Because the Night

Infobox Single
Name = Because the Night


Artist = Patti Smith Group
Album = Easter
B-side = "God Speed"
Released = Start date|1978|3
Format = Vinyl (7")
Recorded = Record Plant Studios
Genre = Rock
Length = 3:32
Label = Arista
Writer = Bruce Springsteen,
Patti Smith
Producer = Jimmy Iovine
Certification = Silver (U.K.) [cite web |url=http://bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=20215 |title=Certified Awards |accessdate=2008-04-02 |date=1978-06-01 |publisher=British Phonographic Industry]
Misc = Extra chronology 2
Artist = Patti Smith singles
Type = single
Last single = "Ask the Angels"
(1977)
This single = "Because the Night"
(1978)
Next single = "Privilege (Set Me Free)"
(1978) Audiosample
Upper caption = Audio sample
Audio file = Because the Night - Patti Smith.ogg Infobox Single
Name = Because the Night


Cover size =
Border =
Caption =
Artist = Co.Ro featuring Taleesa
Album =
A-side =
B-side = "It's a Love"
Released = 1992
Format = CD single, CD maxi
Recorded =
Genre = Dance
Length = 4:32
Label = ZYX
Writer = Bruce Springsteen
Patti Smith
Producer =
Audio sample? =
Certification =
Last single =
This single = "Because the Night" (1992)
Next single = "There's Something Going On" (1993)
Misc = Infobox Single
Name = Because the Night


Artist = 10,000 Maniacs
Album = MTV Unplugged
B-side = "Eat for Two"
Released = Start date|1993|10|28
Format = CD, Cassette
Recorded = Sony Music Studios,
April 21, 1993
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 3:44
Label = Elektra, MTV Networks
Writer = Bruce Springsteen,
Patti Smith
Producer = Paul Fox
Last single = "Everyday Is Like Sunday"
(1993)
This single = "Because the Night"
(1993)
Next single = "More Than This"
(1997)
Misc = Audiosample
Upper caption = Audio sample
Audio file = 10,000 Maniacs Because The Night.ogg Infobox Single
Name = Because the Night


Artist = Cascada
Album = Perfect Day
B-side =
Released = July 18, 2008 (Germany)
August 4, 2008 (UK)
Format = CD, CD Maxi
Recorded = 2007
Genre = Eurodance
Length = 3:25
Label = All Around the World
Writer = Bruce Springsteen,
Patti Smith
Producer = Yann Pfeiffer, DJ Manian
Last single = "What Do You Want from Me?"
(2008)
This single = "Because the Night"
(2008)
Next single = "Faded"
(2008)

"Because the Night" is a song by the Patti Smith Group, written by Smith and Bruce Springsteen, released as a single in 1978, taken from their 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". [cite web |url=http://acclaimedmusic.net/Current/S604.htm |title=Best of All-time Lists |accessdate=2008-03-04 |publisher=Acclaimed Music]

History

The original song was recorded by Bruce Springsteen during sessions for his "Darkness on the Edge of Town" album. The Patti Smith Group was working on "Easter" in the studio next door, and the bands were exchanging tapes; Springsteen even composed some songs in the other band's style. With male-centered lyrics and a reported Latin feel, the original version of the song – a workingman's lament – wasn't finding a place on the Springsteen album. Smith took the song and recast it from a female perspective, and it was included on "Easter", becoming the first single release from that album. Though it was never released on a Springsteen studio album, in concert beginning with his Darkness Tour Springsteen would often perform the song with his original lyrics, borrowing Smith's rock arrangement. The only commercially-released recording of a Springsteen version of the song was included on "Live/1975–85".

Cover versions

* In 1986, heavy metal band Keel did a hard rock version of the song on their album "The Final Frontier".
* In 1992, Co Ro featuring Taleesa released a version 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 live 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 number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, which was the first time the group broke the top forty.
* In 1998 Kim Wilde released a cover of the song which appearing on the Germany-only various artists release "Philharmania".
* The Spanish band Tahúres zurdos 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.
* German DJ Jan Wayne released a dance version in 2002 that reached number 14 in the UK.
* In 2008, Cascada recorded a version which appears on their second album "Perfect Day". The music video for the single premiered on YouTube 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 too, the Italian project May released their own version of the song, under the label D:vision

Notable live cover performances

* The song has been performed live by Bruce Springsteen during a show in Miami with U2 singer Bono and the E Street Band.
* R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe performed the song with Springsteen at a Vote for Change-tour performance.
* Member of E Street Band, Nils Lofgren 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.

Charts

Patti Smith Group

Cascada

References

External links

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* [http://brucespringsteen.net/songs/BecauseTheNight.html Lyrics] at the official website