Sensational '70's Tune for Thu, Jan 1, '09

#1 on New Years Day 1977:



Though it shares a title with Neil Young's stark and harrowing cautionary tale, Rod Stewart's "Tonight's the Night" is a whole different case altogether. A lush and undeniably sultry come-on to a "virgin child," the song is a pretty good representation of most of the singer/songwriter's influences up to that era, 1976 and the LP A Night on the Town. One can hear a bit of Sam Cooke fronting a Stonesy take on early- to mid-'70s Philly soul -- a sort of more-produced "Fool to Cry." But Hot Rod's song oozes pure wanton desire. His lascivious propositions are aimed at a young girl who seems to be falling under the experienced Lothario's spell: "Don't say a word my virgin child/Just let your inhibitions run wild." His innuendo is none too subtle -- "Spread your wings and let me come inside." Hold on, my glasses are getting foggy.

Musically, the piece just flows and sounds good and fat in the way that only those mid-'70s rock productions do. Guitar lines play in harmony (guitarmony), a technique that some of us are sad to see under-utilized nowadays. The arrangement is nice and easy, with a stellar assembly of A-list sidemen, sounding great on those hot summer nights on AM car radios. After a lovely wistful introduction, the liquid phase shifter guitar parts flow and weave around each other and acoustic guitars, organ, and swelling strings. There is a nice little sax break that makes one think that the song is not actually very far away from the romantic coos of the later, Brian Ferry-led Roxy Music. Where have all the rock & roll ladykillers gone?