Garage Sale Vinyl: Nick Gilder
City Nights / Chrysalis Records / 1978
by Christopher Long
Simply put, he checked all the right boxes. And for misunderstood middle school misfit freaks (like me), it was an easy sell. Combining Martina Navratilova masculinity with Thin White Duke femininity, Canadian pop-rock kingpin Nick Gilder possessed the voice of Dennis DeYoung’s pre-pube niece and the allure of Robin Zander’s less attractive twin sister.
Along with guitarist and musical collaborator James McCulloch, Gilder created intoxicating, riff-injected, bubblegum-flavored cock rock that defined the hot-n-horny teenage experience during the super-shag ’70s. Focusing on themes of particular personal interest — skin-tight jeans, motorcycle jackets, and bad-boy rock dudes banging bad-girl rock chicks — Gilder’s songs spoke to me.
Produced by Peter Coleman (Pat Benatar, Exile, Lee Aaron) and Mike Chapman (Pat Benatar, The Knack, Blondie), Gilder split the uprights with his infectious 1978 sophomore set, City Nights. Climbing pretty dang close to the Billboard Top 30, the 10-song hook-fest owned the chart-topping smash, “Hot Child in the City.”
Although it has become recognized widely as one of the most iconic power-pop tunes of the era, it can be argued that “Hot Child” wasn’t necessarily the album’s strongest track. Punched up perfectly by Craig Krampf’s rib-cracking kick-snare combo, “Got to Get Out” crashed through the starting gate with “Day Tripper”-meets-“Hair of the Dog” fury, while “We’ll Work it Out” was an absolutely irresistible seduction. Additionally, “(She’s) One of the Boys” demanded your undivided attention — refusing to seek out any real estate beyond one’s nether regions. Hey, Maw! I think I found my special purpose!
In the ensuing years, Gilder kinda faded from my radar, until I was reintroduced to City Nights by a liked-minded buddy in the early ’90s. But by then, locating classic Nick Gilder records was no easy task. As a result, I had to resort to taping my buddy’s copy onto a TDK SA90. Where that tape is now, only my ex-wife’s attorney knows for sure. Geeze Louise, even in today’s limitless iUniverse, digging up deep-dive Gilder deets is somewhat challenging. And aside from “Hot Child,” I still can’t snatch up any of his ’70s-era releases in the ol’ iTunes store. So, I was super-amped not too long ago when I discovered a reasonably healthy used vinyl copy of City Nights hiding out at a local flea mall, for only six bucks.
Despite the frustration factor involved with pursuing a healthier used vinyl copy of City Nights as well as its equally appealing predecessor, You Know Who You Are, and his less-than-prominent Internet presence, Gilder’s music continues popping up occasionally in various TV shows and movie soundtracks. And for those who still crave the authentic, old-school, pop-rock crunch, I assure you, the pursuit of seasoned Nick Gilder slabs is well worth the effort.
(5/5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
City Nights Track Listing
All songs written by Nick Gilder and James McCulloch
SIDE ONE
- Got to Get Out – 2:45
- We’ll Work It Out – 3:37
- (She’s) One of the Boys – 3:24
- All Because of Love – 3:16
- Hot Child in the City – 3:45
SIDE TWO
- Frustration – 3:03
- Here Comes the Night – 3:03
- 21st Century – 3:14
- Fly High – 4:52
- Rockaway – 3:21
