Customer Reviews

City Nights / Frequency

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

 

 

Nick Gilder is one of those obscure singers no one knows about except for me and the people who actually know who sang the song "Hot Child In The City." But I've always loved him, and not for just the one song.

He's written some brilliant little pop songs and most of the best are found on his 1978 and 1979 Chrysalis albums City Nights and Frequency. I have a copy of City Nights which was released as an import from Canada a few years ago. The album is slightly more rock but contains "Hot Child..." plus his awesome single "Here Comes The Night" - not to mention a few more ditties of sex and angst.

But Frequency has never been released on CD and I've been meaning to pick up a vinyl copy to make a CD of it when those Collectibles dudes came to my rescue. Frequency is much more new wave than the previous album so I automatically love it more, of course his subject matter which is mostly sex and girls and the like is still there but it has that hasty late 70's bring on the 80's kind of feel to it and I love it, love it.

The best tracks include "Time After Time" which Toni Basil ended up covering in 1982, with lines like "You're the great pretender/ a hero of your gender.." and when speaking of the girl's endless changes in personality he mentions she's a 'fake Monroe' I love it.

I don't know maybe it's just me but..I think they should have coupled "You Know Who You Are" with "City Nights" instead of "Frequency" just because..you put the first 2 albums together instead of the 2 & 3rd..makes more sense to me which is the only reason why I give it 4 stars. Still though..it's good to see "Frequency" on CD anyway since "City Nights" is already available (Remastered). NOW..how about putting "You Know Who You Are" out on CD!!!!

Nick Gilder is best remembered as a 70's relic for his one hit Hot Child In The City, however if you really take the time to explore some of his albums, his first 3 most notably, you'll find some great snappy rock numbers. Hot Child wasnt the only song. Originally in the early 70's Canadian rock band Sweeney Todd, which also featured Bryan Adams, they had a hit in that country called Roxy Roller which went on to become somewhat of a classic associated with the mid 70's glam/pre punk movement. (further immortalized in the 2010 Runaways movie). The band split in 76 and he recorded/released a solo album called You Know Who You Are which is really good but sadly unavaliable on CD at this moment. It contained a track called Rated X which Pat Benetar covered later on.

His 1977 record City Lights featured his mainstray hit Hot Child, but actually listening to it there are some great truely great pop/rock songs on it. Got To Get Out, (She's) One of the Boys, Frustration, Rockaway all contain some nearly brilliant pop hooks but still rock out pretty good. The guitar right upfront and the drum sound on the album is perfect. That nice crunch with plenty of bottom to it. Here Comes The Night is probably the best song on the album. So Much that it deserves special mention. The Collectables issue version of City Lights is paired up with his 3rd album, 1978's Frequency, which finds Gilder heavily welcoming the 80's. It's a very "new wave" sounding album, although the sound is rooted in acoustic drums, bass and guitar, lot of the songs are drowned in keyboards. But that doesnt really render the album too poppy or dull. The Brightest Star, (You Really) Rock Me, Time After Time, Metro Jets all great songs which catchy hooks, and memorable lyrics/riffs. With plenty of buzzing awesome guiitar.

Gilder really know how to write great pop rock songs and its unfortunate few people are aware of that. Hopefully his debut album will get a proper CD release soon becaue these works really show he was more than a one hit wonder. Strangely enough, his music might be too melodic for a real rough and tumble rock crowd and too guitar driven for a real commercial pop crowd. Either way if you dig great catchy 70's style party rock with pop lacings, these albums are musts. They're dated but in a good way, they really sound like a good soundtrack for any fun time associated with the decade. But it's not so bad that it gets lost like alot of 70's pop has. For fans of obscure rock n roll, these albums aren't to be missed.

Nick Gilder's voice was some kind of wondrous freak of nature, high and girlie and yet never reaching into falsetto. He conveyed a sort of androgyny that was ideal for the delirious glam rock/power pop jive of 'City Nights', one of the 70s most overlooked albums. Nothing quite takes me back to that time of satin jackets and arcades and feathered hair like "Hot Child in the City" or "(She's) One of the Boys", but the whole record crackles with great guitar lines and astonishing songcraft. Todd Rundgren must have wished he had made this record.

I really loved these albums when I was in high school.I practically played the grooves off them.I had almost forgot how different Nicks voice could sound.But it sets him apart,I guess.What I really liked was the band.I loved the distortion his guitar player used.Nick did have some pretty good lyrics though(not sure who wrote the songs)and they still hold up.If you really like 80s music give these a listen.

Always wondered why this isnt it on CD. One of the best pop albums ever made. Has some great songs , that the cd aged people never heard, Metro Jets, Electric Love .Some very melodic songs, its about time it reached CD, took long enough

lost child in the city, you really rock me, a rocking album for the 80's

This CD is Nick's 1st & 2nd records from 1978 & 1979. Pretty cool pop/rock stuff. His band is tight and you can hear that they're enjoying playing the music. Several deep tracks that many would love, only if their ears could hear them.

Start at the top with "Got to Get Out", which is perfect power/pop-rock, that's catchy & has a cool repetitive gtr riff that drives the song. Then go to "We Will Work it Out", which reminds me of Big Star/Beatleish pop & the sleazy "She's One of the Boys"; all could've been radio hits with any solid promotion at the time. "Tantalize" has a killer gtr sound, but it melds into '70's pomp, with wacky synthesizers & heavy orchestration. Still worth hearing...

Also check out "Frustration" and don't miss the up-tempo "You Really Rock Me" which, once again, should've been all over the radio in 1979. It has a Sweet/Cheap Trick feel to it. Nick Gilder & his band had some moxy, that should've gone past the mega-hit "Hot Child...", which btw, is still a damn fine pop song to hear once in a while. Give him a listen, it could pleasantly surprise you!