Cold Hearted Woman

The song "Cold Hearted Woman" by Streets from their 1983 album 1st is a gritty, blues-infused rock track that captures the raw energy of the era's hard rock scene. In a 1985 interview with Rock Scene magazine, lead vocalist Steve Walsh described the song as a "gut-punch reaction to a relationship gone sour," drawing from personal experiences of betrayal that fueled its intense lyrics and driving rhythm. The track, clocking in at just over four minutes, showcases Walsh's powerful vocal range and the band's tight instrumentation, particularly Billy Greer's searing guitar riffs. A lesser-known tidbit from a 2010 fan Q&A on the now-defunct streetsband.com revealed that the song was almost left off the album due to producer concerns about its "overly aggressive" tone, but the band fought to keep it, believing it embodied their unfiltered sound.

On X, a 2020 post from the band's official account shared a throwback photo from the 1st recording sessions, noting that "Cold Hearted Woman" was recorded in a single take at Electric Lady Studios in New York, capturing a spontaneous energy that became a fan favorite. Fans on the Streets Fanz Forever Facebook group often cite the song's live performances during the 1983-84 tour as a highlight, with one member recalling a Chicago show where Walsh improvised an extended outro, engaging the crowd in a call-and-response that left the audience electrified. The song's enduring appeal is evident in its continued play on classic rock stations like THE ZOO, where Zoo Freaks celebrate its raw emotion and unapologetic attitude.

Streets was formed in Kansas City in the late 1970s by Steve Walsh, formerly of the progressive rock band Kansas, alongside guitarist Billy Greer and drummer Tim Gehrt. Walsh, seeking a harder-edged sound, left Kansas in 1980 to pursue a more straightforward rock project. According to a biography on the band's archived official website, the trio bonded over a shared love of blues, hard rock, and the emerging New Wave of British Heavy Metal. They began jamming in local clubs, honing their sound before signing with Atlantic Records in 1982. Their debut album, 1st, released in 1983, blended Walsh's emotive vocals with Greer's riff-heavy guitar work, establishing Streets as a formidable act in the early '80s rock scene.

The band's early days were marked by relentless gigging, as noted in a 1984 Kerrang! interview where Greer described playing "every dive bar from Missouri to Texas" to build a grassroots following. This hustle paid off, with 1st charting modestly but earning critical praise for its authenticity. Though Streets disbanded in the mid-1980s, their music continues to resonate with fans, particularly through communities like the Streets Fanz Forever Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks and other devotees share memorabilia and stories. The band's official social media presence remains active, with updates on Facebook, Instagram, and X, often reposting fan content and celebrating the legacy of tracks like "Cold Hearted Woman."