This 1980 album by The Golden Earring is proof of their ability to keep improving after an impressive lengthy career. "Prisoner of the Night" presents a collection of songs that combine pop hooks and hard rock muscle in a radio-friendly way.

The Golden Earring improve on this style instead of recycling it: The guitar riffs hit harder, the hooks are catchier, and the arrangements are more willing to take an occasional left turn. Good examples are "No for an Answer" which combines heavy guitar riffs with a killer singalong chorus. And "My Town" is an amped-up piece of driving power-pop that is worthy of Cheap Trick for instance.

The finest of the rockers is "Long Blond Animal" with its stomping beat, killer guitar riff and super-infectious chorus to create a blood-pumping, catchy rocker.

The end result is one of the finest albums of Golden Earring's career. It's a required listen for the group's fans and an album that is likely to win over any pop/rock devotee who gives it a spin.

A1  LONG BLOND ANIMAL (3:36)
A2  NO FOR AN ANSWER (4:13)
A3  MY TOWN (3:06)
A4  PRISONER OF THE NIGHT (4:50)
A5  I DON'T WANNA BE SOMEBODY ELSE (4:41)

B1  CUT 'EM DOWN TO SIZE (3:23)
B2  WILL & MERCY (3:36)
B3  COME IN OUTERSPACE (4:24)
B4  GOING CRAZY AGAIN (4:59)