Man In Motion wasn’t the hit record it deserved to be. By the time it was released in 1988, Journey had, for all intents and purposes, broken up, Cheap Trick wasn’t doing much and Night Ranger’s style of music had fallen out of favor. Too bad really because Man In Motion contains one of the best Night Ranger songs of all time. This is the peak of their Middle Period. This is the only studio album that Alan "Fitz" Gerald doesn’t appear on. I, for one, don’t miss him.

"Man In Motion" is, plain and simple, a rock & roll song. Very adult themed. ("Dinner for 2 me and you / get ya home by eight yeah / All I wanna do / Is make love to you.")

"Reason To Be" written by Jack Blades and Kelly Keagy really is about the best Night Ranger can do lyrics wise. The song doesn’t have an apparent point and doesn’t tell a direct story, but it’s very evocative. "Oh hundreds of lives and thousands of faces / have been to the island where dreams don’t come free." This is what poetry is really supposed to do. Joseph Campbell said there are three kinds of things, things we talk about, things we try to talk about but can’t quite express, and things that are so sublime that we have no words. This song dances on the edge of the sublime. And believe it or not, it’s not my absolute favorite.

"Don’t Start Thinking" is a passive-aggressive master piece. I would almost say that it ranks up there with McCartney’s "Silly Love Songs" (almost.) The singer is trying desperately to convince the listener that he’s not thinking about her. "It’s over now and let the words go free." The music even has an angry quality to it that suits the song very well.

"Love Shot Me Down" is classic Night Ranger, plain and simple. Gritty guitar, energetic singing, simplistic lyrics. It always struck me as album filler. You know, the song that they wouldn’t have included if the album hadn’t run short of time. Not that it’s a bad song, but it’s just sort of fluffy. It’s no "Restless Kind."

Ah, finally, "Restless Kind." The lyrics are lovely. Well put together and never clichéd. "We’re the restless kind / Lay your broken dreams upon the road / and we will ride." These lyrics also dance on the edge of the sublime. You’ve felt it, but could never explain. This song also boasts a wonderful background harmony that even I can’t pick out individual voices from. This one transcends Night Ranger and reaches a place they never visit again.

"Halfway To the Sun." "Here She Comes Again," and "Right On You" are each wonderful songs. Not as wonderful as "Restless Kind," but still very fun and worthy songs, easily better than anything before. (Just as a fun little factoid, Michael Bolton worked on "Here She Comes Again" before he became a hair god.)

"Kiss Me Where It Hurts" is extremely raunchy. It’s very much a reflection of what was around then. Think about it, by 1988 Night Ranger was in competition with Motley Crue, Kix, and Guns ‘n’ Roses. It’s a period piece for sure and it is a lot of fun.

"I Did It For Love" is a power ballad. Not quite the power ballad that is "Sister Christian," but it’s still very typical for the form. The lyrics are pretty standard, not great, but not bad. If this album has a weak spot, this is it.

"Woman In Love" starts slow and switches up a couple of bars in "I Know Tonight" on Big Life and they try to make up for the lack of a keyboard with … well, I’m not sure, but it doesn’t work. Of course I didn’t think it worked on "I Know Tonight" either

So, if you want to own only one Night Ranger album, this should be the one. They really had reached their song writing peak, the production is almost glossy it’s so slick, and it’s 9 years before the next studio album. I think that the lack of keyboards is a plus. They never seemed to fit before anyway.



Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: At Work