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Lindisfarne - Sleepless Nights

EricEric USA
edited March 2021 in Year-1982

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ARTIST: Lindisfarne
ALBUM: Sleepless Nights
LABEL: Global (A&M)
SERIAL: 205 214-320
YEAR: 1982
CD REISSUE: 1999, Essential, ESM CD 808

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: image
LINEUP: Alan Hull - bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals

TRACK LISTING: 01 Nights * 02 Start Again * 03 Cruising To Disaster * 04 Same Way Down * 05 Winning The Game * 06 About You * 07 Sunderland Boys * 08 Do What I Want * 09 Never Miss The Water * 10 I Must Stop Going To Parties * 11 Stormy Weather

Background

Lindisfarne are one of the few groups who can claim Genesis as a support band for one of their many tours while my first exposure to these Newcastle based legendaries was in 1978 and the single 'Run for Home' from their album 'Back and Fourth'.

The song was a period piece of early AOR similar to Little River Band and a clear attempt to cash in on the American market which up to that point had eluded them.

The Lindisfarne story was quite different in the UK where their folk/ progressive rock mix on the first few albums was far more acceptable and comparisons to The Beatles had become commonplace in the British press.

The Songs

Personally, I never really heard much of the 'Fab four' in Lindisfarne's music although 'Sleepless Nights' is quite poppy, similar to the direction that The Strawbs would take on 1988's 'Don't Say Goodbye' and the much-missed Racing Cars.

Side one kicks off with the infinitely catchy 'Nights', a song that could easily pass for Huey Lewis & the News or Henry Lee Summer with a lazy 1950's rock n' roll vibe. This song should have been a hit, as well as 'Same Way Down' which can't help but bring to mind Donnie Iris & the Cruisers at their very best.

The record continues it on a high note with' Winning The Game', a classy tune in the Keats vein that bops along nicely while 'About You' bares striking similarities to Ray Davies and The Kinks. Unfortunately 'Sleepless Nights' is not a perfect album.

'Do What I Want' is a take on Godley & Creme which is clever and quirky in an 'art rock' sort of way but seems out of place here. 'Love Is a Pain' is lightweight country rock and the final two tracks 'I Must Stop Going to Parties' and 'Stormy Weather' are just average pub rock ditties of no value, or at least in light of the albums better tracks.

In Summary

'Sleepless Nights' was originally released on the band's own label, generating much interest and controversy at the time due to the album cover which featured the complete backside of a naked young woman. We won't show that here, only the front cover. You will just have to buy the CD and check that out for yourself!

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Comments

  • dangerzonedangerzone USA
    This outfit did some decent AOR, as Eric pointed out. That one track ‘Winning the Game’ is one to watch out for.
  • roblynottroblynott
    Will check that out. 'Winning the game' sounds pretty decent.
    Funny to hear what was controversial at the time. This is the 'notorious' back cover:

    Pretty harmless if you ask me. At least compared to the likes of Blind Faith: s/t or Scorpions: Virgin killer.
    But the US and the UK were not famous for tolerating much nudity, so....
    Nice behind btw ;)
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