Midnight Madness is the album the clinched Night Ranger as, if not a great band, at least as a band that would sell enough records to not be dropped by their label. Just about every song on this album is loveable. Still with the heavy guitar and the synth that was mandatory in the 80’s.

"You Can Still Rock In America" is a song that begs to have air guitar played to it. Sung by Jack Blades, it carries that relentlessly silly energy he exudes in every project I’ve ever encountered him on.

"Rumours In the Air" is the ‘woman done me wrong song.’ It’s catchy, it’s singable, it’s got a lot of synthasizer. It’s no Beatles "I’m Looking Through You," but they try. Maybe they needed better material, after all McCartney wrote "I’m Looking Through You" about Jane Asher.

"Why Does Love Have To Change?" is a bit strange. It’s a very sad and desperate song sung over very cheerful, happy music. It’s still an effective song, but when I start listening to the words I get a little perplexed.

Everybody with a radio in 1983 remembers "Sister Christian." By this time, the power ballad was a definite musical form and this is a textbook example. It’s also another one of those songs designed to make teenage girls weepy. If I remember correctly it was the prom song for prom season 1984. I couldn’t tell you why because upon close listening it sounds like the kind of thoughts that would be going through a parent’s mind, not a teenager’s.

"Touch of Madness" has a sound bite from Poltergeist at the very beginning. It also gives a bit of an indication where Night Ranger is headed later. Sort of as though Sister Christian went away to college and became a wild child.

"Passion Play" is also a bit thicker and heavier. The themes are moving away from the high school realm.

"When You Close Your Eyes" is another power ballad, but it chokes me up to this day. At the time when this song came out I couldn’t possibly have understood the emotional underpinnings. In this one, Kelly Keagy sings about the girl who got away and wonders if, when the going gets tough, does she remember him? It all seems so romantic (sigh.)

"Chippin’ Away" and "Let Him Run" are fine songs and they round out the album. They are firmly grounded in the early Night Ranger tradition. Simple, easy to sing along to, not very heavy or strange or displaying any ‘adult’ themes.

If you liked early Night Ranger, this is the one to get. It’s not a raw as Dawn Patrol. It shows more technical skill and a better quality of song writing and by the time you get to 7 Wishes Night Ranger has definitely moved on.


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: At Work