Because the Night
Encyclopedia
"Because the Night" is a song by the Patti Smith Group, written by Bruce Springsteen
and Patti Smith
which was released as a single in 1978, taken from Smith's album Easter. The song was a hit, rising to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart, and helping propel sales of Easter to mainstream success – even as Smith was deciding to retire from a life of constant touring. The song remains one of the best known of Smith's catalog.
In 1987, "Because the Night" by Patti Smith Group was ranked number 116 on NME
magazine's list of "The Top 150 Singles of All Time".
album. He was not satisfied with it; the Patti Smith Group was working on Easter in the studio next door, with engineer/producer Jimmy Iovine working on both albums. Iovine gave Smith a tape of the song, she recast it, and it was included on Easter, becoming the first single released from that album. Though it was never released on any of Springsteen's studio albums, in concert beginning with his Darkness Tour
Springsteen would often perform the song with his own lyrics. The song was first performed live (with Patti Smith) at CBGB's in New York City on December 30, 1977. Until the 2010 release of Springsteen's box set The Promise
, which included the original recording from the Darkness on the Edge of Town sessions, the only commercially released recording of a Springsteen version of the song was in the 1986 box set Live/1975–85, where Smith was listed as co-writer.
Co.Ro featuring Tarlisa
10,000 Maniacs
Cascada
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
and Patti Smith
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
which was released as a single in 1978, taken from Smith's album Easter. The song was a hit, rising to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, and helping propel sales of Easter to mainstream success – even as Smith was deciding to retire from a life of constant touring. The song remains one of the best known of Smith's catalog.
In 1987, "Because the Night" by Patti Smith Group was ranked number 116 on NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
magazine's list of "The Top 150 Singles of All Time".
History
The original song was recorded by Bruce Springsteen during sessions for his Darkness on the Edge of TownDarkness on the Edge of Town
Darkness on the Edge of Town is the fourth album by Bruce Springsteen, released in the late spring of 1978. The album marked the end of a three year period of forced hiatus from recording brought on by contractual obligations and legal battling with former manager Mike Appel...
album. He was not satisfied with it; the Patti Smith Group was working on Easter in the studio next door, with engineer/producer Jimmy Iovine working on both albums. Iovine gave Smith a tape of the song, she recast it, and it was included on Easter, becoming the first single released from that album. Though it was never released on any of Springsteen's studio albums, in concert beginning with his Darkness Tour
Darkness Tour
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's Darkness Tour was a concert tour of North America that ran from May 1978 through the rest of the year, in conjunction with the release of Springsteen's album Darkness on the Edge of Town...
Springsteen would often perform the song with his own lyrics. The song was first performed live (with Patti Smith) at CBGB's in New York City on December 30, 1977. Until the 2010 release of Springsteen's box set The Promise
The Promise (Bruce Springsteen album)
The Promise is the 17th studio album by American rock singer Bruce Springsteen, released November 16, 2010 on Columbia Records. It is a double CD compilation of previously unreleased songs drawing from the Darkness on the Edge of Town sessions. The album is also available as part of the box set...
, which included the original recording from the Darkness on the Edge of Town sessions, the only commercially released recording of a Springsteen version of the song was in the 1986 box set Live/1975–85, where Smith was listed as co-writer.
Cover versions
- In 1980, Tony AwardTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
winner Patti LuPonePatti LuPonePatti Ann LuPone is an American singer and actress, known for her Tony Award-winning performances as Eva Perón in the 1979 stage musical Evita and as Madame Rose in the 2008 Broadway revival of Gypsy, and for her Olivier Award-winning performance as Fantine in the original London cast of Les...
sang the song during her engagement at the New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
nightclubNightclubA nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
Les Mouches. - In 1986, heavy metal band KeelKeel (band)Keel is an American heavy metal band founded in 1984 in Los Angeles, California. They were known for their rock anthem "The Right to Rock." The band was active until 1989, with a brief reunion in 1998. Keel reunited in 2008 and is currently touring for their 25th anniversary.-History:Keel was...
did a version of the song on their album The Final Frontier. - In 1992, Co.Ro released a version that featured Tarlisa that sold over 660,000 copies. It was a gold record in France and reached number one in Italy, Spain, and several other European countries.
- A well-known Unplugged version was recorded by 10,000 Maniacs10,000 Maniacs10,000 Maniacs is a United States-based alternative rock band, which formed in 1981 and continues to be active with various line-ups.-1981–1993:...
in 1993 for MTV UnpluggedMTV Unplugged (10,000 Maniacs album)MTV Unplugged is a 1993 live album by 10,000 Maniacs. The music was recorded for the MTV Unplugged series and it was also the last album by the band featuring Natalie Merchant as vocalist...
, with a few lyrical alterations. The recording gained considerable radio airplay and reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, which was the first time the group broke the top forty. - In 1994, the experimental Alternative band Sonic YouthSonic YouthSonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
drastically reworked the song for the first track, "Becuz", of their album Washing Machine, playing on the repetitive aspects of Smith's original, and contrasting Smith's ebullient vocals with a breathy near-whisper by Kim GordonKim GordonKim Althea Gordon is an American musician, vocalist, artist, record producer, video director and actress. She has sung and played bass and guitar in the alternative rock band Sonic Youth, and in Free Kitten with Julia Cafritz...
, a departure from Gordon's ordinarily Smith-like grunge-era delivery. - In 1996, Japanese singer-songwriter UaUA (singer), simply known by the stage name UA , is a Japanese singer-songwriter. She debuted under Speedstar Records in 1995 with the single "Horizon".-Biography:...
covered the song on her single "Kumo ga Chigireru TokiKumo ga Chigireru Toki- Vinyl :- Charts and sales :-External links:*...
". - Trip hopTrip hopTrip hop is a music genre consisting of downtempo electronic music which originated in the early 1990s in England, especially Bristol. Deriving from "post"-acid house, the term was first used by the British music media and press as a way to describe the more experimental variant of breakbeat which...
band EarthlingEarthling (band)Earthling is a trip hop band from Bristol, England. It is composed of rapper Mau and producer Tim Saul, with multi-instrumentalist Andy Keep often contributing.-Work:...
recorded a cover of the song for their Blood Music EP released in 1996. - In 1998, Kim WildeKim WildeKim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
released a cover of the song, which appears on the Germany-only various artists release PhilharmaniaPhilharmania (album)Philharmania is an album produced, arranged and conducted by Mike Batt in 1998. Performers included the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and guest singers including Roger Daltrey, Marc Almond, Bonnie Tyler, Status Quo, Huey Lewis, Kim Wilde, Justin Hayward and others...
. - The Spanish band Tahúres zurdosTahúres zurdosTahúres zurdos was a Spanish band active from 1987 to 2004.Its members were Aurora Beltrán Gila , Manuel Beltrán Gila , Luis salcedo , Juan Manuel Ugarte , Javier Lizarazu .They were influenced by The Who, Led...
covered this for their 2000 album El tiempo de la luz. The title ("La noche es") and the lyrics where translated into Spanish, but the song kept the "Because the night belongs to lovers, because the night belongs to us" part intact in English. The lyrics are not a literal translation, but still quite true to the original. - Japanese singer-songwriter Chihiro OnitsukaChihiro Onitsukais a Japanese singer-songwriter.In 2000, Onitsuka released her debut single "Shine" and gained a recognition with its follow-up "Gekkou" which became a hit. Insomnia, her first studio album released in following year topped the Japanese Oricon chart and sold more than a million copies...
performed a live cover at the Yokohama Arena on August 23, 2001. - German DJ Jan WayneJan WayneJan Wayne is a German electronic dance music DJ and producer, noted for his remixes.-Singles:*2001 - "Total Eclipse of the Heart" - UK #28 *2002 - "Because the Night" - UK #14*2002 - "Only You"*2002 - "More Than a Feeling"...
released a dance version in 2002 that reached number 14 in the UK and topped the charts in the Netherlands for several weeks. It reached number 2 in Belgian charts. - In 2008, CascadaCascadaCascada is a German Eurodance act most famous for their hit singles "Everytime We Touch", "What Hurts the Most", and "Evacuate the Dancefloor"...
recorded a version which appears on their second album Perfect DayPerfect Day (Cascada album)Perfect Day is the second studio album released by German eurodance group Cascada. The entire album was produced by the two disc jockeys from Cascada, Yanou and DJ Manian. Like it's predecessor, the album is comprised heavily of up-tempo eurodance tracks, many of which are cover songs...
. The music video for the single premiered on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
on 28 May 2008. The single was released on July 18, 2008 in Germany, July 21, 2008 in France and August 4, 2008 in the UK. - In 2008, the Italian project May released their own version of the song, under the label D:vision.
- In 2008, the Italian gothic-metalGothic metalGothic metal or goth metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines the aggression of doom metal with the dark melancholy of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy metal music...
band Domina Noctis covered this song on their second album, Second Rose. - In 2008, the French Dark electro band A7IE performed a live cover on November 1, 2008, in France. This song is available on True Mania 5 Years Compilation.
- In 2007, the Scottish singer-songwriter KT TunstallKT TunstallKate Victoria "KT" Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist from St Andrews, Scotland. She broke into the public eye with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland...
collaborated with an all-star cast of Cuban musicians of the Buena Vista Social ClubBuena Vista Social ClubThe Buena Vista Social Club was a members club in Havana, Cuba that held dances and musical activities, becoming a popular location for musicians to meet and play during the 1940s...
. Their version of the song was released with the album Rhythms del Mundo ClassicsRhythms del Mundo ClassicsRhythms del Mundo Classics is the follow-up album to the internationally successful album Rhythms del Mundo, featuring artists like The Killers, Amy Winehouse, Keane, Jack Johnson, The Rolling Stones, KT Tunstall and Rodrigo y Gabriela.-Charity:...
on July 31, 2009. - In 2009, the London-based octet Brontosaurus ChorusBrontosaurus ChorusBrontosaurus Chorus is a London based indie pop band. The group was formed by vocalist Jodie Lowther and bassist Dominic Green in 2006.-History:...
had their version of the song included on the Springsteen tribute album Play Some Pool, Skip Some School, Act Real Cool, released on the WIAIWYA label.
Notable live cover performances
- The song was performed live by Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith and U2 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert at Madison Square GardenMadison Square GardenMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
on Friday, October 30, 2009. There were two takes of the song, as the first take suffered from missed cues and technical issues. The second take, suggested by Bono at the end of the first, was tighter and even more impassioned than the first. - The song has been performed live by Bruce SpringsteenBruce SpringsteenBruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
during a show in Miami with U2U2U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
singer BonoBonoPaul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
and the E Street BandE Street BandThe E Street Band has been rock musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972.The band has also recorded with a wide range of other artists including Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Tom Morello, Sting, Ian...
, and more recently on their 2009 European Tour. - R.E.M.R.E.M.R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
lead singer Michael StipeMichael StipeJohn Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
performed the song with Springsteen at a Vote for ChangeVote for ChangeThe Vote for Change tour was a politically-motivated American popular music concert tour that took place in October 2004. The tour was presented by MoveOn.org to benefit America Coming Together. The tour was held in swing states and was designed to encourage people to register and vote...
tour performance. - E Street Band member Nils LofgrenNils LofgrenNils Hilmer Lofgren is an American rock music recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
has never recorded the song, but is known for an especially fiery concert performance of it. The genesis for this version came about when Springsteen asked Lofgren to work on a solo to add to the song, and it has since become a Lofgren staple. - Idol 2009Idol 2009Idol 2009 was the sixth season of the Swedish idol series and was broadcast by TV 4. The jury, identical to the previous year, consisted of Anders Bagge, Laila Bagge and Andreas Carlsson. Peter Jihde, the show's host, was also a continuation of the previous year's cast. The audition cities visited...
fourth place runner up Mariette Hansson. - The song was part of the set of Patti LuPonePatti LuPonePatti Ann LuPone is an American singer and actress, known for her Tony Award-winning performances as Eva Perón in the 1979 stage musical Evita and as Madame Rose in the 2008 Broadway revival of Gypsy, and for her Olivier Award-winning performance as Fantine in the original London cast of Les...
during her 27 weeks of concerts at Les Mouches in 1980. The concert, including this song, was recently released on CD. - The WaterboysThe WaterboysThe Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a...
would introduce "The Pan Within" with the first verse of this song during their Big Music phase, available on The Live Adventures of the WaterboysThe Live Adventures of the WaterboysThe Live Adventures of the Waterboys is a concert recording, released by The Waterboys in 1998. Mike Scott refers to this album as an "unofficial release" or bootleg recording, but praises the recording period as a "classic" period for the Waterboys...
. - Toyah Wilcox performed this song in 1988 in the second series of French and SaundersFrench and SaundersFrench and Saunders is a British sketch comedy television show written by and starring comic duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. It is also the name by which the performers are known on the occasions when they appear elsewhere as a double act....
. - Amandine BourgeoisAmandine BourgeoisAmandine Bourgeois is a French singer. She was the winner of the 6th edition of the French version of the Pop Idol series Nouvelle Star in 2008.- References :...
performed this song in 2010 in the French TV show TaratataTaratataTaratata is a French TV show showcasing live and pre-recorded footage of current rock acts. Presented by Nagui since its début in 1993, the show was initially shown on France 2. This show often involves surprise and unlikely duets, as well as brief interviews with the artists...
. - In 2010, Springsteen performed the song on Late Night with Jimmy FallonLate Night with Jimmy FallonLate Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
, accompanied by bandmates Steven Van ZandtSteven Van ZandtSteven Van Zandt is an Italian-American musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, actor, and radio disc jockey, who frequently goes by the stage names Little Steven or Miami Steve...
, Roy BittanRoy BittanRoy Bittan is an American keyboardist, best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, which he joined on August 23, 1974...
and The RootsThe RootsThe Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
. - Antigone RisingAntigone RisingAntigone Rising is an all-female New York City based rock band. Their music is influenced by classic rock from the 1970s such as The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac, mixed with pop overtones and at times folk and country elements...
has performed this song live at numerous live shows in 2011. Live video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYYFE9szfS8
Charts
Patti Smith Group| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 21 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
16 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 9 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
13 |
Co.Ro featuring Tarlisa
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 14 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 6 |
| German Singles Chart | 16 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 21 |
| Italian FIMI Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 26 |
10,000 Maniacs
| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
65 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 11 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks | 7 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 7 |
| Chart (1994) | Position |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
9 |
| End of year chart (1994) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 40 |
Cascada
| Chart (2008) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 68 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 45 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 | 57 |
| German Singles Chart | 41 |
| Slovakia Singles Chart | 56 |
| UK Singles Chart | 28 |
| U.S. Billboard Global Dance Tracks | 16 |
| Latvian Top 40 | 11 |
External links
- Lyrics at the official website