"Because the Night" is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith that was first released in 1978 as a single off the Patti Smith Group album Easter. It rose to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as #5 in the United Kingdom, and helped propel sales of Easter to mainstream successâ€"even as Smith was deciding to retire from a life of constant touring. In 1987, the song was ranked #116 on NME magazine's list of "The Top 150 Singles of All Time". It remains one of the best known songs of Smith's catalog.
History
The song was originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen during sessions for his Darkness on the Edge of Town album. He was not satisfied with it and later declared he already knew he wasn't going to finish it since it was "a[nother] love song"; 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, only retaining the chorus "Because the night belongs to lovers", 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 at a Patti Smith concert at CBGB's in New York City on December 30, 1977, with Springsteen joining on vocals and guitar. The only two commercially released recordings of a Springsteen version of the song were in the 1986 box set Live/1975â€"85, where Smith was listed as co-writer; and the 2010 compilation album The Promise (using the original recording from the Darkness on the Edge of Town sessions, but using Smith's lyrics).
Charts and certifications
Co.Ro version
In 1992, dance act Co.Ro released a version that sold over 660,000 copies. It also samples the Depeche Mode song "Master and Servant". It was a gold record in France and reached number one in Italy, Spain, and several other European countries. In Brazil, it was huge success, and became a big opening of a Eurodance explosion in the 1990s.
- Track listing
- CD single â€" Europe (1992)
- "Because the Night" (T.L.S. Radio Mix) â€" 4:32
- "Because the Night" (T.L.S. Mix) â€" 5:20
- "It's a Love" (T.S.F. Mix) â€" 3:40
- "Because the Night" (Dub Mix) â€" 5:20
- Chart performance
10,000 Maniacs version
A well-known acoustic version was recorded by 10,000 Maniacs in 1993 for MTV Unplugged, with a few lyrical alterations. The recording gained considerable radio airplay and reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Track listing
- CD single â€" US (1993)
- "Because the Night" (live version) â€" 3:28
- "Stockton Gala Days" (live version) â€" 5:25
- Chart performance
Cascada version
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In 2008, Cascada recorded a version which appears on their second album Perfect Day. The music video for the single premiered on YouTube on May 28, 2008. The single was released on July 18, 2008 in Germany, July 21, 2008 in France and August 4, 2008 in the UK.
Track listing
- CD single â€" Europe (2008)
- "Because the Night" â€" 3:26
- "Because the Night" (Original Mix) â€" 5:32
- "Because the Night" (Mondo Remix) â€" 5:58
- "Because the Night" (2-4 Grooves Remix) â€" 5:45
- "Because the Night" (The Hitmen Remix) â€" 5:49
- "Because the Night" (The Hitmen Remix Cut) â€" 5:04
- "Because the Night" (Manox Remix) â€" 6:19
Chart performance
Release history
Garbage and Screaming Females version
In early 2013, Garbage and Screaming Females recorded a cover of "Because the Night" for an exclusive vinyl release on that year's Record Store Day; an annual celebration of independent record stores. Garbage had released two singles ("Blood for Poppies" and "Battle In Me") to mark the 2012 event, and were keen to release "something special" for the following year. The band decided to record "Because the Night" with Screaming Females following some well-received duets of the track at live dates during their North American tour. Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females originally suggested covering "Because the Night" live. "We thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to solidify a recording and do something really special for the fans and for all the independent record stores," Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson told Billboard.
Screaming Females flew from their base in New Jersey to Los Angeles to record the track with Garbage, who had set up two complete sets of instruments in EastWest Studios for the session. Garbage drummer Butch Vig told NME: "We did it old-school style. They came out to Hollywood and we went into a big tracking room and recorded Phil Spector style... We cut it live and did very few overdubs, did everything in a day and it came out pretty great. Marissa plays, I think, a 48-bar guitar solo at the end, that girl can shred like Eddie Van Halen, no kidding."
Garbage used social media to raise awareness of the release, and to Record Store Day in general. The band shot a video where they professed their love for independent stores, and stated their earliest memories of shopping in them, while Manson wrote a statement about the importance of the continued existence of these stores, and of vinyl records: "In a world like ours, where we live increasingly isolated lives behind the lonely glow of our computer screens, Record Store Day reminds us all that an independent record store is worth protecting and fighting for. They are a haven and a harbour for all curious and wandering souls". Manson also tipped her hat to Patti Smith in the run-up to RSD 2013: "She is absolutely, without a doubt, one of my greatest inspirations. When I think I can't do things, I think about her and what she's achieved and what she continues to achieve on her own termsâ€"always. That really inspires me. I don't know if she's aware of the cover we're releasing, or if she's aware that I covered "Kimberly" with Angelfish."
"Because the Night" was pressed to a "Coke bottle-green" 10" vinyl and backed with "Love Like Suicide" and a fan remix of the album's opening track "Automatic Systematic Habit". An original Garbage song, "Love Like Suicide" had been previously released as bonus track exclusive to the Japan pressing of Not Your Kind of People. Manson explained the songs inclusion to MySpace: "We’re releasing it now because we wanted to give a nice gift for the fans." The remix of "Automatic..." was produced by Garbage fan Konstantin Khazev and won first prize in an amateur remix competition held through the Beatport website in 2012. The RSD package was limited to 5,000 units, with the sleeve artwork created by Marissa Paternoster.
The release of "Because the Night" in the United Kingdom was delayed due to problems with the record's distributor. The band made a statement via social media the evening before Record Store Day: "We are so pissed off and disappointed about this. And so sad that on Record Store Day in the UK our little jewel will not be available for sale". The UK release of "Because the Night" was rescheduled to May 13, 2013. The single debuted at #100 on the Physical Singles chart, before shooting up to #4 the following week.
On May 7, 2013, Garbage issued a digital single of "Because the Night" in the United States, which was followed a week later by an international digital release.
- Music video
While Garbage and Screaming Females recorded at EastWest Studios, Sophie Muller shot black and white footage to document the sessions. On March 4, 2013, a teaser video was released to YouTube featuring clips of the band members. The full music video was subsequently released on April 17; ahead of Record Store Day.
- Critical reception
The cover version of "Because the Night" was positively received by contemporary music critics in advance of Record Store Day. Billboard magazine's Hilary Hughes stated, "...the Garbage/Screaming Females release embodies the shifts brought on by Record Store Day that impact the music industry across the board-and the shaping trends that have fueled Record Store Day's meteoric rise from a community experiment to an international movement," referencing the pairing of artists and the independent label of release. Chris Martins of Spin wrote, "...the bands gel awesomely. The highlight comes when Paternoster starts to shred. We have a feeling Miss Smith will be proud."
- Track listing
- 10" Record Store Day release (STNVOL-007)
- "Because the Night" â€" 4:55
- "Automatic Systematic Habit" (Costa Cadeu Remix) â€" 4:38
- "Love Like Suicide" â€" 3:51
- Digital Single
- "Because the Night" â€" 4:55
- Release history
Other cover versions
- In 1986, heavy metal band Keel did a version of the song on their album The Final Frontier.
- In 1994, the experimental alternative band Sonic Youth drastically reworked the song for the first track, "Becuz", from their album Washing Machine.
- A version by punk singer Beki Bondage appeared on the 1997 compilation album Barefoot â€" A Tribute to Patti Smith
- In 1998, Kim Wilde released a cover of the song, which appears on the Germany-only various artists release Philharmania.
- A version of the song appears on Jun Togawa's album 20th Jun Togawa, released in 2000.
- German DJ Jan Wayne 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 on the Belgian charts.
- In 2007, the Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall collaborated with an all-star cast of Cuban musicians of the Buena Vista Social Club. Their version of the song was released with the album Rhythms del Mundo Classics on July 31, 2009.
- R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe performed the song with Springsteen at a Vote for Change tour performance.
- U2 performed the song with both Smith and Springsteen at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert on October 29, 2009.
- In 2010, Springsteen performed the song on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, accompanied by bandmates Steven Van Zandt, Roy Bittan and The Roots.
- Mike Scott and the Waterboys used the song's intro whenever they performed the song "The Pan Within" live in concert.
- In 2011, Veronica Maggio performed the song live at the Polar Music Prize Ceremony.
- A version is included on The Protomen's 2015 album, The Cover Up.
References
External links
- Because the Night by Patti Smith at AllMusic
- Because the Night by 10,000 Maniacs at AllMusic