Side one begins with "And We Danced". As the second single, it reached number 72 in Germany, number 51 in Canada, number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 9 in New Zealand, and number 3 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. This high energy tune instantly takes me back to my college days, dancing with it blaring from the speakers at parties. Whenever I hear it, I find it very difficult not to get up and bounce around the room.
The third single was "Day by Day"; it went to number 66 in Canada, number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The lyrics celebrate living in the moment and appreciating every thing as it comes.
"All You Zombies" is the first of three songs re-recorded from their debut album Amore (click here for that review). This version is a bit more polished and has a stronger rock edge to it. As the lead single, it climbed to number 58 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 17 in Germany, number 16 in New Zealand, and number 11 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
The ominous rocker "Don't Take My Car Out Tonight" is next. This song would have been perfect on the soundtrack to a thriller or on an episode of Miami Vice.
The title track and B-side to the first and fourth single is "Nervous Night". On the verses, the lead singer is channelling a little Bob Dylan with his vocal phrasings.
Side two starts with "Hanging on a Heartbeat", the second re-recorded track. This one has some funky percussion patterns to it.
"Where Do the Children Go", the fourth single, hit number 98 in Canada, number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 34 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, and number 20 in New Zealand. The track features guest vocals by Patty Smyth, the former lead singer of Scandal. I have memories of singing along to the chorus of this one with friends in my car back during college.
After the slower previous track, "South Ferry Road" kicks things back up with a lot of energy. It was the B-side to the third single.
Next is a cover of "She Comes in Colors", a tune first recorded by Arthur Lee in 1966. This one is my least favorite track from the record.
"Blood From a Stone", the closing track and B-side to the second single, was also re-recorded from their debut. This is one of my favorite of the deep-cut, non-single tracks on the album.
In 1986, the band released a concert film with the same name as this album. It featured performances along with short segments starring each band member.
The band was nominated for an MTV Music Video Award for Best New Artist for the video for "And We Danced". Rolling Stone magazine named them the Best new Band of the Year for 1986.
I picked up a copy of Nervous Night on cassette during the summer of 1985, right after they played an amazing set as part of the Live Aid concert. When I got back to college after completing that co-op assignment, I found out one of my good friends "Dibbles" (Debbie L.) was totally into the album as well. Any time I hear tracks from this album, I think of her and remember fondly how much fun a bunch of had during a summer college semester in 1986. I did pick up the album on CD about five or six years ago, scooped up from a Best Buy bargain bin. Well worth it for this 80's classic.
No comments:
Post a Comment