Hot Child In The City – Nick Gilder | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1); 1978
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Born in London, Nick Gilder’s family made Vancouver its home when he was ten years old. After high school, Nick hooked up with Rasputin which, in turn, morphed into Sweeney Todd.
Signed to London Records, Sweeney Todd released Roxy Roller as a single. When Nick Gilder and Jim McCulloch departed Sweeney Todd to pursue solo careers, London again released Roxy Roller, with a different lead vocal.
Although Gilder’s new label went to court to stop it, London ultimately released a third version of Roller, featuring 16-year-old Bryan Adams on lead. Meanwhile, Nick’s first U.S. solo disc sank without a trace so producer Mike Chapman was hired on to help with the sophomore album.
City Nights included Hot Child In The City, a Gilder/McCulloch composition inspired by the young girls they’d seen working the streets in Los Angeles. Chapman urged the label to release All Because Of Love as the single, however, he was overruled. That proved to be a smart move as Hot Child sold platinum and hit #1.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Mike Chapman
Lyrics Written by:
- Nick Gilder
- James McCulloch
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).