Night After Night - Jacky Ward

After several moderately successful years with Mercury Records, Jacky Ward moved to Asylum for a brief stay. He made two minor hits, one of which -- a remake of Ricky Nelson's "Travelin' Man" -- continued his string of countrified updates of rock and R&B oldies. Night After Night, his sole Asylum LP, contains his two hits for the label, and a mixture of new songs by Nashville and rock & roll songwriters. A slinky version of Johnny Cash's "Get Rhythm" is the album's only other oldies remake, but its presentation is thoroughly modern. "Circle of Love" (not the Steve Miller Band song from the same year) is a standout that should have been released as a single; it certainly sounds more like a hit than the album's other minor chart item, "Take the Mem'ry When You Go." The album was produced by Mike Post, who is better known for his soundtrack work, and dabbles in a variety of styles. Some tracks are slick, and lean toward contemporary pop, while others are more organic and arranged in a recognizably country style. The album has a few worthy cuts, but Ward needed better material. ~ Greg Adams, All Music Guide