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City by Night

Rating:
3.7 / 5

Words & Music: Bill Giant Bernie Baum Florence Kaye

When shadows beckon on dim-lit avenues
Night people hear the call
From hidden alleys, secret rendezvous
They come out one and all

The city by night I'm wide awake
It never sleeps make no mistake

Whatever sets off the spark
A magic glow lights the dark
Then I'm intrigued by the sight
Of the city by night

Those crowded nightclubs
Those picturesque cafes
Are scenes no-one forgets
And I'm enchanted, music softly plays
By dancing silhouettes

The city by night I'm wide awake
It never sleeps make no mistake

The evening's full of surprise
It's magic opens my eyes
And I'm intrigued by the sight
Of the city by night

Yeah!

Recordingdate: 1966/06/28, first released on: Double Trouble (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of City by Night:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(steel guitar)
(bass)
(bass)
(drums)
(drums)
(drums)
(piano)
(harmonica)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(sax)
(sax)
(sax)
(trombone)

Availability

Find available albums with City by Night.

OtisBlue22 wrote on October 08, 2008
If ever there was an underrated song, this is it. Imaginative, moody, very atmospheric, so evocative of a smoking jazz club, winding down, in the early morning hours. He never recorded another song like this one! 5/5
Natha wrote on October 22, 2008
I recall the release of this song. Quite intruiging. In those days the album was released long before we even could see the movie. Very different from the usual. Liked it then and still do. Something for the late evening listenings. It shows the versatile Elvis.
Steve V wrote on October 22, 2008
Not a bad song, but poorly produced. Elvis way too much up front. Sounded like the band was in another room. Good movie song though.
theoldscudder wrote on October 22, 2008
Always loved this. One of the better soundtrack songs. May we have your comments Dopey & Slosh.
NONE000000 wrote on October 22, 2008
One of my all time favorates. I prefer Elvis to any singer that has ever lived, but I also like Bobby Darin, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. This is the kinda song you'd expect to hear from one of those guys; a lounge type song. I wish Elvis would have done few more of these type lonely late-night songs. "City By Night" and "I Need Somebody To Lean On" make a great combination. "It's Midnight" would be great with a new backing track. I'd love an entire cd with new backing tracks of Elvis After Midnight songs....
Volker Stockel wrote on November 20, 2009
this song comes often to my mind, when I work through the night. Great song, Great voice. Elvis is the greates could sing everything
Deano1 wrote on February 21, 2010
An interesting, smokey song from the movie and soundtrack LP "Double Trouble". Not great, but definitely different. The song does feature Elvis way too much up in front and that damages the finished product (Why did RCA think that was a good thing?).
Gorse wrote on October 16, 2012
Yes a sultry atmospheric performance of yet another under appreciated song, from a less than remarkable film. I agree with the upfront Elvis being overplayed but I add echo to these performances and that seems to improve this aspect of the recordng no end. I never skip this one.
ElvisSacramento wrote on October 26, 2012
This is such a magnificent song and it's always been my favorite song from the movie "Double Trouble".
sugartummy wrote on March 01, 2013
Tom Parker wanted Elvis voice to be upfront; this embarrased Elvis a lot. This song sounds like a Sinatra song. I'm thankful that Elvis is singing it, not Frank.
shawnrw wrote on January 04, 2014
The most overlooked great Elvis recording of all-time. A bit of smokey blues, with a hint of jazz and sounding even a bit euro at times. Even set up as it should have been with Elvis performing it in a smoked filled night club in "Double Trouble". I agree that the production on the record could have been better with Elvis's voice too far in front of the band, but that can be easily fixed. An true gem in the tall grass.
DerekH wrote on June 04, 2015
Interesting choice of Song of the day. Only a few weeks ago I picked out songs for a new playlist, using bonus songs from soundtracks plus a few good unusual movie tracks that I'd forgotten about. City by Night was one. Mixed in with the other good tracks it sounded great.
shoesuedeblues wrote on June 04, 2015
Elvis' sounding bored and quite rightly so, a tiresome attempt at crooning.Awful song and film
shoesuedeblues wrote on June 04, 2015
After posting my comment re this song I got an email from a guy who like many seems to like this song and Elvis' performance and defended it's qualities. My only defence it seemed was to take him back to 1958 and a similar scene in a New Orleans nightclub.Compare the songs, Elvis' singing ,the production and above all Elvis' satisfaction and confidence with the material.Then look and listen to this
bajo wrote on June 04, 2015
Even though Elvis' motivations for making movies and soundtracks were at an all time low, this track actually is a stand out performance on the entire soundtrack album. He actually managed to create an athmosphere with this one, imo. I've always liked this song!
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