What does it sound like?:
Nils Lofgren has a reputation as a perpetual sideman, albeit a very good one. His own career is overshadowed by his work with Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. This reissued live release from 1977 puts him in the spotlight and is an excellent distillation of his talents.
It includes tracks from his Grin years and his first three solo albums. It was recorded at concerts in London, Glasgow and Los Angeles.
Night After Night has never been officially available on CD in this country and earlier single-disc import versions cut the album’s running time down by abridging and omitting the setlist. At the time of writing this review, Lofgren has pulled all his official albums from Spotify in solidarity with Young, but Night After Night was never on there in the first place.
I don’t it’s has ever found much favour with the critics (Allmusic gives it a measly two and a half stars). This, plus its unavailability, has left it languishing in obscurity. It deserves better.
Fortunately, BGO has now reissued a remastered, two-disc version. It’s great to hear these songs again – I’d even go so far as to call Night After Night a lost classic. These songs swing with a propulsive tight-but-loose groove. Lofgren’s distinctive, virtuoso guitar playing is stunning without being too showy.
The backing band really swings, with a notable contribution from Rev Patrick Henderson on keyboards – check out his extended intro to the cover of “Goin’ Back”.
I think Neil Young once described Crazy Horse as being like an American Rolling Stones but it’s Lofgren and his backing band on these recordings who most resemble the Stones’ seventies-era live chemistry. And of course, one of Lofgren’s most famous songs is his tribute to Keith (“Keith Don’t Go”). That’s featured here, in what sounds like a definitive version.
What does it all *mean*?
I first got into this album by accident. A classmate at school sold me the cassette in 1978. I bought it on impulse, without hearing it first. I thought I was getting something a bit punky, based on the sleeve’s typography and Lofgren’s shades- with-guitar cover pose. At this stage of my musical development, I’d never heard, or even knew of, Neil Young, let alone Nils Lofgren.
The first time I pressed play, I was distinctly underwhelmed. But steadily, the album made wormed its way into my affections. I persevered in the way many of us did at an age when recorded music required a high degree of emotional investment. Listening to it over 40 years later it still stands up.
Goes well with…
Doom Trilogy Neil Young, silver-age Rolling Stones.
Release Date:
4 March 2022
Might suit people who like…
Old school, double live albums.
the Nils live album from that time I’d really love to hear/have is the Official Booklet AM put out (I think) in 75 or 76 to ride on the back of that terrific first couple of solo albums. How he never got big back then is beyond me
I think it’s one of the unofficial albums of his you can still get on Spotify, under the title Sausalito 1975. It did have an official release, very briefly, some time in the mid-noughties. I do recommend Night After Night though.
I have that “booklet” album. PM me if you want to hear it.
In 1978, I played the crap out of the album “Cry Tough”. I dont think i’ve played it since that time. Must dig it out again. I thought “Night After Night” was well received when it was first released but i might be confusing it with another record of Nils. Thanks for the review!
I saw the 1977 tour. it had Tom Petty and the heartbreakers as support. Not a bad gig. It was obvious they were destined for stardom. Nils was excellent, too; his piano player (rev, as above) really brought some soul to the music. We got a single trampoline somersault from Nils at some point, which was better than lasers and smoke bombs if you are going to have a special effect.
@Vincent I saw that tour too when they came to Birmingham Odeon. A splendid night out.
I love Nils and have most of his solo output. I wasn’t aware of this reissue so thanks you have just cost me a few quid.
Incidentally the definitive Keith don’t go for me is the version on his Acoustic live album.
I saw him play that version and it was hard to believe there was only one guitarist on the stage.
Should be huge but he never was.
I love all of the Acoustic Live album.
I think it’s a masterpiece from start to finish, and one of my favourite live albums by anybody.
@duco01 I thought it was only me that thought that.
Trouble was that we’d had the first album, the official boot Back It Up and this in quick succession.
The versions here came a clear third, IMO. The first album was fresh, the boot was punky, this seemed a touch overblown.
Not to mention dated references to Star Wars and ‘Keith don’t go to the town called Toronto’…
@Mickeyboro
There was a definite falling of in quality with I Came to Dance.
Think NAN which came not long after also got lost in the deluge
of double live albums that followed in the wake Frampton Comes
Alive – even Dave Mason did one
Don’t mind the references at all, think they give it context.
We agree to differ!
Whenever I watch those Springsteen shows on you tube I’ve always wanted to hear more of what he is playing. Struck me that when Van Zandt returned I could still hear more of his guitar and Bruce than Nils. I’m confident that Lofgren enjoys his textures role in the band – I would too if only I could hear them. But I have often found the live mixes of Springsteen’s shows to be a little bland. It would be great to hear what he is bringing to that crowded table.
There’s definitely an affinity with Springsteen’s music on Night After Night, though obvs it’s way before Nils got involved with the E Street Band. Hence the “heartland rock” label for both artists, which I’m really not keen on.
Nils got mugged by Tom Petty just like the Doobies/Little Feat affair a few years earlier.
He did come again, though.
I’ve had this on double vinyl (it was cheap without a sleeve) for donkeys years but have hardly ever played it. I should try it again. He’s always great live, unless he’s doing unnecessary covers of Neil’s songs. I particularly love his solo in Bruce’s Youngstown from the NYC Live album.