Willie Nile - s/t

Name: Willie Nile
Album: s/t
Year: 1980
Style: Singer/Songwriter
Similar Bands: Springsteen, Dylan, Steve Forbert, etc.
One-Word Review: folksy-piano-based-upbeat-troubadour
Based Out Of: NYC, NY
Label: Artista

Cover, Lyrics, Record

 Back, Lyrics, Record

Willie Nile (1980)

1. Vagabond Moon 4.06
2. Dear Lord 2.52
3. It's All Over 3.34
4. Across the River 4:15
5. She's So Cold 2:36 /
6. I'm Not Waiting 2:31
7. That's The Reason 2:25
8. They'll Build a Statue of You 3:57
9. Old Men Sleeping on the Bowery 3:32
10. Behind the Cathedral 3:05
11. Sing Me a Song 5:20

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Willie Nile - Guitar, Piano, Vocal
• Clay Barnes - Guitar, Backing Vox (Steve Forbert)
• Peter Hoffman - Guitar
• Tom Ethridge - Bass
• Jay Dee Daugherty - Drums, Percussion (Patti Smith, Tom Verlaine, The Church)
• Roy Halee - Producer
• Mark Johnson - Backing Vox
• Greg Calbi - Mastering
• John Mathias - Recording
• Phil Jamtass - Asst Recording
• Christine Olympia Rodin - Front & Back Cover photography
• John Noonan - Back Photography
• Ron Kellum -  - Back Photography, Design, Art Direction

Unknown-ness: From the cover, it looks like a classic album from someone of Dylan or Waits caliber. The Artsy b/w bohemian smoking photo exudes an air of off-beat literature and street-learned wisdom.

Album Review: Surprisingly, the album is quite upbeat and poppy at times for a singer/songwriter living in Greenwich Village in the late 70's. The vocals are higher and cleared than expected. Before he even put this album out, he came down with pneumonia, which forced him to write music while bedridden. This is Nile's first of only two record released in the 80's due to legal issues, but critics suggest he maintained an equal level of production once he began recording and playing again in the 90's. He has often performed with other "legendary artists at benefits and ensembles. New album due out 5/15/20

Stand Out Track: She's So Cold

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