Customer Reviews

Best of Nick Gilder: Hot Child in the City

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a lont time Gilder and Sweeney Todd fan I am dismayed to find a lot of material missing, especially one of my Gilder favourites "Here Comes The Night". Whoever did this compilation on Nick's behalf should be fired and given a job as a plumber (my apologies to all plumbers). Once again, die-hard fans have been short changed.

I must begin by expressing the same sort of reservations as others around here have done about this disc; it's too short (Mere 12 tracks in just 40 minutes) and too far from being definitive (My main complaint: Where [...] is "21st Century", one of Gilder's finest songs ever!?) Other than that, it's fine slice of little known, underappreciated 1970's quality pop/rock.

The "You Know Who You Are" LP was a particular favourite of mine when I was about 14 years-old, and I just couldn't understand why Billy Joel and his ilk were having hit after hit after hit why Nick Gilder went largely unnoticed - aside, of course, from "Hot Child in the City", which, if you ask me, is just so-so compared to much of his other material. Listening to this music again all these years later, I'm still just as baffled.

"(She's) One of the Boys", "Backstreet Noise" (The B-SIDE of "Hot Child", how unbelievable as that may seem now!!), "Rated 'X'", "Roxy Roller", and so on and so on - all still tremendously appealing after all these years and oh-how long I've waited to get them all on CD. Thanks, Razor & Tie!

Oh, and Mr.DeLuca, Suzi Quatro also recorded a fine version of "Roxy Roller" circa 1976.

For far too long Nick Gilder's music has been neglected and has been dismissed as a one-hit wonder. This compilation showcases the true talents of Nick Gilder, as a singer, songwriter and producer. The only downside to this CD is the exclusion of the songs "Here Comes The Night" and his first Canadian solo single, that was not included in any of his albums, "She's A Star (in her own right)". Perhaps Volume Two will have them?

... Nick also recorded some great overlooked stuff in the 80's ("Let Me In") that could have been included... it's hard to believe that almost 30 years have gone by since "Hot Child In The City"! Weren't those the golden days of radio?

For years I have waited for a best of Nick Gilder CD. He released several very good albums on Chrysalis, and had some truly excellent guitar driven rock. Too bad his only U.S.claim to fame was "Hot Child in the City". My only complaint is that the CD was way too short, but a good selection anyway. I would love to see the "Rock America" album reissued, especially since nothing was included from that, due to it being originally on Casablanca. Great production, and with great tunes like "Backstreet Noise" and "You Really Rock Me", you can't go wrong

A GOOD START!

Back when Razor & Tie had just released the first of Donnie Iris' LP's, their web site asked visitors for suggestions on what artists they would like to see released. I immediately emailed them saying they HAD to release albums by Nick Gilder and City Boy (i'm still waiting for City Boy).

Well, it took a long time, but this CD is GREATLY appreciated. Nick Gilder was a standout rocker with a unique sound. If Nick is crankin' out of your system, you aren't going to mistake him for anybody else.

.

About the CD...Nice remastering. The songs sound crisp and clear. A decent selection of songs, but as other reviewers have noted, some glaring ommissions. Some of my favorites that are NOT on the CD: Metro Jets (how did this one get away???)We'll Work It Out (Hello??) Time After Time (McFly...Anybody Home?) Hold On Me Tonight. Well, the list could go on.

It's nice to finally have a compilation of Nick Gilder's best on CD. Most of these songs can only be found on vinyl. But for someone like Nick Gilder (who only had a few hits) to have some of his actual hits like "Electric Love" and "Worlds Collide" be omitted is crazy. All in all this is a great CD with no weak songs. It could've been even stronger.

Has Sun Ra's atonality got you down? Is Pharoah Sander's sax scraping your eardrums? Have you kicked out too many MC5 jams? When my heaviness reaches its peak of heavyosity, I reach for power pop.

Nick Gilder does it best: "Roxy Roller" and "Hot Child In The City" are the biggies here: melodic guitar with a friendly growl, inevitable rhythms, exuberant vocals. This stuff is just the ticket to dig you out of whatever whole your in

Most of this was done in the 1970's: important because it is before synthesizers made this type of music anemic. This is fun music when fun music still had great writing, care in production values, and plenty of spine to go around

I have to agree with the general tone of comments in this section. It's a great way to check Gilder out if you're interested, but us long-time fans just have to wonder why more of his great late 70's albums aren't available in full. "You Know Who You Are," "City Nights" and "Frequency" are all stellar albums chock full of great tunes, and this little 12 song comp barely scratches the surface! Still, I can't NOT recommend it, as every song on here is fantastic. I just want more! If you're only familiar with "Hot Child In The City" and want to hear more, I recommend the rocking "Got To Get Out," "She's One Of The Boys" and "You Really Rock Me." By then you'll probably download the rest anyway... Lastly, I also agree with others who have lamented the omission of "Here Comes The Night," how could that have happened?

I've has this collection for a few years, and haven't tired of it at all.... great songwriting, with really distinctive, intricate and beautiful arrangements -- especially on "Tantalize" and "Watcher of the Night", probably my favorites on this disc. The vocals are a wonder of technique -- much has been made of Mr. Gilder's high voice, often called female -sounding, but to me the main point about his singing is that it is fearless, emotive, and completely honest-sounding.