CITY LIGHTS was the first single to be pulled from DAVID ESSEX forth studio LP ''OUT ON THE STREET''.The record presented a marked shift in direction away from the breezy pop anthems which brought him great success in 74' and 75'.''GONNA MAKE YOU A STAR'' and ''HOLD ME CLOSE'' had both made the number one spot and presumably gave him the confidence to pitch something a little more hard edged as his first single for 76'.
CITY LIGHTS is an astonishing record that truly bristles with tension over the length of Five and a half minutes.Essex never sounded better than on this.His voice positively soars over the demonic 'DUB' BASSLINE {played by MIKE THORN} and DRAMATIC ORCHESTRATION {conducted by producer JEFF WAYNE}.
Unfortunately the record didn't fly off the shelves and David shared some thoughts as to why in his autobiography ''A CHARMED LIFE'' which I'll quote from here:
''Although it made the top thirty CITY LIGHTS wasn't a massive hit,probably because it was over five minutes long.It suffered through lack of air play.The REAL THING and I filmed a video for it,using the east end streets as a backdrop,but because of the chart position the video just failed to find a spot on the very important TOP OF THE POPS and lost it's momentum.
CITY LIGHTS PROMO VIDEO
Help me in the backside door
I got what I want I need more
Take me to your car
Drag me to your bar
Walk on city lights
Walk on city lights
Oh it's a pity
It's a city
