Customer Reviews

Nightout

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hooray! The grandeur of Ellen Foley's first solo album is finally available again on CD. With this album Foley and her producers wrapped her powerful, passionate voice in guitar-driven, Phil Spector meets 70s glam production and came up with a rough-edged diamond. Mick Ronson's guitar work is a feature but despite the production, which can occasionally sound a bit murky, it's Foley's sonic voice that deservedly stands out, rising up out of the wall-of-sound surrounding her. Highlights are the sublime first single We Belong To The Night, the retro What's A Matter Baby and the (apparently) single take piano ballad Don't Let Go. Yes it definitely sounds 70s but it also still most definitely sounds fab.

Produced by Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson, this 1979 album of classic rock has stood the test of time very well. The mix is just right, with awesome melodious compositions, brilliant production and Foley's vocal prowess. Although generally soaring and assertive, her voice also conveys mystery and vulnerability on this varied set of songs.

Blending classic rock and post-punk urgency, the album opens with the majestic We Belong To The Night, an atmospheric and soulful rock ballad. Highlights include What's A Matter Baby and Stupid Girl, an impressive fast-paced rock 'n roller with prominent sax and piano. The title track is a brooding ballad with plenty of tempo variation and dramatic vocals, whilst her interpretation of Graham Parker's Thunder And Rain is a great example of surging New Wave rock.

Another track that tilts more towards New Wave than classic rock is the uptempo Hideaway. The album closes with Don't Let Go, a tender ballad of hope and encouragement. The aforementioned tracks are particular favorites, but all the songs on Night Out are memorable, Sad Song in particular. The album displays all that was great in the rock of the late 1970s. Fans of Meat Loaf, Jim Steinman, Pat Benatar, Mink de Ville, Bruce Springsteen and even Alanis Morissette would appreciate this great album by Ellen Foley.

If you like Steinman, get this CD.
If you like Meat Loaf, get this CD.
If you like highly produced Spector effect, get this CD.
If you like picking one song and playing over and over and over and over, get this CD.

While short in length, as one reviewer pointed out, a little bit goes a long way with this infectious debut by femme fatale Ellen Foley. Blessed with an amazing set of pipes that she works real wonders with on the intended single "Sad Song" and Stones cover "Stupid Girl," Foley conveys every emotion in the book with strong backing from Mott the Hoople's Ian Hunter and seventies guitar god Mick Ronson. Far superior in delivery than Debbie Harry, Foley would fail to achieve the same longevity of fame as Blondie's frontwoman despite her manifold attractiveness and obvious abilities at translation. Few female vocalists move me as much as Foley does (Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders or Theresa Starr of the Echoes perhaps), and it only saddens me that she wasn't allowed to enjoy a greater degree of success with a little more backing from her record company.

I have to admit upfront that I'm prejudice. I knew of Ellen Foley when she did the female backup for Meatloaf's "Bat Out Of Hell". That voice saying, "Come on boy, what's it gonna be? Yes or No!" Yes Ellen, yes! What a voice. This album is like the female couterpart to "Bat Out Of Hell". The productions are similar. So, if you like Meatloaf, I guarantee you will love this album. It has driven me nuts that it took so long for it show up on CD. I have the original vinyl and a copy on cassette. But now on CD and onto my iPod. I'm in Rock and Roll 70's heaven.

While short in length, as one reviewer pointed out, a little bit goes a long way with this infectious debut by femme fatale Ellen Foley. Blessed with an amazing set of pipes that she works real wonders with on the intended single "Sad Song" and Stones cover "Stupid Girl," Foley conveys every emotion in the book with strong backing from Mott the Hoople's Ian Hunter and seventies guitar god Mick Ronson. Far superior in delivery than Debbie Harry, Foley would fail to achieve the same longevity of fame as Blondie's frontwoman despite her manifold attractiveness and obvious abilities at translation. Few female vocalists move me as much as Foley does (Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders or Theresa Starr of the Echoes perhaps), and it only saddens me that she wasn't allowed to enjoy a greater degree of success with a little more backing from her record company.

As evidenced by her wonderful work as the designated female background singer on Meat Loaf's landmark "Bat Out of Hell," singer-actress Ellen Foley proved that she had a way with theatrical, melodramatic rock. This is late 70s chick-rock at its best. She delivers a great performance on the Graham Parker cover "Thunder and Rain." She has just the right touch on "Night Out," the title track. And on "We Belong to the Night," which got some airplay at the time of its release, she delivers the bombastic range appropriate for someone who formerly backed up Mr. Loaf.

So what that it's overly dramatic and kitschy. Like all good rock and roll, it's fun, it's sexy, and you can sing along to it. Ms. Foley put out too few records and acted in too few roles.

I'm just old enough to remember watching Ellen Foley singing on (mostly) European 'Countdown' type TV shows (before the advent of MTV). In 1976, she was just 25 years old, and I never could understand just where she hid a voice of such purity and power in such a tiny frame. She looked like she would blow away in a light breeze...

Most people nowadays remember her as the girl who sang the duet with Meat Loaf on the legendary album 'Bat out of Hell'. Most people also make the mistake of thinking that it was 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light' that launched Ellen into the spotlight...but I tend to think it was the other way around. Meat was lucky to have her, and it was a stroke of genius on the part of Todd Rundgren to pair Foley with Meat.

'Night Out' is a re-release of her first solo album and, along with 'Spirit of St Louis' ranks as two of my top ten most favorite albums. Ever.

So, if you're an 80's or 90's kid who grew up on Bubble-Gum pop, take a listen to 'Night Out', especially the first track 'We Belong to the Night', and find out what Rock is *really* supposed to sound like...

classic rock---ONLY comlaint no lyrics or in depth liner notes.

Wow what a record....Backed by Ronson and Hunter, Ellen Foley belts out one heck of a performance (as usual) on Night Out. Ranging from epic/dramatic(We Belong to the Night)to punky (Thunder and Rain by a personal fave Graham Parker)to boy meets girl a la 50's and 60's do wop(What's the Matter Baby). Every song on here is great. if you're a Bowie, Mott the Hoople, Benatar, Blondie, Rachel Sweet, Roxy Music (I could go on) this cd will not let you down...I hope Wounded Bird releases the other 2 Ellen Foley records....I keep this on repeat until I decide to turn it off!! Go for it!