When Janis lan's self-titled 1978 album failed to crack the Top 100, it was clear that changes were in order. Here, she turns to producer Ron Frangipane and a surprising songwriting partner, Euro-disco maven Giorgio Moroder, who brings in his dance tracks for "Fly Too High," which was intended for the motion picture Foxes. More appropriately, Ian also pairs with Albert Hammond for the leadoff track, "The Other Side of the Sun." Even on her own, however, she is attempting a more timely pop style: "Memories" is as much of a disco cut as the Moroder one. That makes the album more engaging on the surface than her recent releases, but less compelling. As a commercial move, Night Rains failed to chart in the US, but was an international best seller.
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