[2019-03-15] Night "Night" and "Long Distance" Collector's Editions (Rock Candy UK)

Linda · **Posted:** Tue Feb 05, 2019 5:29 pm

Night

Description
Special Deluxe Collector's Edition / Fully Remastered Audio / One of the most revered AOR obscurities from the late '70s / Features twin vocalists Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann's Earth Band) and Stevie Lange / 12 page full colour booklet - 3,500 word essay, enhanced artwork, rarely seen photos and new interview.

The story behind Night is arguably one of the most intriguing and, by implication, frustrating in the history of rock. As a mini supergroup, with a super-slick FM radio style, they had the potential to fit neatly into the heavy-hitting platinum rock niche occupied by the likes of Fleetwood Mac, the Doobie Brothers and Air Supply. However, despite signing to an American record label and giving birth to two hit singles, their valiant efforts to compete fell short of expectations. It's therefore surprising to know that the band were actually formed in the UK, by Manfred Mann's Earth Band vocalist Chris Thompson (he sang on the #1 single 'Blinded By The Light'), together with celebrated backing vocalist Stevie Lange (wife of 'Mutt' Lange). Indeed, the band were well-known faces on the UK pub and club circuit before being unexpectedly signed up by Planet Records, a US-based label helmed by celebrated producer Richard Perry (Rod Stewart, Carly Simon, Pointer Sisters). The band moved to Los Angeles, and Perry recorded the album over an exhaustive twelve months, enlisting the help of top session players, including Nicky Hopkins, Steve Porcaro and Michael McDonald. The results are pretty spectacular. Musically the sound was very much in vogue with FM radio, featuring strident yet powerful rock tracks and emotive power ballads. It was an album that yielded two American hit singles with 'If You Remember Me' and the anthemic 'Hot Summer Nights'. However, despite this chart success, the album failed to perform as well as it might have been expected and it was back to the drawing board for the follow-up.

Tracklist
1. Hot Summer Nights
2. Cold Wind Across My Heart
3. If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody
4. Ain't That Peculiar
5. If You Remember Me
6. Come Around (If You Want Me)
7. You Ain't Pretty Enough
8. Shocked
9. Love Message
10. Party Shuffle

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NBCL23M/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07NBCL23M/?tag=imwan-21

Long Distance

Description
Special Deluxe Collector's Edition / Fully Remastered Audio / Second album from revered AOR obscurities from the late '70s / Features twin vocalists Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann's Earth Band) and Stevie Lange / 12 page full colour booklet - 3,500 word essay, enhanced artwork, rarely seen photos and new interview.

Arguably, Night are one of the great lost acts of the late '70s/early '80s. Formed in London as a somewhat ad-hoc pub rock band going under the handle of Filthy McNasty, and fronted by two superlative vocalists, Chris Thompson (previously of Manfred Mann's Earth Band) and Stevie Lange (wife of super-producer Robert 'Mutt' Lange). They secured a loyal following on the club circuit and were eventually offered a record deal from Planet Records, an American based label affiliated to Warner Bros. Night's debut album certainly garnered critical and commercial attention, enough in fact to secure two hit singles in the lucrative American market place. Whilst the album stalled sales-wise, the future still looked extremely promising, and so with enthusiastic support they set about recording the follow-up record, 'Long Distance'. Whilst the debut had been recorded during an extensive sojourn in Los Angeles, this time around, mainly for financial reasons, they opted to record in London. They also chose to switch producers and enlisted the services of bright young upstart Tim Friese-Green (Touch, Praying Mantis). It was a wise decision, as the album showcased a more strident style, moving away from the previous comparison to Fleetwood Mac, towards more forceful and harder rock laced with tougher guitars and solid hooks, a sound somewhat reminiscence of REO Speedwagon and Survivor. Released in 1980, the album, despite its sound quality and the undeniably good song writing displayed, failed to ignite commercial interest. It also suffered from label politics, with Planet records effectively disowning the band and album, despite some great reviews and encouraging reactions at several American FM radio stations. But 'Long Distance' is one of the best overlooked albums of the era.

Tracklist
1. Dr. Rock
2. Don't Break My Heart
3. Love On The Airwaves
4. The Letter
5. Callin' Me Back
6. You Cried Wolf
7. Stealin'
8. Miss You (Like I Do)
9. Day After Day
10. Good To Be Back In Your Arms

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NB93XRZ/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07NB93XRZ/?tag=imwan-21

Linda · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2019 3:04 pm

Bump: Added the descriptions to the first post.

[2019-03-15] Night "Night" and "Long Distance" Collector's Editions (Rock Candy UK)

Who is WANline