Night Fades Away is the fifth solo studio album by Nils Lofgren, released in September 1981 through Backstreet and MCA Records. It was produced by Jeffrey Baxter and reached the top 50 in Sweden and the UK, also charting in the top 100 in Australia and the US.
Critical reception
The Boston Globe wrote that "the high voice is familiar and warming, the themes are familiar and cogent, the guitar playing is familiar, fluid and tasteful, but the songwriting is not up to [Lofgren's] early, wondrous standard."[4]
Joe Vigilone of AllMusic wrote that "the LP is more about exploring styles and experimenting than a fully realized musical statement" and "Nils' disheveled five o'clock shadow and torn, stained shirt on the front and back covers give a glimpse of the musical image", finding that "the best moments here are the covers" of Del Shannon's "I Go to Pieces" and the Beatles' "Any Time at All". Vigilone concluded that "the material and production keep Night Fades Away in the shadows, a dilemma for an artist as creative as Nils Lofgren. If only the music inside were as ragged as the cover photo of a star as enigmatic as he is handsome."[1]
Track listing
Side one| Title | Writer(s) |
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| 1. | "Night Fades Away" | Nils Lofgren | 4:23 |
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| 2. | "I Go to Pieces" | Del Shannon | 2:52 |
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| 3. | "Empty Heart" | Lofgren | 4:37 |
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| 4. | "Don't Touch Me" | Lofgren | 3:51 |
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| 5. | "Dirty Money" | Lofgren | 3:56 |
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Personnel
- Nils Lofgren – vocals, synthesizers, accordion, guitars
- Nicky Hopkins – Fender Rhodes (1), acoustic piano (9), tack piano (9)
- Greg Mathieson – Fender Rhodes (2, 6, 7)
- Jeff Baxter – guitars, guitar synthesizer
- Trevor Veitch – acoustic guitar (2, 7)
- Elliott Randall – electric guitar (2, 6, 7)
- Neil Jason – bass (1, 3-5, 8-10)
- David Hungate – bass (2)
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass (6, 7)
- Ed Greene – drums (1, 2, 4, 8)
- Richie Hayward – drums (3, 5, 9, 10)
- Jeff Porcaro – drums (6, 7)
- Jerry Peterson – saxophone (4)
- Chuck Findley – trumpet (10)
- Larold Rebhun – special arrangement (5)
- Del Shannon – vocals (2)
- The Fabulous Robbs (Dee Robb) – backing vocals (5)
- The "Mighty Clouds of Los Scumbos" – backing vocals (5)
- Ellen Snortland – backing vocals (9)
Production
- Jeff Baxter – producer, overdub recording, mixing
- Dee Robb – recording
- Larold Rebhun – overdub recording, mixing
- Steve Fontana – assistant engineer
- Dave Mancini – assistant engineer
- Krohn McHenry – assistant engineer
- Stephen Marcussen – mastering at Precision Lacquer (Hollywood, California)
- Jean-Luc Dub – production assistant
- Shari Dub – production assistant
- Djb Barnao – art direction
- George Osaki – design
- Annie Leibovitz – photography
Charts
References
- ^ a b Vigilone, Joe. "Nils Lofgren – Night Fades Away Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ Nicholls, Mike (September 26, 1981). "Albums: Nils Lofgren – Night Fades Away" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Inc. p. 12. ISSN 0144-5804. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 20, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 432.
- ^ Sullivan, Jim (January 11, 1982). "Review". Arts. The Boston Globe. p. 1.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992: 23 years of hit singles & albums from the top 100 charts. St Ives, N.S.W, Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 180. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Nils Lofgren – Night Fades Away". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ "Nils Lofgren Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
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| Studio albums | |
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| Live albums | |
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| Albums as part of Grin | |
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| Related articles | |
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