Nightlife - time for reappraisal?

[telys]

The best thing about Nightlife came 18 years later and it's the Radiophonic demo which I'm listening to as I type this. Bloody wacky and brilliant. Probably the best of the unheard tracks released that year.

That’s what I was saying earlier in the thread. There’s a brightness and momentum to the demo that got lost in the heaviness of the final version.

I like both, but love the vibe of the demo. I get it they wanted richer production but, hey, it’s so much fun.

Clean Euro-disco style suits them far more imo

They could've have both by releasing the Rollo version as a single and keeping the demo on the album.

[Steve Fett]

I have loved this album from the start. It appeals to me and also to some of the challenges I faced at the time of release. So its somehow made my soundtrack of that era.

Great songs like: "Radiophonic", "I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give It Any More", "Happiness Is an Option"

And amazing remix like: "New York City Boy" (The Lange Mix)

totally have the same view with this album...it summed up my life at the time of release. It's like the soundtrack to my life back then too

My revised track listing is:
For your own good
Closer to heaven
I don't know what you want but I can't give it anymore
Happiness is an option
You only tell me you love me when you're drunk
Vampires
Radiophonic
Lies
New York City Boy
Positive role model
Somebody else's business
In Denial
Footsteps

[Scottydog]

I have loved this album from the start. It appeals to me and also to some of the challenges I faced at the time of release. So its somehow made my soundtrack of that era.

Great songs like: "Radiophonic", "I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give It Any More", "Happiness Is an Option"

And amazing remix like: "New York City Boy" (The Lange Mix)

totally have the same view with this album...it summed up my life at the time of release. It's like the soundtrack to my life back then too

My revised track listing is:
For your own good
Closer to heaven
I don't know what you want but I can't give it anymore
Happiness is an option
You only tell me you love me when you're drunk
Vampires
Radiophonic
Lies
New York City Boy
Positive role model
Somebody else's business
In Denial
Footsteps

Different order but that track list is almost identical to mine. The only other addition I made was the UK radio mix of Break 4 Love. The album was a soundtrack of my life at the time too. Nightlife isn’t perfect but it’s always been a favourite.

[Constantin V.]

The album is great, but the sound is over-produced. If they had produced themselves, the result would have been better! David Morales's records are perfect. In their magazine, they talked about the conflicts during the recording, one of the producers pressed on them so that the guys left the studio. They usually work with people who love their creativity, so Nightlife is unique in its kind.

[Nickname]

I remember that album with a feeling of the happy days at that time but knowing this wasn't a perfect album. The production was great but the songs were not. For example, I don't know what you want but I can't give it any more has an amazing sound and amazing video but the chorus is cold and boring (I'm not talking about the lyrics). The most surprising songs of the album were Drunk and of course, New York City Boy.

I think Kylie should have been in one of the singles, Drunk or New York City Boy.

[raggatwin]

The album is great, but the sound is over-produced. If they had produced themselves, the result would have been better! David Morales's records are perfect. In their magazine, they talked about the conflicts during the recording, one of the producers pressed on them so that the guys left the studio. They usually work with people who love their creativity, so Nightlife is unique in its kind.

Which producer?

[ludwig_iv]

With the exception of the singles I was never a HUGE fan of this album (save for the singles and first two tracks) - in fact, for a long time I thought that 'Release', 'Nightlife' and 'Fundamental' were their three weakest albums for the longest time. But this thread has had me re-evaluate 'Nightlife' all over again. As part of this I've re-sequenced to my own tastes and came up with the following. I've jettisoned 'Vampires, 'The Only One' and 'Boy Strange' (which have always felt like filler to me) for 'Positive Role Model'. It makes for a tighter and more upbeat LP.

A1 I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give It Any More
A2 Closer to Heaven
A3 For Your Own Good
A4 You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk
A5 Happiness Is an Option
=
B1 New York City Boy
B2 Radiophonic
B3 In Denial (with Kylie)
B4 Positive Role Model
B5 Footsteps

[raggatwin]

Amongst their best albums in my opinion..good mix of musical styles in their own inimitable err..style

[Nicholas]

With the exception of the singles I was never a HUGE fan of this album (save for the singles and first two tracks) - in fact, for a long time I thought that 'Release', 'Nightlife' and 'Fundamental' were their three weakest albums for the longest time. But this thread has had me re-evaluate 'Nightlife' all over again. As part of this I've re-sequenced to my own tastes and came up with the following. I've jettisoned 'Vampires, 'The Only One' and 'Boy Strange' (which have always felt like filler to me) for 'Positive Role Model'. It makes for a tighter and more upbeat LP.

A1 I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give It Any More
A2 Closer to Heaven
A3 For Your Own Good
A4 You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk
A5 Happiness Is an Option
=
B1 New York City Boy
B2 Radiophonic
B3 In Denial (with Kylie)
B4 Positive Role Model
B5 Footsteps

Normally I can’t bear the whole ‘my version of the album’ thing but I quite like this. Although I can’t really see an advantage to swapping tracks 1 and 3 over. And I do like Boy Strange.

I wonder if people would like Release more if it had been a 12-track album rather than a 10-track one? Might it have felt a bit more substantial?

[ChrisLove]

Caligula could fit the album just after Vampires
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqX0kvS ... Barbarella

[Lleonard Pler]

With the exception of the singles I was never a HUGE fan of this album (save for the singles and first two tracks) - in fact, for a long time I thought that 'Release', 'Nightlife' and 'Fundamental' were their three weakest albums for the longest time. But this thread has had me re-evaluate 'Nightlife' all over again. As part of this I've re-sequenced to my own tastes and came up with the following. I've jettisoned 'Vampires, 'The Only One' and 'Boy Strange' (which have always felt like filler to me) for 'Positive Role Model'. It makes for a tighter and more upbeat LP.

A1 I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give It Any More
A2 Closer to Heaven
A3 For Your Own Good
A4 You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk
A5 Happiness Is an Option
=
B1 New York City Boy
B2 Radiophonic
B3 In Denial (with Kylie)
B4 Positive Role Model
B5 Footsteps

For Side A tracks I'd keep the original order (For your own good screams opening track) but I could see Side B working as definitely Positive Role Model is a stronger track than The only one (so bland) and Boy Strange (which I like but they could have kept it for Release). Maybe Vampires could work before Footsteps, as it keeps the "Nightlife" theme and it adds some variety in PSB lyrics.

[telys]

Keeping In Denial?! You all must be joking?!

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

The album suffers from being way too close to Closer To Heaven in its headspace and execution.

Half the tracks (e.g. Happiness Is An Option, Vampires, The Only One, Boy Strange, In Denial, Footsteps) don't warrant a second listen, and those tracks that do, are hardly strong tracks. My favourites are I Don't Know What You Want and You Only Tell Me You Love me, but they're arguably better as album tracks than singles, as they don't have much commercial appeal and hardly compel anyone to check out the album.

It wasn't until Fundamental that we'd get an album that was actually worth listening to, from start to finish.

Retro.

[telys]

Greetings,

The album suffers from being way too close to Closer To Heaven in its headspace and execution.

Half the tracks (e.g. Happiness Is An Option, Vampires, The Only One, Boy Strange, In Denial, Footsteps) don't warrant a second listen, and those tracks that do, are hardly strong tracks. My favourites are I Don't Know What You Want and You Only Tell Me You Love me, but they're arguably better as album tracks than singles, as they don't have much commercial appeal and hardly compel anyone to check out the album.

It wasn't until Fundamental that we'd get an album that was actually worth listening to, from start to finish.

Retro.

Yep, both Nightlife and Release are hempered by the musical. They should've waited with the musical until they had a great story. The "Young Irish man coming to London to perform, realising he's gay" isn't very unique story. Creating a unique and funny story with typical PSB edge to it would've been something. CTH and Release are too bland. Adding the b-sides to Release instead would've been an improvement, more edge. Adding the esoteric funny songs to CTH and changing the story would've been an improvement. Songs like Tall Thin Men, Little Black Dress, Ghost of Myself, Run Girl Run.

[telys]

I reiterate my version of Nightlife, more of a concept album: Nightlife being an album of songs of different types, changing in style, like nightlife can, songs describing different aspects of nightlife. An album that's supposed to mess with your mind/head.

So here's my tracklist:
1. For Your Own Good 05:13
2. Closer to Heaven 04:06
3. I Don't Know 05:09
4. Happiness is an Option 03:48
5. Drunk (Attaboy) 04:57
6. Footsteps 04:16
7. Playing In The Streets 03:23
8. Vampires 04:43
9. Radiophonic (demo) 05:15 (just because it's longer than the album version)
10. Boy Strange 05:09
11. New York city boy (Almighty Def mix) 06:31 (more filmic and longer than the album version)