Night Life

Every night I feast in complete darkness. Once, I accidentally ate a Puerto Rican kid's ashes. His family were not happy.

The introduction really set the tone by making the album feel more personal. Can't think of a record that starts with one, but I love it here. This is some real tears-in-your-beer kind of music, but I am here for it. Lyrically, it's great, and vocally, it's superb. Ray Price is a hell of a singer, and really conveys those emotions directly into me. Also, holy hell, Willie Nelson on bass and backing vocals? Neat. Favorite tracks: "Night Life", "Sittin' and Thinkin'", "There's No Fool Like a Young Fool"

It's hard for me to sometimes give such low scores to music that sounds so honest. But within the context of this list, where it's supposed to be about albums that are actually crucial to the history of modern music, or about albums that maybe weren't that influential but are notable by themselves, this one for me doesn't come as a member of any of these two categories. Is it good music? Yes. Is it something I had to listen to get something that I wouldn't be able to get from any other album? I hardly think so

10/10 - woeful as fuck makes we wanna get a trad wife and be emotionally absent to her

I didn’t find any favorites here, but a very classic country sound with lots of steel and slide guitar. Cool find, should know the artist at least.

I'm really digging this classic country. I'm so glad records like this are included in this list. It's a refreshing break from the constant onslaught of 60's-era rock this list is littered with.

Oh, boy. People making out to Hee Haw on the cover. Doesn't bode well. But then, Ray invites me to take off my shoes and enjoy his album. Huh. Linkin Park never invited me to take off my shoes - instead, they made me wear uncomfortable surplus army boots. Night Life gets bluesy - no mentions of broken trucks or sad dogs. Well, never mind. Lonely Street hits all of the tropes - damn, Ray. Pick yourself up, take off your shoes, and go enjoy the night life! Even so, there's a Roy Orbison quality to it - kinda like that late nineties country/pop crossover trend (no slide guitar? It's Hootie! Slide guitar? It's Darius Rucker!). Sittin' and Thinkin' - "I got loaded last night on a bottle of gin"? He just comes out and says it - I think this is probably pretty risqué for the time; 15 years later, Jimmy Buffett will make fun of the country music tendency to dance around topics, and he penned "Why don't we get drunk..." as a parody of those songs. Ray doesn't quite get there (he skips the "...and screw" part), but the first step is admitting you have a problem. He still cries for an entire hour each day - so clearly there are some unresolved issues there. Bright lights and blonde haired women - "I'm getting sick and tired of being lit up like a Christmas tree" - wow. Look, Ray, you left your brunette woman at home with a single dim bulb hanging from a chain in the middle of the room. You ain't going back. Just get used to being drunk and hanging out with the easy blonde girls. You chose this life. Take off your shoes, get your crying over with, and do what you gotta do. Overall review - I didn't hate this. Look, I'm not going to be jamming to this while sitting in carpool or docking a pontoon boat, but it is infinitely better than the mid-nineties "been working hard all week, got my good jeans on, I love America" crap that country music turned into. Ray seems like he'd be fun to hang out with - I just gotta make sure I'm "on a work call" for that one hour of crying per day...

The Price is wrong

What if Frank Sinatra was from Bikini Bottom?

Whether you like country or not, there are some finely crafted songs on this album delivered by some magnificent musicians and Price, who is an engaging singer with a great voice. There’s an undertone of darkness and restlessness throughout and you can depict the seediness of the nightclubs Price frequents. Frankly, if you’re not enjoying that fiddling and a backing band known as The Cherokee Cowboys; or you aren’t vibing with songs like Bright Lights and Blonde Haired Women then I don’t even want to know you.

Fine as background music on this Monday morning before Thanksgiving, but let’s be honest, this sounds like just about every other country record from the late 50’s or early 60’s that you’ve ever heard.

Shite Life

Very odd framing in he album’s intro bit, leading into a straight forward but very good honky tonk record.

A focused set of country takes, but in the honky-tonk style which has never completely won me over. Comparisons to Sinatra are ubiquitous; For my part I'll say that Price doesn't have the affect problem I mentioned. There's solid fiddling on several tunes as well, elevating the music above the level of the rest of the playing.

This is nice

Wonderful old-timey country, reminded me of Patsy Cline and kd lang. A terrific listen for the day.

Cool sounds, familiar from samples, sent me down some fun rabbit holes

Classy country.

this would go so hard in a jpegmafia mashup

fine

LOVE the vibes of this album Perfect title choice

Not really my sound but enjoyed the emotion and production in this album

I could listen to only records like this and be perfectly happy. Truly excellent through and through.

a really great example of itself

Good old honky tonk classics.

classic country style album. Elvis like

Night life Title song was my favorite. Vocals are great. Really smooth country crooning. There’s a low note in the pedal steel solo on nightlife that’s super cool. Johnny paycheck is the best name for a lead guitar player. The songs are all a bit sad and on the night life theme.

Total classic, sittin and thinkin is such a great song, I like the Charlie rich version better. Such an iconic record tho and the playing is top tier.

Fuck it

Found this so relaxing, deep down in the soul. Like the sun shining through the living room window on a Sunday afternoon.

Incredibly easy to listen to. This is a classic country album from before country was just pop with a southern accent.

Only part I did not love is how short the album is! It is obvious how many people were influenced by this sound.

cool

Classic smooth country, not a bad song in the bunch.

Classic and wonderful

Don't let the charity shop cover put you off. I'm new to Price, but took straight away to his voice. It has a purity that reminds me of Patsy Cline and a hangdog guilt that puts me in mind of some of Johnny Cash's catalogue (e.g. Sunday Morning Coming Down). The album is strongly themed, with vignettes featuring a long line of honky tonk women living the "Night Life" hanging out in bars. For the 1960s, the songs aren't actually that judgemental of these women - well, hardly more than Price is of himself for choosing this lifestyle. He asks them "Are You Sure?", but I think he's asking himself the same thing.

Memories

Lovely and short, doesn't bore at any moment nor becomes repetitive or tedious as every song is very discernible and unique

Perfect soundtrack to a sad dance in a Western bar with Sam Shepard and Jessica Lange

just some good old twangy heartbroken country music. A lot of the songs have a similar rhythm and feel but they all tell stories, some a little more bluesy, some a little more bluegrassy. the only knock is that the lyrics can be pretty simplistic (A Girl in the Night), but thats country baby, this is definitely easy listening! This album makes me think of passing through a little stopover town to have a drink at a local dive bar and falling in love with a townie.

Love this album. Ray Price has a lovely voice

Love this vibe

Really good and had never heard of him.

Amazing soft bluesy rock kind of album

I wasn’t sure that this country album would hit the spot for me, and it was a little slow to warm. But as it ended, I wanted to start it again…and I did…and really appreciated what Ray Price delivered.

Honky-tonkin’ heartbreak, drinking’ and depression… Some real classic country from a real master, this album shines a stark light on the Night Life. Each song is a cautionary tale targeting a variety of potential victims of the night life. As Ray suggests in the introduction to this Columbia album, I enjoyed sittin’ back, kickin’ off my shoes and listenin’ to Night Life. Just the perfect accompaniment to an evening of cocktails. Maybe someday I’ll make it to one of those dances…

MY LIIIIIFE

Honestly every one’s a fuckin’ banger.

Honestly very nice. I don’t really listen to this genre of music but it is surprisingly calming.

Good old country

Honky Tonk goes Music Row. A slick slice of the seedier life by a master of singing.

I absolutely love the mood and atmosphere of this album. I often think of music in terms of "day music" and "night music" and this is pretty much THE epitome of night music. Bittersweet and seductive. Romantic but honest. I feel like almost any professional musician would have to identify with that title track. I remember hearing Willie Nelson's version of it first when I was a kid, and I love that version too, but there is something about this version that is so much more haunting. The rest of the album doesn't quite have the same magic as that opening track, but it's still top notch crying-in-your-beer country. The playing, production, and arrangements are all spot on. I especially love that splash of reverb on the vocals. The fact that the songs all adhere to that theme of the trials and tribulations of life in the bar scene is what makes it so great (and believable). A perfectly executed concept album before concept albums were a thing. The intro is a bit goofy, but quaint in an old fashioned way. And goddamn that cover is so cinematic.

I am constantly impressed with early country songwriting. Ray really nails it here. At this rate, I may have to start saying I like country.

Like the old country. Almost has an Elvis feel to it. Would definitely try some of his other music.

Damn this is some good shit.

It's like an Alcoholic's Blues album. Loved it.

Loved it, transported to the 60s

Sorta country, sorta lounge and kinda frank sinatra. Pretty darn good!

I loved this. Pipe smoking rocking chair evening scotch music. Gonna explore this guy's catalog

I enjoyed this.

A great singer. Songs are a bit dated. Good overall.

i was between a 3 and a 4 on this one. I love the sound of this album. The harmonies, the pedal steel, Ray's voice. It's nearly blissful. My only real complaint is that every song sounds the same. Not only were the arrangements the same, but the melodies were often similar, too. But this was cool to hear, and I can see his influence on so many of the later country artists I admire, so I'll go with a 4.

Not my preferred genre and not something that I would listen to regularly, but I can respect the old school country music artists. They were masterful story tellers and good at emoting.

loved it

Really fun, sounds Christmassy and old!

I am not usually a fan of country but I enjoyed this record. Ray was an excellent vocalist and the musicianship and production quality are top-notch. It was also interesting to learn that Willie Nelson was a backup musician on this record. I would listen to this one again.

the concept of this album itself is enough to get a couple stars from me. i’ve been pretty interested in the classic beat generation recently and THEY lived in the night life. it’s a cool idea overall that there are people that live in the night whether by choice or my circumstance. the songs made sense for 1967 and were pretty similar but they were never bad. music would be 3 stars but idea gets it up to 4

Lovely jazz country

This was a great surprise. It’s country as it should be: timeless, raw, and contains real stories about real people. I wonder if this was sort of controversial when it was released: it dabbles in some almost taboo subjects for music in the early 60’s. It must be one of the first country concept albums, and it delivers on the concept tremendously. It also rocks for having an early Willie Nelson song as the opening song and the basis for the concept.

This was a good one. Nice old country album with a good feel. Favorite song: there’s no fool like a young fool

This album made me realize that I truly love country and have a soft spot for classic country. This album put me in a great mood for the whole day. I'll be back to give it another listen.

4.5

I liked this album, and I would listen to it, again, but it's not something I'd likely have in a regular rotation but something I'd randomly put on at my house while cooking or cleaning. I do listen to some modern "Western" music, and it's obvious that part of their ancestry was Ray Price.

Very frontier-land coded. Nice soft, ballads. Occasionally blurring together. But a good nighttime feel. Notable song: Twenty Fourth Hour 4/5

Country legend. Great voice. Great songs.

I really liked this album!! Ray Price’s voice is great for this genre and the album was consistent without being repetitive

Very surprised how good this was.

3.7 - I enjoyed this more than I thought. Did give off a weird vibe at the start though, like some church sermon about to ask for money or something

This is closer to the country that I will kinda enjoy, and that’s mainly just because I recognize its significance in history. I didn’t actually know Price’s name, but I’ve heard his influence in country. It was nice to put a name to the sound.

Now this is classic country! Simple songs with concise storytelling and a message of love and longing and heartache that anyone can latch onto and relate to. Was listening to Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison the other day and it's funny that both of them have a little monologue from the artist expressing gratitude to Columbia Records. That's the record company wanting recognition because there's no way the public gave a damn about that little factoid. Oh Columbia Records! Well now we GOTTA buy it!!! One thing that struck me about the vocals. The diction is sooooooo clear. You can understand every word this guy sings. His accent is always audible, but still! That's impressive. As a singer, his caprino vibrato was a little off putting, and a little surprising given how strong his voice was otherwise. Every once in a while he'd have healthy vibrato and it was funny because it was a total fluke. Love how strong the song titles are. They make you want to hear the song and hear the story. "There's No Fool Like a Young Fool" in particular was just beautiful.

This is someone that I was unfamiliar with before today. I liked this album. Nothing knocked it out of the park for me, but it was soild. At certain times it sounded like Elvis. Either with his voice or style of playing the song, or even the song in general. But that didn't take away or distract at all. For only the 2nd rime in 150 days, I've been introduced to an artist that I will listen to again. (Rounded up from 3.5)

Liked this! Wasn't expecting it to be as country from the first few songs. 4/5 Favourite songs: - night life - are you sure Although I did like let me talk to you as well The whole album felt very easy to listen to and I appreciated that

I’ve never listened to earlier country before but wow, that was pretty good. I really don’t get the hate, even if it isn’t super original. The instrumentals are great and the vocals are obviously amazing. Sounds like Frank Sinatra, as many have already mentioned. Anyways, maybe I should listen to more old country.

4.5

Night Life is a classic. I dig classic country. Can't say this is one of my top albums, but the crooning contained in here - WOOMAMA! 4 stars.

3.5/5. Great, easy listening. Good old country music.

a pretty decent country and western album from the early sixties. this one starts off with a goofy introduction from mr. price thanking everyone for how much they loved their last record and how much he hopes they will love this one - should more records start off with a personal plea to fans? maybe, maybe not. it is kind of an awkward way to start the album. sir, i just met you. anyways, i enjoyed myself with this one. a lot of songs about honky tonks and falling in love and drinking, fairly common tropes for the time period, but i don't think there's a bum song here. mr. price's voice isn't the best country voice i've ever heard but it is charming and the musicianship here is pretty good. it's not an album i see myself coming back to, really, but it's one that i was pleasantly surprised by.

Oh I like this. Talk to me Ray! “Night Life” makes me wanna slow dance and share a bottle of red. “Lonely Street” is a little sleepy. This is kinda honky tonk but I do like it. So I definitely thought it was one type of album and it was another kind of album, but I’m not disappointed. It’s maybe a 3.5 but I don’t have the heart to give it a 3. So, 4.

Kinda like it in the time machine.

really enjoyed!!

There aren’t any big surprises here. It’s classic honky tonk with songs that are still played the same way today. His voice is super smooth and pleasant and I especially loved the Willie song for him. 4.0

very good, great vibes

Definitely not as terrible as I was anticipating. I dig it.

This is fantastic. Thank you. What a country classic.

Lounge country! Yeah, I can get behind this - nice relaxing listen. The spoken word intro could be a lot shorter, though, I imagine that'd get old fast. Fave track - "The Twenty Fourth Hour" maybe? They all kinda blended together, but not in a bad way. Like spending time in a casino with no windows and no clocks, heh.

I can almost smell the stale beer and cigarettes with a Sunday morning hangover, from a few decades ago, when I listen to this, so that must be worth 4 stars or B- at least.

June 20, 2024 HL: title track, "Lonely Street", "The Twenty-Fourth Hour", "Are You Sure", "Let Me Talk to You" On the day I got k.d. lang's Shadowland, I lamented I wasn't getting much sad, croony country from the actual "golden age" here, instead getting modern acts very much inspired by those sad crooners. Tonight I'm eating crow, since Ray Price, an artist I've never listened to before (increasingly rare on this website*), scratches that itch for me. It's got: - great singing - great lap steel - Floyd Cramer piano (that's almost always mixed too quietly tbh) - Willie Nelson - melancholy mood music that fits the title (although much of Night Life's middle could also pass as AM radio in the A.M.) - plenty of reverb *Only other artists this month that I can say I've never put on before are The Coral, since curiosity about the most-hated albums on this list led me to both the Residents and Einstürzende Neubauten earlier

I hadn't heard of Ray Price before. From what I can gather, he was notable for being one of the best baritone singers in country music and helped popularize the shift of the beat in country songs from 2/4 to 4/4 time. There's a bit more to the story though, as one of the members of his touring band that played on this album was a young Willie Nelson, playing bass and backing vocals. As for the music itself, this is the chill yet upbeat country music that would be expected from such a pairing. Every instrument has its moment in the limelight, and Ray's delivery is silky smooth. There were a fair amount of standouts from the opening title track to the end with "Are You Are". It was a pleasant listen and as such gets a solid recommendation.

This is giving me serious David Lynch vibes — I love it!

Fun album. Over the top and and a bit of an oddity but that is the way we love it, don't we?