Night Moves (Marilyn Martin song)

"Night Moves" is a song by American singer Marilyn Martin, which was released in 1986 as the lead single from her debut studio album Marilyn Martin. The song was written by Martin, John Parr and Jon Astley, and produced by Astley and Phil Chapman. "Night Moves" peaked at No. 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[1]

"Night Moves"
Single by Marilyn Martin
from the album Marilyn Martin
B-side"Wildest Dreams"
ReleasedJanuary 1986
Length
  • 5:18 (album version)
  • 4:24 (single version)
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Jon Astley
  • Phil Chapman
Marilyn Martin singles chronology
"Separate Lives"
(1985)		 "Night Moves"
(1986)		 "Move Closer"
(1986)

Background

"Night Moves" followed the success of "Separate Lives", a duet Martin recorded with Phil Collins in 1985 for the soundtrack of the film White Nights. "Separate Lives" peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Canada RPM 100, and reached the top 5 in the UK Singles Chart. "Night Moves" continued Martin's commercial success, reaching No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1986, but was her last entry in the chart.[2]

In 1986, Martin revealed to Cash Box of the decision to release "Night Moves" as the first single from her debut album, "I think aggressive is the best word to describe my style. Aggressive music with a rock edge is what I tend to like most. That's primarily the reason we came out with a rock-oriented cut like 'Night Moves' as the first single, because it's exactly the sort of song I like recording most at this point."[3]

Speaking to Songfacts in 2016, co-writer John Parr recalled of the song, "We were working on another track and during the break we were just running a few ideas and out came that song. Jon Astley later came aboard as producer and gave it a far more generic '80s vibe. Jon's a great producer but personally I think it dates the song when you listen now."[4]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Jim Yukich and produced by Paul Flattery, both of whom had previously worked with Martin on the video for "Separate Lives".[5] The video for "Night Moves" received heavy rotation on MTV,[6] and peaked at No. 9 on the Cash Box Top 30 Music Videos chart in April 1986.[7]

Martin said of the video in a 1986 interview with the New York Daily News, "I love the video. It's based on one of my favorite movies, The Hunger. I've always loved scary movies... and it's tough for a girl to be shocking in videos. Michael Jackson can become a werewolf, but girls don't. I even got to put in a few suggestions of my own, like the scene where I tilt a head so I can bite the neck. I thought that was necessary to show I was just a vampire, not a mass murderer."[8]

In addition to the video, Martin performed "Night Moves" on American Bandstand, which was broadcast on March 29, 1986.[9] She also performed the song on the Dutch TopPop.[10]

Critical reception

On its release, Billboard described the song as a "two-fisted rocker" which "could easily pass for a leaf from the Benatar songbook".[11] Jan DeKnock of the Chicago Tribune wrote, "On 'Night Moves', Martin displays another side to her voice, showing enough rock power to rival Pat Benatar (their high notes sound eerily alike)."[12] Music & Media picked the song as one of their "records of the week" during February 1986 and described it as "a very strong AOR-based song that could do very well in Europe". They added, "The single is definitely not a continuation of the sound on 'Separate Lives'. [It] features a vocal cross section between Pat Benatar and Olivia Newton-John".[13] Jim Schembri of The Age described the song as "a prim, catchy atmosphere piece about sex". He added, "The slightly bizarre bent of the lyrics are given free reign in the terrific [video] which is an economy sized thriller with a wonderfully gruesome surprise ending."[14]

Track listing
7–inch single[15]
  1. "Night Moves" – 4:24
  2. "Wildest Dreams" – 4:29
7–inch single (US promo)[16]
  1. "Night Moves" – 4:24
  2. "Night Moves" – 4:24
12–inch single (UK and Germany release)[17]
  1. "Night Moves" – 5:18
  2. "Wildest Dreams" – 4:29
12–inch single (US promo)[18]
  1. "Night Moves" (Vocal/Faded LP Version) – 4:24
  2. "Night Moves" (Vocal/Faded LP Version) – 4:24

Personnel

Production

Other

Charts
Chart (1986) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 72
UK Singles Chart[20] 154
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 28
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[22] 18
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[23] 27

References
  1. "Marilyn Martin - Night Moves". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  2. "Marilyn Martin - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  3. "New faces to watch" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 49, no. 38. March 8, 1986. p. 10. Retrieved July 4, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  4. Wiser, Carl (March 10, 2016). "John Parr: Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  5. Moleski, Linda (February 15, 1986). "Martin is 'on her own feet' - Album won't include Phil Collins" (PDF). Billboard. p. 46. Retrieved July 4, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  6. "MTV Programming" (PDF). Billboard. March 1, 1986. p. 39. Retrieved July 4, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  7. "Top 30 Music Videos" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 49, no. 42. April 5, 1986. p. 23. Retrieved July 4, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  8. Hinckley, David (March 9, 1986). "Marilyn Martin is out on her own". New York Daily News.
  9. "American Bandstand - Season 29, Episode 31: Peter Frampton / Marilyn Martin". TV.com. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  10. "Marilyn Martin - Night Moves - TopPop". YouTube. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  11. "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. January 11, 1986. p. 68. Retrieved July 4, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  12. DeKnock, Jan (February 21, 1986). "Audio/Video - Chart Watching - Houston's return to No. 1 establishes a couple of firsts". Chicago Tribune.
  13. "Euro Tip Page: Singles Guide" (PDF). Music & Media. February 8, 1986. p. 5. Retrieved July 4, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  14. Schembri, Jim (April 18, 1986). "Records: Singles". The Age.
  15. Night Moves (US 7-inch single sleeve). Marilyn Martin. Atlantic Records. 1986. 7-89465.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. Night Moves (US 7-inch promo single). Marilyn Martin. Atlantic Records. 1986. 7-89465.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. Night Moves (UK/German 12-inch single sleeve). Marilyn Martin. Atlantic Records. 1986. 786 829-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. Night Moves (US 12-inch promo single). Marilyn Martin. Atlantic Records. 1986. PR 822.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0655." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  20. "Gallup Top 200 Singles". Gallup. 22 February 1986. Retrieved 2 November 2022 – via ukmix.org.
  21. "Marilyn Martin Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  22. "Marilyn Martin Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  23. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 49, no. 40. March 22, 1986. p. 4. Retrieved July 4, 2021 – via World Radio History.
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