original bassist Marvin Etzioni and Maria Mckee wrote the song. It’s essential to recognize Marvin Etzioni’s songwriting skills’ impact on the first record. Etzoni received songwriting credit on six of the album’s ten tracks. It’s probably pretty safe to say that Marvin Etzioni significantly influenced the band’s sound on their first album, both in the studio and on stage.
We have linked the live video recording to this song because we know that once you watch it, you will be blown away by Maria Mckee and the band’s performance. This video was recorded at the MTV News Years Eve Bash in 1987 with the band’s second lineup.
# 10 – Don’t Toss Us Away
Lone Justice delivered some of the decade’s most spirited rock, blues, and country performances. However, when it came time to showcase a ballad, Maria Mckee could drop you to your knees. One of her most beautiful ballad performances was delivered on the mid-tempo number “Don’t Toss Us Away.” Songwriter Bryan McLean wrote the song. The studio recording of “Don’t Toss Us Away” first appeared on the band’s debut album. The song was also recorded by country singer Patty Loveless, who had a top 5 hit with the song on the country charts.
# 9 – East Of Eden
This amazing studio recording of Lone Justice’s “East of Eden” was the track that opened their debut album in 1985. The song was written by the band’s bassist and vocalist, Marvin Etzioni. It is simply two and a half minutes of pure rocking excitement. Maria and the band were on fire on this amazing killer opening track.
# 8 – Rattlesnake Mama
No other song probably defined their pure country western roots more than the very enjoyable “Rattlesnake Mama.” The song did not appear on either of their two albums released in the 1980s and was not officially released until their greatest hits package, “The World Is Not My Home,” was issued in 1998.
# 7 – Working Late
One of our favorite live Lone Justice performances featured the “I’ll get you back” theme that Maria Mckee always so convincingly sells in her live and studio performances. In this great performance, Shane Fontayne lights it up on guitar while Maria dances frantically in the background. It’s simply mind-blowing entertainment. Maria steps back up to the mic and takes it back home. It just doesn’t get any better.
Allegedly, Dolly Parton had seen the band perform the song in concert before their first album was released and expressed an interest in recording it. However, Dolly Parton allegedly said that she would only record the song if Lone Justice would not release it on their first record. Marvin said no thanks, and the rest is history.
# 6 – After The Flood
The song “After The Flood” was another great track from the band’s debut album, Lone Justice. The song’s mid-tempo groove was the perfect complement to being placed second on the album after the loud foot-stomping “East Of Eden,” which opened the record. The song was written by Maria Mckee. It’s amazing how, at such a young age, Maria Mckee was writing songs that displayed a maturity way beyond her years.
# 5 – Wait Till We Get Home
The last words any man wants to hear from his girlfriend or wife were so chillingly delivered by the one and only Maria Mckee in one of the band’s most famous songs. The classic track “Wait Till We Get Home” was also released on the band’s debut album, Lone Justice, in 1985. The song was written by band members Marvin Etzioni, Ryan Hedgecock, and Maria Mckee.
# 4 – Wheels
While so much of the Lone Justice catalog presented fans with a very original mix of rock and roll meets country western, there were a few moments where you could hear the influence of particular artists. Singers like Dolly Parton and Patsy Cline most definitely played a role in inspiring Maria’s vocal performances. However, in the song “Wheels,” one can hear the heavy influences of Bruce Springsteen songs like “Thunder Road,” on Maria’s lyrical visions. And that is we believe an entirely fair observation because Bruce Springsteen’s Born To Run album probably played one of the most significant roles in inspiring an entire generation of songwriters who came of age in the 1980s. And that my friends is a good thing.
# 3 – I Found Love
The fantastic drum groove that opens this classic song just makes you want to get up and dance, just like Maria does in the video. Just like the first album’s opening track, “East Of Eden,” the great song “I Found Love” opened their sophomore album with a smack you in the face, throw you against the wall, let’s celebrate mentality. That somehow defines so much of the Lone Justice sound that we desperately wish it would have continued for a few more records than only the two released. But then again, we would not trade away the body of solo work that Maria Mckee began to release after the band’s demise. I wish we could have had both.
# 2 – Ways To Be Wicked
The great Tom Petty wrote one of our favorite Lone Justice songs ever recorded. Oh Yeah, you can hear Tom Petty’s signature melody and sarcasm all over this one. Maria Mckee and the band just soaked up Tom Petty’s wit and delivered an astonishing recording that never gets boring. We can listen to this one every day and it will still sound fresh, angry, and full of all that makes a great rock and roll record. The song was released on their first record Lone Justice.
# 1 – You Are The Light / Shelter
We couldn’t do it. Nope, we just could not decide between these two fantastic songs. So our 11 Best Lone Justice Songs list ends in a tie for first place. Interestingly, the two songs were written by different songwriters because “Shelter” seems to be the logical sequel to “You Are The Light.” The great Marvin Etzioni composed the song “You Are The Light,” which closed out the band’s first album. Fittingly so, the song “Shelter,” written by Maria Mckee and Steven Van Zandt, opened the band’s second record.
While both songs sounded completely different in their instrumentation and arrangements, they both expressed the same “only you and me “conceptuality that has always defined the heart of the best popular music songs of the 20th Century. But fueling the success and beauty of both songs is none other than the heartfelt expressionism of the artist Maria Mckee. Shelter may have been Lone Justice’s swan song, but it was just the beginning for Maria.
Updated May 1, 2024
11 Best Lone Justice Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024
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