Title - 'New York at Night'
Artist - Willie Nile
For those not in the know, New York at Night is the 13th studio album from veteran rock 'n' roll troubadour Willie Nile, and the strongest manifestation to date of his deep affinity for the city.
The album's 12 new originals exemplify the artist's trademark mix of romance, idealism, humor, emotional urgency and a true believer's passionate embrace of all things rock 'n' roll.
Nile's abiding passion for his town animates such tunes as 'New York Is Rockin' and the album's title track. "New York City has always inspired me," states Willie. "I've lived in Greenwich Village for many years now, and I still love being there."
"The energy, the grit, and the mystery of it all fills my heart with wonder. Most of these songs were written in New York or were inspired by it in one way or another."
Nile recorded New York at Night (released May 15th, 2020 via River House Records) just across the river, at Weehawken, N.J.'s Hobo Sound, co-producing with longtime collaborator Stewart Lerman (Elvis Costello, Neko Case, Patti Smith) and backed by his longtime live band.
The album also features well renowned guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Steuart Smith (Eagles, Rosanne Cash, Rodney Crowell), pianist Brian Mitchell (Bob Dylan, Levon Helm, B.B. King), and an assortment of backing vocalists including singer-songwriters Frankie Lee and James Maddock, and veteran singers Tawatha Agee and Vaneese Thomas.
1. 'New York Is Rockin'
2. 'The Backstreet Slide'
3. 'Doors Of Paradise'
4. 'Lost and Lonely World'
5. 'The Fool Who Drank The Ocean'
6. 'A Little Bit Of Love'
7. 'New York at Night'
8. 'The Last Time We Made Love'
9. 'Surrender The Moon'
10. 'Under This Roof'
11. 'Downtown Girl'
12. 'Run Free'
This vibrantly earthy album opens with the upbeat sing-along 'New York Is Rockin' and backs that up with the low slung guitar work of 'The Backstreet Slide,' then the lo-fi reverb of 'Doors Of Paradise,' and then the mid-tempo, early '90s rock vibe of the terrific 'Lost and Lonely World.'
The drum-led beats of 'The Fool Who Drank The Ocean' ("I'm as mad as a hatter, I'm as drunk as Lord. I've been stumbling backward, falling on my soul") are then backed by the AOR ballad 'A Little Bit Of Love' and then the rambunctious title track 'New York at Night' ("I went into the subway and it felt just like a dream. Saw a fella going by covered in whipped cream") bursts forth.
Nile's ornate piano ballad, the yearning 'The Last Time We Made Love' makes it one of the stand out highlights here for me, and that's followed by the rockin' late '80s vibe of 'Surrender The Moon.'
The album then rounds out with the passionate, balladeering promises of 'Under This Roof,' before the tempo is raised once again for the thunderous 'Downtown Girl,' with the album coming to a close on the freewheeling, Springteen-esque 'Run Free.'
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