His Purple Majesty

Razor & Tie’s welcome new collection draws exclusively from Gilder’s three Chrysalis albums — 1977’s You Know Who You Are, 1978’s City Nights and 1979’s Frequency. All three are unsung classics of the power-pop era, filled with punchy rockers and ethereal ballads, most of which concern themselves with the seamy doings of late-’70s Sunset Strip scenesters. Yes, there’s still something innately creepy about hearing Gilder wrap his fey, androgynous voice around sleazy tales of skintight teens, trench-coated perverts and rock & roll ’lectric boys, but that’s also part of the fun. Gilder’s lyrical perspective was never leering or moralistic; the young hustlers of “Hot Child” and “Roxy Roller” are respected for their ability to survive on Hollywood’s mean streets, while “Got To Get Out” and “Runaways in the Night” empathize with their reasons for leaving home in the first place. “Into the ’80s,” the synth-swathed meditation on the future that closes this compilation, is all the more moving for its total lack of rock-star bravado.

It’s great to finally have this stuff on CD, but Razor & Tie’s decision to limit the collection to 12 tracks (thereby excluding the singles “Here Comes the Night” and “Electric Love,” as well as several other key tracks) is frustrating in the extreme. So, too, are the liner notes, which include some basic biographical info but offer no real insight into the man himself. (What, he was too busy to sit for an interview?) Hopefully, this CD will generate enough interest to spur someone to reissue the first three albums. Razor & Tie, you know who you are. (Dan Epstein)