Getting sentimental about Night Ranger
I've been doing a crash-course this week on Night Ranger and their 80s catalog. The band plays Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall on Jan. 19 (with Dennis DeYoung), and if all goes according to plan, I'll get a chance to introduce them on stage.
Likewise, podcast co-host Sean Daly and I are going to interview NR's Jack Blades (coolest name for a musician -- ever) for a show that would air before the concert.
So I downloaded their greatest hits CD on iTunes. And of course, "Sister Christian" is there -- basking in all its overplayed glory. But would that tune even make my top 5 list of Night Ranger tunes? No, not even close.
TOP 5 NIGHT RANGER TUNES OF THE 80s:
5. Don't Tell Me You Love Me: "I love the way that you shoot to kill me."
4. Rock in America: "She's goin' out she's gonna party tonight. She's gonna shake and make it last all night."
3. Sing Me Away: "What do you see when you look in the mirror? I see a face from the past, it's so clear."
2. Sentimental Street: "Saw you dancing out at Madame Wong's Two. You did those same two steps that I taught you back in June."
1. When You Close Your Eyes: "Angel come closer to me. I need a soul to bleed on."
Just missed the cut: Sister Christian, Rumors in the Air, Four in the Morning, Secret of My Success.
You know, come to think of it, I can't get enough of "Secret of my Success." A real guilty-pleasure, thanks to the movie with Michael J. Fox. (His best work of the 80s? No way. But it's no "Light of Day" either.)
So am I missing out on some sublime Night Ranger tune I've left off my list. And what questions would you fire off to Jack Blades?
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Three more great ones off of Dawn Patrol: "Young Girl In Love," "At Night She Sleeps," and "Penny."
Posted by: David Pagano | December 30, 2007 at 12:05 PM
Where's "Goodbye"?
Posted by: David P | December 30, 2007 at 12:07 PM
I would put Sister Christian in the top 5 and I would have Don't Tell Me You Love Me higher on the list.
Here's a link to a site where you can hear some of the new stuff.
http://www.melodicrock.com/showcase/nightranger-holeinthesun.html
Posted by: 80sfan | December 30, 2007 at 12:32 PM
I think I've just heard Sister Christian too many times. Great chorus though.
I'll download those other tunes now.
Posted by: Spears | December 30, 2007 at 12:40 PM
When you Close your Eyes, was just a much better song than Sister Christian. And not nearly as overplayed!
Posted by: Carla | December 30, 2007 at 12:54 PM
I'm not sure why Sister Christian became the big hit. The video maybe? Or everyone in the 80s went to a catholic school!
Posted by: Spears | December 30, 2007 at 01:05 PM
Maybe it was the 'fantasy' guys were having about the girls in the Catholic schools???
Posted by: Carla | December 30, 2007 at 01:08 PM
It's the "motorin'!" part.
Posted by: Marissa | December 30, 2007 at 01:19 PM
FYI: Sparky seems to be the resident Night Ranger aficionado.
Posted by: Marissa | December 30, 2007 at 01:23 PM
The public school girls are so much more my type though!
Posted by: Spears | December 30, 2007 at 01:49 PM
I was a Catholic public school girl.
Posted by: Marissa | December 30, 2007 at 01:57 PM
I think Four In The Morning and Rumors In The Air should have made the cut. Drop Sentimental Street (a remake of Sister Christian) and Sing Me Away. Honorable mention goes to Interstate Love Affair. Sister Christian goes on the 'Please don't ever play again' list.
Posted by: Bassnote | December 30, 2007 at 02:06 PM
I really like Rumors in the Air. But for some reason, I have a weird attachment to Sing Me Away.
I think Night Ranger is more nostalgic than I am. If that's even possible.
Posted by: Spears | December 30, 2007 at 02:25 PM
Everytime I read "Sentimental Street" I think of "Street of Dreams" by Rainbow. I'm so confused!
Posted by: Marissa | December 30, 2007 at 02:33 PM
Sentimental Street does sound a lot like Sister Christian. Weird. (And I keep wanting to type Sister Christmas)
Posted by: Spears | December 30, 2007 at 02:37 PM
If they did a Sister Christmas it would be similar to Billy Mack in "Love Actually"
Posted by: Marissa | December 30, 2007 at 03:00 PM
"Sister Christmas oh the time has come... for you to have the only Son .. Mangerin'! On this Holy Night! It's such an awesome sight! Three wise men in the nightttttttttttt."
Posted by: Marissa | December 30, 2007 at 03:02 PM
I highly recommend that you check out Big Life and Man In Motion, two albums totally under-represented on their greatest hits.
Posted by: Kurt 's Krap | December 30, 2007 at 04:51 PM
My favorite has always been "Goodbye".
Posted by: crafty carolinagirl | December 30, 2007 at 08:28 PM
like kurt said a few posts ago, check out the totally awesome big life cd. in my book, its only superseded by midnight madness. tunes to check out, rain comes crashing down, big life, colour of your smile, hearts away. its a great cd.
Posted by: chad | December 31, 2007 at 12:40 AM
There once was a time never far from my mind on the beach, on the 4th of July.
I remember the sand how you held out your hand and we touched for what seemed a lifetime.
Goodbye
Posted by: Boe | December 31, 2007 at 03:15 PM
Completely forgot about "Goodbye"; what a great song that was with great harmonies in the end stretch...
This thread also brought back memories of the video for "When You Close Your Eyes" which had to be re-edited because Jack Blades was having too much fun "in the back of a Chevrolet" in the background...
As Johnny Carson would say, I kid you not!
Jeffrey
Posted by: Jeffrey | January 01, 2008 at 03:50 AM
Completely forgot about "Goodbye"; what a great song that was with great harmonies in the end stretch...
This thread also brought back memories of the video for "When You Close Your Eyes" which had to be re-edited because Jack Blades was having too much fun "in the back of a Chevrolet" in the background...
As Johnny Carson would say, I kid you not!
Jeffrey
Posted by: Jeffrey | January 01, 2008 at 03:50 AM
I suggest you try to give a listen to "Restless Kind" I think from Man in Motion CD
Posted by: Hamptune | January 02, 2008 at 12:20 PM