Nils (album)

Nils is the fourth solo studio album by Nils Lofgren, released in June 1979.

Nils
Studio album by
Nils Lofgren
ReleasedJune 1979
StudioThe Power Station, New York; Soundstage Recording Studios, Toronto; Filmways/Heider Recording, Los Angeles
GenreHeartland rock
Length39:11
LabelA&M
ProducerBob Ezrin
Nils Lofgren chronology
Night After Night
(1977)		 Nils
(1979)		 Night Fades Away
(1981)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideC+[2]

Background

With mainstream success continuing to elude Lofgren, A&M brought in Bob Ezrin in 1979, to oversee Nils. Ezrin was known for his successes with Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, and Kiss. Lofgren: "The label said they wanted to bring in co-writers, and I said that I didn't do that. Ezrin said, 'What about Lou Reed?' And I said, 'Well, yeah, okay. That would be cool.'" Lofgren watched a football game at Reed's Greenwich Village apartment and the two struck up a friendship. In the middle of the night Reed would call Lofgren and dictate lyrics over the phone. Their collaborations appeared across Nils and Reed's The Bells, also released in 1979. Ezrin also brought in contributions from Dick Wagner, who'd worked with Reed, Kiss, and Cooper ("Only Women Bleed" and "You And Me"). Wagner and Reed co-wrote "I'll Cry Tomorrow" a sequel of sorts to "I Never Cry" (1976) by Wagner and Cooper.[1] With such hit makers at his side, Lofgren felt certain that Nils would be his breakthrough and that songs like "Shine Silently" would be hits.[3]

Reception

Before performing an extended version of "Shine Silently" on Dutch TV show 2 Meter Session Lofgren noted that it was a personal favorite and the single a moderate hit in Holland.[4]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Nils Lofgren, except where indicated.

  1. "No Mercy" – 4:06
  2. "I'll Cry Tomorrow" (Dick Wagner, Lou Reed) – 4:28
  3. "Baltimore" (Randy Newman) – 6:43
  4. "Shine Silently" (Lofgren, Dick Wagner) – 3:48
  5. "Steal Away" – 4:08
  6. "Kool Skool" – 3:17
  7. "A Fool Like Me" (Lofgren, Lou Reed) – 3:11
  8. "I Found Her" (Lofgren, Lou Reed) – 3:36
  9. "You're So Easy" (Lofgren, Bob Ezrin, Dick Wagner) – 5:54

Personnel
  • Nils Lofgren – guitar, accordion, keyboards, vocals
  • Tom Lofgren – guitar, vocals
  • Bob Babbitt – bass
  • Stu Daye – guitar, vocals
  • Bob Ezrin – percussion, keyboards, vocals, vibraphone
  • Jody Linscott – percussion, congas
  • Doug Riley – organ on "Baltimore"
  • David Sanborn – saxophone on "A Fool Like Me"
  • Allan Schwartzberg – drums
  • Colina Phillips, Debbie Fleming – additional background vocals
  • Al MacMillan – orchestration on "Shine Silently"

Technical

  • "The indispensable" Ann Martin – production coordination
  • George Minnis, Ilona Pring, Inez Fridenberg, T. Lawless – production assistants
  • Brian Christian – engineer
  • Len Irish – photography

Special effects on "No Mercy" recorded at Madison Square Garden

Charts
Chart performance for Nils
Chart (1979) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[5] 96
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[6] 50
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[7] 21
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[8] 35
US Billboard 200[9] 54

References
  1. Viglione, Joe. Nils at AllMusic
  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: L". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 1, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. Woodbury, Jason P. (July 30, 2014). "Scottsdale's Nils Lofgren Became Famous as a Member of the E Street Band; Now He Gets the Spotlight with New Box Set". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  4. Nils Lofgren - Shine Silently | 2 Meter Session #525 on YouTube (November 1, 1995)
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 180. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. "Dutchcharts.nl – Nils Lofgren – Nils" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  7. "Offiziellecharts.de – Nils Lofgren – Nils" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  8. "Swedishcharts.com – Nils Lofgren – Nils". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  9. "Nils Lofgren Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
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