Freedom – No Compromise is the third solo studio album by Little Steven, released in May 1987 by EMI.
Following on the moderate success of Artists United Against Apartheid's "Sun City" in 1985, Steven Van Zandt's next record was a full-on dance-rock record, verging in places on world music. Bruce Springsteen and Rubén Blades join Van Zandt on lead vocals on "Native American" and "Bitter Fruit", respectively. Politics were even more at the forefront than before, centering on U.S. transgressions in Central America, South Africa, and against Native Americans. By this time, the old Disciples of Soul band had almost completely disappeared.
In 2019, the album was remastered for release as part of Van Zandt's career-spanning box set Rock N Roll Rebel: The Early Work. The digital deluxe edition of the album was released on November 29, 2019 containing five bonus tracks, along with the reissued Bitter Fruit bonus EP.
Little Steven – lead vocals, guitar, dulcimer, drum programming
Bruce Springsteen – additional lead vocals on "Native American"
Rubén Blades – additional lead vocals and percussion on "Bitter Fruit"
Kenny Moore – additional vocals on "Trail of Broken Treaties", background vocals
Cobra Jones[n 1] – additional vocals on "No More Party's"
Steve Jordan, David Beal, Keith LeBlanc – drums
Romeo Williams, Doug Wimbish, T.M. Stevens – bass
Charlie Judge – keyboards
Greg Phillinganes, Tommy Mandel, Richard Scher, Paul Shaffer, Bernie Worrell – additional keyboards
Monti Louis Ellison, David Beal – percussion
Hilario P. Soto – toyo
Zoë Yanakis – bass flute
Benjamin Newberry, David Beal – drum programming
Will Downing, Craig Derry, Wendell Morrison, Floyd Westerman, Tina B., Audrey Wheeler, Brenda White-King, Steve Jordan, Oren Waters, Julia Waters, Luther Waters, Maxine Waters, Debra Byrd, Elicia Wright, Benjamin Newberry - background vocals
Sechaba Cultural Singers, Zola Dube, Tshepo Tsotetsi, Moeketsi Bodibe, Tnemba Ntinga, Mweli Mzizi, South African Students Committee of UCLA, Abner Mariri, Mendiswa Mzamne, Ronald Kunene, Kindiza Ngubeni, Nonhlanhla Simelane, Motlole Moseki - additional background vocals
All songs written and arranged by Little Steven
"Freedom" - 5:14
"Trail of Broken Treaties" - 6:05
"Pretoria" - 5:16
"Bitter Fruit" - 6:18
"No More Party's" - 5:40
"Can't You Feel the Fire" - 4:38
"Native American" - 5:38
"Sanctuary" - 6:04
2019 digital deluxe edition bonus tracks
"Bitter Fruit (Cana No Mas Dub)" (UK 12" single - 1987) - 6:48
"Fruta Amarga" (Spanish 12" single - 1987) - 5:53
"No More Party's (For Those About to Party...)" (Rock mix) (12" single - 1987) - 5:38
"No More Party's (Funky Party Edit)" (R&B Mix) (12" single - 1987) - 4:18
"Vote Jesse In" (Jesse Jackson Campaign Song - 1988) - 4:45
