Released in October 1984 on Previous Records, catalogue number PRL 1. Recorded at UCA Sound, Cape Town. Mixed at House of Music, New Jersey. Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York City. Produced by John Rollo.
Tracks
- Breaking Hearts [3.25] released as a double a-side single with Sea Side Love in 1984
- She’s The One [3.33]
- Debbie [3.11]
- Sea Side Love [3.30] released as a double a-side single with Breaking Hearts in 1984
- Heat Of My Heart [1.54]
- Rising Storm [3.10]
- The Heart’s The Best Part [2.52]
- City Hall [4.04]
- Killing Time [3.46]
- Land Of Sin [4.26]
- Love Will Carry You On [3.25]
All songs written by Steve Louw
Musicians
- Nico Burger: Guitar
- Steve Louw: Vocals, guitar
- Rob Nagel: Bass, harmonica
Session musicians
- Richard Pickett: Drums, backing vocals on “Love Will Carry You On”
- Brian Seppel: Keyboards
Steve Louw founded trail-blazing eighties band, All Night Radio, with Nico Burger and Rob Nagel in 1981. (See Steve Louw’s Musical Family Tree for more information). All Night Radio released two hit albums, “The Heart’s The Best Part” (1984) and “The Killing Floor” (1986), their gritty, bluesy, rock ‘n roll sound firmly establishing Steve as a star on the South African music scene.
Brian Currin, AllNightRadio.org
The first single from All Night Radio’s debut album… “Breaking Hearts” is probably the noisiest and freshest-sounding rock single produced in this country to date.
Andrew Donaldson, Cape Times
Richard Pickett, great drummer also sang that high harmony part on “Love Will Carry You” … he sounds like a female gospel singer.
When we toured we played with Richard “Dish” Devey, (The News) and Derek “Bokkie” de Beer (Juluka/Savuka … he played with us in the time between Juluka ending and Savuka starting up. We opened for Juluka in early 85.
Steve Louw, April, 2021
Dish Devey: drums, Pitchie Rommelaere: guitar
Reviews
The Argus Tonight (3 October 1984)
Pop World by Shannon Sherry
First off, if only for its trail-blazing status, is All Night Radio’s double A-sided record, Breaking Hearts and Sea Side Love. This is the much talked-about first product of the Cape Town band’s collaboration with producer John Rollo, an Englishman living in the United States who has produced amongst others, Little Steven & the Disciples Of Soul, Roberta Flack, Stevie Nicks, the Kinks and George Benson.
While on the subject, some gossip might be in order. The story goes that ANR’s Steve “Alltime” Louw just happened to be going to Johannesburg at the same time that Little Steven was in town, a fact mentioned to a local journalist who had been hoping to interview Little Steven but couldn’t get to the Golden City to do it. The said scribe then drew up some questions, gave them to Louw and arranged the meeting from Cape Town. Louw, with a formidable nose for a break, grabbed the meeting, dumped the questions and, on meeting the great one asked: “Will you produce my band?” According to the rumor, he also insisted that Little Steven listen to the tapes. “Er, I’d really like to,” said Little, “but, you see, I just can’t spare the time.”
But we are proud to report that, by this time, our Steve had his teeth firmly in the jugular, expressing his band’s willingness to wait. Realizing his defeat, Mr van Zandt declared that although he couldn’t do it, he could introduce Mr Louw to the co-producer of his album, one John Rollo. Transatlantic phone calls followed, Money was discussed and Music listened to and Mr Rollo winged his way to Cape Town, leaving George Benson waiting nog.
Carefully watched by Louw, he completed the mixing in his New Jersey studio – and voila! More seriously: With local producers coming under a lot of fire recently, the results of their work are going to be carefully scrutinized. Does it really make a difference? You bet. It just leaves local produce miles behind. The sound has presence and immediacy – I have yet to hear a local band sound as good on record as ANR do here. Louw’s vocals are commanding and passionate, the guitars have that gritty edge and the whole appears to be strong chart-orientated stuff.
Cape Times Review (5 October 1984)
Exciting Glimpse by Andrew Donaldson
The first single from All Night Radio’s debut album was released last week. The double A-sided rocker, Breaking Hearts, c/w Sea Side Love, is a no-nonsense uncompromising recording debut, and an exciting glimpse of what the group intends to offer on its forthcoming album. Produced in Cape Town by New York-based John Rollo, “Breaking Hearts” is probably the noisiest and freshest-sounding rock single produced in this country to date. Guitarist Nico Burger effortlessly establishes himself as wunderkind here in one neat and fluid solo. ANR think they’re a great group. They probably are. I will be having words with them about this.
Cape Times Funfinder (9 November 1984)
Music by Andrew Donaldson
Back home, All Night Radio’s The Heart’s The Best Part is a thunderous debut, with its hard-driving snare-drum guitar orientated sound (Springsteen a la mode). Forget the “well-produced, technically perfect” spiel (it is a remarkable album in that aspect) and listen to the songs. Singer Steve Louw displays a talent for crafting songs that are free of obvious and clichéd hooks. They’re energetic, they’re thoughtfully constructed and, what’s important, they have a shelf life that takes you far past the first listening.
Zigzag Rock Etceteras (October 1984)
A return to basics, that’s what Cape Town’s All Night Radio wanted on their debut single so it’s a no-nonsense double A-sided rocker, Breaking Hearts / Sea Side Love. The group – Steve Louw (vocals, guitar), Nico Burger (guitars) and Rob Nagel (bass guitar, harmonica) – wanted to capture their pent-up raucous and emotive energy without compromising their live spirit. ANR needed a state-of-the art quality studio recording and got it. The album, The Heart’s The Best Part, was recorded by New York-based engineer/producer John Rollo (know for his work with The Kinks, Little Steven van Zandt, Stevie Nicks and George Benson), and was completed in 10 days in Cape Town’s UCA Studios with the help of session men Richard Pickett on drums, and Brian Seftel, on keyboards. It was mixed at House of Music in New Jersey and mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, NYC.
ANR met at Stellenbosch University, where a common love for the Blues and Rock ‘n Roll found them playing with David Kramer and Leslie Rae Dowling in various folk-dives and student one-offs. The three split up – Steve Louw heading for New York City and Rob Nagel going to Hamburg. After two more years of sweaty rock and roll dives, Rob and Steve decided to return to Cape Town and, reuniting with Nico in June, last year, use the city as the base for their assault on the record industry. Then came months of all-night rehearsals, live gigs to test the songs, more rehearsals, more gigs, and skeleton studio and live recordings until April this year, when the band felt they were ready to record. Steve van Zandt, former E-Street Band guitarist, put the band in touch with John Rollo, who had just completed the Little Steven album, Voice of America.
On the strength and spirit of ANR’s music on a hissing four track cassette, Rollo decided to pack his bags, fly from New York to the bottom of the darkest continent, and record these South African rockers. Together with Steve Louw, Rollo returned to his home studio in New Jersey, where the album and single was mixed. Rollo then enlisted the support of long-time friend George Merino to master and cut the disc at Sterling Sound. A US distribution deal is currently being negotiated while the band plan to tour in November.
Lyrics
Breaking Hearts
Baby, why did it all just turn out so crazy?
Seen it all one time before
Seen me walk right by your door
But what am I fighting for?
Why can’t I just lay down?
And pick this all up from the floor
Turn it all around
Baby, we just can’t make it
Seen the blood flow once more
I felt the love cry out for more
But what are we fighting for?
Why can’t we just lay down?
And pick this all up from the floor
Turn it all around
And you’re breaking hearts
You’re so tough, you can’t feel a thing
You’re breaking hearts
And all you want is for it all to end
Repeat chorus
And you can’t live now
You can’t live then
Baby, what’s it all been about?
But crying, and crying
Repeat chorus
She’s The One
You don’t love her
Like I love her
You can’t make her feel
Like I make her feel
You hold me close, you cut me down
You take me in
Then you turn me around
I can’t stand it for another moment
I can’t take all this hate and torment
Don’t set me right
Don’t get me wrong
I’m doing it all for you
Can’t you feel it
My heart, my soul
Can’t you heal me
Oh, don’t let me go
Don’t set me right
Don’t get me wrong
I’m doing it all for you
Going to set us free
Can’t you see
Can’t you see, it’s just you
My baby’s talking softly
She’s saying I’m the one
Can’t you see it
Can’t you feel it
I’m the one
Can’t you take me
Can’t you heal me
I’m the one
Can’t you see
Don’t you know
She’s the one
She’s the one
She’s the one
She’s the one
Repeat
Debbie
Yeah, Debbie, yeah
You cut me loose, yeah
But you never told me
Thought you’d let me go
You always going to hold me
You come for me in the night
A faint afterglow
My lover my life
You take it fast and slow
Such a longing for love
I’m going to take good care, of you
Yeah Debbie, yeah
You said love, that’s just a word
That you use to taunt me
It’s been so long, still, you know
These feelings, they haunt me
You feel yourself breakdown
When she puts you right through the test
Feel the tears as she says
You could be my very best
Such a longing for life
I’m going to take good care of you
You come for me in the night
A faint afterglow
My lover my life
You take it fast and slow
Such a longing for love
I’m going to take good care of you.
Yeah, Debbie
Yeah, Debbie
Debbie, yeah
Debbie, yeah
Debbie
Debbie
Debbie
Sea Side Love
Sell your soul for happiness
Or what you think it brings
Now you take another look
At the cold north wind
There’s always something breaking up
Your seaside love, oh yeah
Always something shaking up
Your seaside love, oh yeah
See the spirits of the past
You talk to them at night
Now you see that they don’t last
In the light
Chorus
Taking chances as they come, baby
You give yourself to each and every one
There’s only one thing you’ve got left
Well that’s the love beating in your breast
Repeat
And when you foresee your own death
You’ve got no doubt
See that open window
You’ve got to jump right out
Chorus
Your seaside love, oh yeah
Your seaside love, oh yeah
Your seaside love, oh yeah
Your seaside love, oh yeah
Heat Of My Heart
I freeze you out, don’t think what I’m doing
All the time I just want to take you in
Keep you warm
Next to the heat of my heart
But we always start it all over again
Can’t you see that it’s always going to be the same
Without the heat of my heart
And as you, my baby, look me over
Decide if you want to be my lover
Don’t you
Miss the beat of my heart
There’ve been times when I
Knocked on your door
You said, baby, I can’t stand it no more
Threw me out
Into the darkness of the night
I freeze you out, don’t think what I’m doing
All the time I want to take you in
Keep you warm
Next to the heat of my heart, yeah
Next to the beat of my heart
Next to the heat of my heart
Rising Storm
Ran clear across 16 states these last two months
We met an old man who said, “Kids, I was young once,
Keep on going, keep each other warm
Just gotta keep one step ahead of the Rising Storm.”
You won’t give up ‘til you reach the end
You know you’re more than a lover
You’re more than a friend
I’ve been running alone, these last two weeks
Just been doing a lot of thinking, cruising the streets
You left me feeling that I was lost
Left me with a lot of bridges to cross
But I remember that old man in the old corral
I remember his words babe, remember them well
He said “Keep on going, keep each other warm
Just got to stay one step ahead of the Rising Storm.”
Seen the blood flow on a pale white skin
And felt the warmth gone from within
Ah, there’s nothing you can say or do
There’s no way that I can get back to you.
And I’m running on, through the driving rain
Keeping on, I just can’t feel the pain
But I know that you’re with me still
But we can’t be together, no we never will
I know that it’s not all in vain
I can still hear you calling out my name
Saying “Keep on going keep each other warm
Just stay one step ahead of
The Rising Storm.”
The Rising Storm
The Rising Storm
The Heart’s The Best Part
Taking off for freedom
Take nothing without a fight
It’s hours on the telephone
Just to see you’re alright
Feels so good, feels so fine, to hear you say my name
Feels so good, little darling, to hear that you’re still the same
You know the heart’s the best part
You don’t believe me, you say c’mon
You got to be wrong
Well, the heart’s the best part
Come here and feel me, baby
It’s beating strong
And when you tell me
That you always want to be with me
Feels like protection, protection
The only kind I’ll ever need
Well, I know, I know, I know that love is only a dream
But when I’m with you, you know darling
It’s the closest, it’s ever been
The heart’s the best part
You don’t believe me you say
C’mon you gotta be wrong
Well, the heart’s the best part
Come here and feel me
Feel me, darling
It’s beating strong yeah
And when you say that you’ll be mine
All over again
Just come here hold me, darling
It’s beating in my veins
Repeat
The heart’s the best part
The best part, the best part of a woman or a man
The heart’s the best part, the best part
Oh, baby feel me you’ll understand
The heart’s the best part, the best part
Baby you know I just can’t be wrong
The heart’s the best part, come here and feel me
Feel me baby it’s just beating strong
The heart’s the best part
City Hall
You came to me, just like a child
Put your life in my hands
Couldn’t understand
‘Cause I’m so blind, can’t see, can’t feel
Can’t even realize
That I’m your man
I’ll take you down to City Hall
I’ll show you once, show you for all
City Hall
It will be black, it will be white
As we step right out into the light
It feels so good
Climb into our checker cab
You know I’m yours to hold, babe to have
And it feels so good
Repeat chorus
City Hall tonight
Shining bright tonight
Repeat chorus
City Hall tonight
Shining bright in the light
Looks so fine tonight
City Hall
It will be black babe, it will be white
We step right out, into the night
It looks so good
Repeat chorus
City Hall, Shining bright
Oh yeah, baby, it looks so good
Repeat
Killing Time
Got your leather jacket all turned up
Against the cold and what you call your luck
But you can’t see
You made your choices
Take your chances as they come
She’s the only one
Can’t you feel
Hold me closer, hold me nearer, take me into your heart
I said baby, it’s our lives
Feel it, baby, we’re just killing time
You get halfway down the track
There’s no turning back
You get one chance
Think it over
Feel the beat of your heart
You’ll feel the fire start
You’ll feel it burning
All those phantoms that keep you silent
That keep you down on your knees
I said baby, it’s our lives
Can’t you see, baby, we’re just killing time
I said, oh, baby, it’s our lives
Can’t you feel it I said, baby
We’re just killing time
I can’t live up to expectations
You know they were never mine
I can’t give into temptations
But they’re coming at me
All the time
Repeat
I said, oh baby, it’s our lives
Can you feel it, I said, baby
We’re just killing time
Repeat
Land Of Sin
I feel night closing
She was my lover, he was my friend
There’re things I know for sure
The things they tell me I don’t trust no more
Everything’s becoming so far removed
From the feelings you can’t prove
I know I can’t pray
When everything you trusted’s taken away
Going to take them on, one by one
Show them all, how it’s done
Beat the world at their own game
Now it’s all taken away
I went down to your grave last night
Standing in the shadows, out of the light
I saw an old man walking towards me in the rain
And then I knew it’s not all in vain
His clothes were dirty but there’s peace in his eyes
When I met him I realised
That there are still people who ain’t giving in
You walk your own way
Through this Land of Sin
You know I ain’t giving in
No, I ain’t giving in
No, I ain’t giving in
And you walk your own way
Through this Land of Sin
I could always have come home
Come in out of the storm
You’d always made sense
In amongst all of this meaninglessness
Well, I’m standing here right on my own
Oh, why did you have to go?
You know there still people who ain’t giving in
You got to walk your own way
Through this Land of Sin
Well, I ain’t, I ain’t giving in
No, I ain’t, I ain’t giving in
No, I ain’t, I ain’t giving in
You walk your own way
Through this Land of Sin
Well, we’re moving, right across the land
But there are so many things we just can’t understand
But there are still people who ain’t giving in
And you walk your own way
Through this Land of Sin
But I ain’t, I ain’t going to just give in
No, I ain’t, I ain’t giving in
Oh, I ain’t, no, I ain’t giving in
You walk your own way
Through this Land of Sin
Yeah, I ain’t, oh no, giving in
You know I ain’t giving in
No, I ain’t giving in
You walk your own way
Through this Land of Sin
Got to walk your own way
Through this Land of Sin
You walk your own way
Through this Land of Sin
You walk your own way
Through this Land of Sin
Love Will Carry You On
Isn’t it strange?
The way things are moving
From day to day
You see people dying
The days we were children
They seem so long gone
When we could feel something
When we could be someone
You step out on Jane Street
The lights are shining all night long
You feel your heartbeat
You know that love’s going to carry you on
Isn’t it sad?
That we can stop dreaming
You get what you choose
But don’t ever stop feeling
Your heart your soul
Oh don’t let them tell you
What you need you can own
‘Cause it’ll just kill you
As you step out on Main Street
The lights are shining all night long
You feel your heartbeat
You know that love’s going to carry you on
Love’s going to carry you on
Oh, love’s going to carry you on
Love’s going to carry you on
Love will carry you on
Isn’t it strange?
We can’t see we’re losing
From day to day
You feel people dying
Baby, please take good care
Oh, baby please take good care
Love will carry you on
Love will carry you on
Repeat
Discography
The Heart’s The Best Part · The Killing Floor · Waiting For The Dawn · Horizon · Going Down With Mister Green · Best Of The Decade · Beyond The Blue · Trancas Canyon · Heart & Soul [DVD] · Headlight Dreams · Thunder And Rain