This is the 13th studio album by the singer/songwriter Willie Nile born as Robert Noonan in Buffalo, NY and now a longtime New York City, Greenwich Village resident.
Written by: Dave T
ARTIST: Willie Nile
ALBUM: New York At Night
LABEL: River House Records
SERIAL: RHR9918-2
YEAR: 2020
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Willie Nile – lead vocals, guitar, piano, glockenspiel * Stewart Lerman – acoustic guitar, synthesizers, production * Stueart Smith – guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, organ * Jimi K Bones – guitar, acoustic guitar, drum programming * Andy York – guitar * Matt Hogan – guitar, keyboards * Chris Palmaro – piano, organ * Brian Mitchell – piano * Brad Albetta – bass * Johnny Pisano – bass, tabla, backing vocals * Rich Pagano – drums * Jon Weber – drums, tambourine * Frankie Lee – tambourine, shaker, tabla, backing vocals * Tawatha Agee, Vanessa Thomas, James Maddock – backing vocals
TRACK LISTING: 01 New York Is Rockin’ * 02 The Backstreet Slide * 03 Doors Of Paradise * 04 Lost And Lonely World * 05 The Fool Who Drank The Ocean * 06 A Little Bit Of Love * 07 New York At Night * 08 The Last Time We Made Love * 09 Surrender The Moon * 10 Under This Roof * 11 Downtown Girl * 12 Run Free
RATING: 85/100
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
This album was born in his mind as he was walking around Times Square to catch a subway (I can almost picture him at 42 Street station corridors). This is the 13th studio album by the singer/songwriter Willie Nile born as Robert Noonan in Buffalo, NY and now a longtime New York City, Greenwich Village resident. Most important, ‘New York At Night’ is a fantastic Americana-style classic rock album dedicated to the Big Apple.
The Songs
Willie Nile sounds fresh and young at 72 years old, with a bit of raspiness that adds nothing but appeal to his voice. Backed by a solid band, the singer, a contemporary to NY’s Punk pioneers and whose first solo release dates back to 1980, delights us right from the energetic twelve-bar blues opener ‘New York Is Rockin’ and through the hard boogie of ‘The Backstreet Slide’ and ‘The Fool Who Drank The Ocean’.
Willie Nile’s American Punk roots are well pictured in the title track and ‘Surrender The Moon’, both with power and melody. Songs like the shiny, funky ‘A Little Bit Of Love’, ‘Doors Of Paradise’ and closer ‘Run Free’ are reminiscent of Tom Petty while the pair of the acoustic ‘Under This Roof’ and the gorgeous piano ballad ‘The Last Time We Made Love’ show the tender side of the artist.
In Summary
Give Willie Nile a chance if you are looking for quality classic rock made in 2020. All songs on this 45-minute-long album come recommended.
Video
Entire Album (Select Tracks)
