Disco de Cinderella: “Night Songs”

I remember seeing the cover of "Night Songs" when it first came out and thinking that these were just another bunch of spandex-wearing pretty boys playing by-the-numbers pop-metal. They seemed like a thousand other bands that were gaining popularity at the dawn of 1986.

However, after much coaxing from my girlfriend, and after seeing the video for "Shake Me" on MTV, I could look her squarely in the eyes and say "I WAS WAAAAAAY OUTA LINE!" The music on "Night Songs" is completely in your face rock 'n roll with blues undertones that is so far above the drivel of Warrant et. al that it isn't even funny.

Cinderella (who I just saw last Saturday night in Tampa with Poison) is NOTHING like the (thankfully short-lived) image that was first cast upon us. In fact, by their second album (the excellent "Long Cold Winter") the glam look was mostly history in favor of black leather, and a somewhat darker image. They wanted to be taken seriously and they sure deserved it. From what I witnessed and heard a few nights ago - they still do.

"Night Songs" is a romping, explosion of sounds and heavy riffs that leaves the listener always craving more. "Shake Me," "Nothin From Nothin," "Somebody Save Me," "Hell On Wheels," "Nobody's Fool," and (my personal favorite) the raunchy and suggestive "Push Push" are all incrediblely infectious and top-notch.

Every song on this is a winner. I know the word "classic" is as cliched as any in the English language (especially when it comes to rating things), BUT... I have to use it none-the-less. "Night Songs" is a classic rock album and one of the truly underated debuts ever.

Cinderella should never, ever, ever be lumped in with all the thousands of "hair bands" that dominated the mid-late 80's music scene. They are a pure blues-based band that has the swagger and groove of Aerosmith as well as the electricity and punch of AC/DC.

"Night Songs" is one album that still stands the test of time and never sounds dated.

I recently purchased this CD, having discovered 80's metal for myself after years of prompting from friends. White Lion and Def Leppard got me started, and I listen to those groups religiously now. I wanted some more of the same, basically, and I discovered Cinderella. All I can say is "verrrrry good."

Cinderella starts the album with a song I find attractively eerie and/or haunting: "Night Songs." Song three, "Nobody's Fool," is very good as well, and "Somebody Save Me," "Push Push," and "Hell On Wheels" just flat out rock.

Tom Keifer's voice (lead singer) is very similar to the lead singer of Def Leppard (can't remember his name right now), but with just a little more "screech", if you will. It's hard to explain, except that he's definitely got a good voice for pop metal, and if you like Def Leppard's sound of voice and overall music, you'll like this offering of Cinderella.

This CD, best described, is a perfect blend of Def Leppard and White Lion (Mike Tramp, lead singer of White Lion) not only in the sound of the singer's voice, but in their guitar and drum work, and their riffs and rock. I highly recommend the CD!

Cinderella epitomizes how 80's metal's uniqueness from one band to the next. They paved their own way with awesome music. Sure, they wore the typical big hair and make-up, but these guys meant business. Their second album was more bluesy and softer than I expected, and to be honest I was disappointed in the direction they went after this first album. But hey, I was in high school and I didn't quite want them to go other directions just yet. Especially after such a kick arse album as this. It has to be one of my all-time favorite metal albums. It's right up there with Dokken's Under Lock and Key et al. If you love 80's metal, you'll find this refreshingly hard and nasty. I also recommend a little-known metal band called WWIII (self-titled, one album). If you can find them.

I own all the Cinderella studio cd's and they are all excellent. It's just frustrating that they haven't put out anything new in so long while all these other sub-par bands put out a cd just about every year.

Review no.42.Nothing like Cinderella's first two lp's,with this of course being their first.As you can't HELP but to notice in their old videos as well as in their music,Cinderella is most definitely heavily influence by Aerosmith.Just about every track on this debut CD reissue like totally rocks out more so than most fans may ever realize.Tunes like "Shake Me",the ultimate '80's power ballad "Nobody's Fool","Nothin' For Nothin'",the foundation-rattler "Somebody Save Me","Push Push" and the true tear-jerker(?)"Back Home Again".A must-have.