Spirit in the Night

Infobox Single
Name = Spirit in the Night


Artist = Bruce Springsteen
Album = Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
B-side =
Released = 1973
track_no = 8
Format =
Recorded = August-September, 1972
914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, New York
Genre = Rock
Length = 4:59
Label = Columbia Records
Writer = Bruce Springsteen
Producer = Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos
Last single = "Blinded by the Light"
This single = "Spirit in the Night"
Next single = "Born to Run"
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
Released = January 5, 1973
Producer = Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos
Type = studio
prev_track = "For You"
prev_no = 7
this_track = "Spirit in the Night"
track_no = 8
next_track = "It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City"
next_no = 9

Infobox Single
Name = Spirits in the Night


Caption =
Artist = Manfred Mann's Earth Band
from Album = Nightingales and Bombers
A-side =
B-side =
Released = 1975
Format = 7"
Recorded = 1975 at The Workhouse, London
Producer = Manfred Mann and Earth Band
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 6:27 (album version)3:15 (single edit)
Label = Bronze Records
Writer = Bruce Springsteen
Producer = Manfred Mann and the Earth Band
Last single =
This single = "Spirits in the Night"
(1975)
Next single = "Blinded by the Light"
(1976)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Nightingales and Bombers
Released = August 22, 1975
Producer = Manfred Mann and Earth Band
Type = studio
this_track = "Spirits in the Night"
track_no = 1
next_track = "Countdown"
next_no = 2

"Spirit in the Night" is a song written and originally recorded by New Jersey based singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen for his debut album "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." (1973). It was also the second single released from the album. A cover version performed by Manfred Mann's Earth Band was released on the album Nightingales and Bombers and as a Top 40 single.

Original version

The original version of "Spirit in the Night" was released on Bruce Springsteen's debut album, "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.". It was one of the last songs to be written and recorded for "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." Springsteen had recorded 10 other tracks for the album, but Clive Davis, president of the record label that was releasing the album, was concerned that the recorded tracks did not have enough commercial appeal.cite web|title=BruceBase Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.|url=http://www.brucebase.org.uk/3.htm|accessdate=2008-09-05] cite book|title=Tougher Than the Rest|author=Sawyers, J.|year=2006|page=3-5|isbn=978-0-8256-3470-3] As a result, Springsteen quickly wrote and recorded two additional songs — "Spirit in the Night" and "Blinded by the Light". Because these songs were added so late in the recording process, several of Springsteen's band members were unavailable to record these two songs. As a result, the recording lineup for "Spirit in the Night" was limited to Vini Lopez on drums, Clarence Clemons on saxophone, and Springsteen himself playing all other instruments. Although "Spirit of the Night" was one of the last songs written for the album, it did grow out of an earlier version of the song that Springsteen had played live prior to receiving his recording contract. [cite book|title=The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen|author=Rob Kirkpatrick|page=11|year=2007|isbn=0-275-98938-0]

Although most of the songs on "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." were packed with lyrics to the extent that sometimes they overwhelm the musical arrangements,cite book|title=Born to Run|author=Marsh, D.|page=66-74|year=1981|isbn=0-440-10694-X] "Spirit in the Night" has been described as the one song on the album where the music and narrative fit together.cite book|title=The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen|author=Rob Kirkpatrick|page=17-18|year=2007|isbn=0-275-98938-0] Clemons' sax playing and Lopez' drumming match the freedom and ebullence described in the lyrics. The lyrics themeselves describe a group of teenagers — Wild Billy, Hazy Davy, Crazy Jane, Killer Joe and G-Man — going to a spot called "Greasy Lake" near "Route 88" for a night of freedom, sex and drinking.cite book|title=Tougher Than the Rest|author=Sawyers, J.|year=2006|page=9-10|isbn=978-0-8256-3470-3] But although their escape to the freedom of Greasy Lake is short lived, the emphasis is on the friends' togetherness.

Although the release of the song as a single was unsuccessful in the U.S., "Spirit in the Night" has remained a live favorite in Springsteen concerts.cite book|title=The Complete Guide to the Music of Bruce Springsteen|author=Humphries, P.|page=6|year=1996|isbn=0-7119-5304-X] Live versions of the song have appeared on the live CD "Live/1975–85" and on both the CD and video versions of "Hammersmith Odeon London '75". The studio version of the song was released on the compilation album "The Essential Bruce Springsteen".

Cover version

Manfred Mann's Earth Band covered "Spirit in the Night" for their album "Nightingales and Bombers", slightly modifying the title to "Spirits in the Night". The Manfred Mann version differs from Springsteen's version mostly in its arrangement, relying heavily on keyboards and using different harmonies in the chorus. Manfred Mann also released an edited version as a single. The single reached Billboard's Top 40, peaking at #40. [cite web|title=The Billboard Hot 100 Spirit in the Night June 18, 1977|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=379&cfgn=Singles&cfn=The+Billboard+Hot+100&ci=3070945&cdi=8876789&cid=06%2F18%2F1977|accessdate=2008-09-05] This version was released as a bonus track on the 2004 CD release of The Roaring Silence. "Spirit in the Night" was to be the first of three songs from the "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." album that Manfred Mann would cover - the others being their #1 hit "Blinded by the Light" and "For You".cite book|title=The Complete Guide to the Music of Bruce Springsteen|author=Humphries, P.|page=4-6|year=1996|isbn=0-7119-5304-X]

Greasy Lake

Although Greasy Lake, where the action takes place, is a mythical place, drummer Vini Lopez has stated that it is actually a composite of two locations that band members used to visit. One was Lake Carasaljo, near the intesection of U.S. Route 9 and New Jersey Route 88 in Lakewood, New Jersey. The other was a swampy lake near Garden State Parkway exit 88.

The Greasy Lake in the song inspired a short story named "Greasy Lake" by T.C. Boyle. Like Springsteen's characters, Boyle's characters are restless and looking to party, although they have a more dangerous edge than Springsteen's.

References

External links

* [http://brucespringsteen.net/songs/SpiritInTheNight.html Lyrics & Audio clips from Brucespringsteen.net]