Let's Spend the Night Together#David Bowie version

{{Short description|1967 song by the Rolling Stones}}

{{For|the 1982 Rolling Stones concert film|Let's Spend the Night Together (film){{!}}Let's Spend the Night Together (film)}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Let's Spend the Night Together

| cover = Rolling Stones LSTNT.jpg

| cover_size =

| alt =

| border =

| caption = West German picture sleeve

| type = single

| artist = the Rolling Stones

| album = Between the Buttons (US release)

| A-side = "Ruby Tuesday" (double A-side)

| released = 13 January 1967

| recorded = December 1966

| studio = RCA Victor (Hollywood, California)

| genre = Rock

| length = 3:29

| label = *Decca (UK)

| writer = Jagger/Richards

| producer = Andrew Loog Oldham

| chronology = The Rolling Stones

| prev_title = Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?

| prev_year = 1966

| title2 = Ruby Tuesday

| next_title = We Love You

| next_title2 =

| next_year = 1967

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|JoPXw_CVoa0|"Let's Spend the Night Together"}}

| type = single

| header = Audio

}}{{Extra album cover

| header = Alternative cover

| type = single

| cover = TheRollingStonesLetsSpendTheNightTogetherFrench7InchSingleCover.jpg

| border =

| alt =

| caption = French single picture sleeve

}}

}}

"Let's Spend the Night Together" is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and originally released by the Rolling Stones as a double A-sided single together with "Ruby Tuesday" in January 1967. It also appears as the opening track on the American version of their album Between the Buttons. The song has been covered by various artists, including David Bowie in 1973.{{cite web |last1=Unterberger |first1=Richie |author1-link=Richie Unterberger |title='Let's Spend the Night Together' – The Rolling Stones |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/lets-spend-the-night-together-mt0004277604 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=24 April 2022}}

Recording

The song was recorded in December 1966 at the RCA Studios in Hollywood, California, where the group recorded most of their 1965–1966 hits.

{{cite AV media notes

| title = Singles Collection: The London Years

| others = The Rolling Stones

| first = Bruce

| last = Eder

| type = Boxed set booklet

| year = 1989

| location = New York City

| publisher = ABKCO Records

| id = 1218-2

| page = 71

}} Recording engineer Glyn Johns recounts that while mixing "Let's Spend the Night Together", Andrew Loog Oldham was trying to get a certain sound by clicking his fingers.{{cite journal | journal= Hit Parader |title=Recording the Stones |last1=Wilmer |first1=Valerie |date=December 1968 |pages=9–11 |publisher=Magna Publishing Group |url=http://www.iorr.org/talk/read.php?1,1603506,1603790 |access-date=16 July 2012}} Two policemen showed up, stating that the front door was open and that they were checking to see if everything was all right. At first, Oldham asked them to hold his earphones while he snapped his fingers but then Johns said they needed a more wooden sound. The policemen suggested their truncheons and Oldham took the truncheons into the studio to record the claves-like sound that can be heard during the quiet break at one minute 40 seconds into the song.{{sfn|Babiuk|Prevost|2013|p=244}}

Original release

Released in the United Kingdom as a single on 13 January 1967, "Let's Spend the Night Together" reached number three on the UK Singles Chart as a double A-side with "Ruby Tuesday". In the United States, the single was released in January and became the opening track of the American edition of the Stones' album Between the Buttons. Both songs entered the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on 21 January.

{{cite magazine

| author = Billboard

| date = 21 January 1967

| title = Hot 100

| magazine = Billboard

| volume = 79

| issue = 3

| issn = 0006-2510

| page = 25

}} However, by 4 March, "Ruby Tuesday" reached number one, while "Let's Spend the Night Together" stalled at number 55.

{{cite magazine

| author = Billboard

| date = 4 March 1967

| title = Hot 100

| magazine = Billboard

| volume = 79

| issue = 9

| issn = 0006-2510

| page = 24

}} Due to the sexually charged nature of the lyrics, "Let's Spend the Night Together" received less airplay in the US. In the Cash Box chart, which was based on sales only, the song reached number 28.{{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |date=2015 |title=The Comparison Book |location=Menonomee Falls, Wisconsin |publisher=Record Research Inc. |page=299 |isbn=978-0-89820-213-7}} In other countries worldwide, both sides of the single charted separately. In Ireland for example, "Ruby Tuesday" peaked at number six, while "Let's Spend The Night Together" charted separately at number 14, as Ireland's national broadcaster, RTÉ, considered "Ruby Tuesday" to be more suitable for radio airplay.

The song features piano by Rolling Stones contributor Jack Nitzsche, organ by Brian Jones, drums by Charlie Watts, piano, electric guitar and bass by Richards, lead vocals by Jagger and backing vocals from both Jagger and Richards. Usual bassist Bill Wyman does not appear on the recording.

Cash Box said the single is a "strong, thumping, rock venture marked by groovey harmonies".{{cite magazine |title=CashBox Record Reviews |date=January 14, 1967 |page=18 |access-date=2022-01-12 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1967/CB-1967-01-14.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}}

On their The Ed Sullivan Show appearance of 15 January 1967, the band was initially refused permission to perform the number. Sullivan himself even told Jagger, "Either the song goes or you go".Christopher Sandford (1993, 1999). Mick Jagger: Primitive Cool: p.97 A compromise was reached to substitute the words "let's spend some time together" in place of "let's spend the night together"; Jagger agreed to change the lyrics but ostentatiously rolled his eyes at the TV camera while singing them, as did bassist Bill Wyman and pianist Brian Jones. As a result of this incident, Sullivan announced that the Rolling Stones would be banned from performing on his show again.{{cite book|title=Dick Clark's 25 Years of Rock and Roll|year=1981}} However, the Stones did appear on the show again and performed three songs on 23 November 1969.{{cite web | work= Amazon.com |title=6 Ed Sullivan Shows Starring The Rolling Stones |date=November 2011 |url=https://www.amazon.com/Sullivan-Shows-Starring-Rolling-Stones/dp/B005LJTU7E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338408511&sr=8-1 |access-date=30 May 2012}}

In April 2006, for their first-ever performance in China, authorities prohibited the group from performing the song due to its "suggestive lyrics".{{cite news |publisher=BBC News |title=Stones tracks censored in China |date=7 April 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4888332.stm |access-date=19 January 2008}}

=Charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
style="width:20em;"|Chart (1967)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Austria|3|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Let's Spend the Night Together|access-date=17 June 2016}}
{{single chart|Flanders|7|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Let's Spend the Night Together|access-date=17 June 2016}}
align="left" |Finland (Soumen Virallinen){{cite book |last=Nyman |first=Jake |title=Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja |publisher=Tammi |year=2005 |isbn=951-31-2503-3 |edition=1st |location=Helsinki |page=240|language=fi}}

|style="text-align:center;"|14

{{single chart|Germany|1|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Let's Spend the Night Together|songid=14094|access-date=17 June 2016}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|14|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Let's Spend the Night Together|access-date=18 June 2016}}
Italy (Musica e dischi){{Cite web |title=Top Annuale Singoli 1967 |url=https://hitparadeitalia.it/hp_yends/hpe1967.htm |website=Hit Parade Italia}}

| style="text-align:center;"|8

{{single chart|Norway|2|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Let's Spend the Night Together|access-date=17 June 2016}}
Sweden (Kvällstoppen){{Cite book|last=Hallberg|first=Eric|title=Eric Hallberg presenterar Kvällstoppen i P 3: Sveriges radios topplista över veckans 20 mest sålda skivor 10. 7. 1962 - 19. 8. 1975|publisher=Drift Musik|year=1993|pages=243|isbn=9163021404|location=}}

| style="text-align:center;"|6

Sweden (Tio i Topp){{Cite book |last=Hallberg |first=Eric |title=Eric Hallberg, Ulf Henningsson presenterar Tio i topp med de utslagna på försök: 1961 - 74 |last2=Henningsson |first2=Ulf |publisher=Premium Publishing |year=1998 |isbn=919727125X |location= |pages=313}}

| style="text-align:center;"|4

{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|3|artist=Rolling Stones|song=Let's Spend the Night Together|access-date=17 June 2016}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|55|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Let's Spend the Night Together|access-date=17 June 2016}}
US Cash Box Top 100{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19670218.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 18, 1967 |access-date=13 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128200211/http://www.tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19670218.html |archive-date=28 November 2018 |url-status=dead }}

|align="center"|28

Sales

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+ Sales for Let's Spend the Night Together

scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Sales

scope="row"| Italy

| 150,000{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1967/CB-1967-12-23.pdf|magazine=Cash Box|title=Italy - 1967 in Review|page=144|date=22 March 2003|accessdate=25 November 2021}}

=Other releases=

"Let's Spend the Night Together" was released on the US edition of the Stones' 1967 studio album Between the Buttons and on the following compilation albums:

Personnel

According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon,{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2016|p=238}} except where noted:

The Rolling Stones

Additional personnel and production

David Bowie version

{{Infobox song

| name = Let's Spend the Night Together

| type = single

| cover = Bowie letsspendthenight.jpg

| artist = David Bowie

| album = Aladdin Sane

| B-side = Lady Grinning Soul

| released = {{Start date|1973|07}}

| recorded = December 1972 or January 1973

| studio = RCA, New York City, or Trident, London

| genre = Glam rock{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k0l_cQEHV5oC&pg=PA26|title=Hallo Spaceboy: The Rebirth of David Bowie|last=Thompson|first=Dave|date=2010|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-55490-271-2|page=26}}

| length = {{Duration|3:03}}

| label = RCA

| writer = Jagger/Richards

| producer = *Ken Scott

| prev_title = Time

| prev_year = 1973

| next_title = Life on Mars?

| next_year = 1973

}}

David Bowie recorded a glam rock version of "Let's Spend the Night Together" for his Aladdin Sane album, released in April 1973. It was also issued as a single by RCA Records in the US, Japan, Brazil, New Zealand and Europe including the Netherlands, Italy, France, Greece and Sweden.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bowie-singles.com/Holland/Lets_Spend_The_Night_Together.html|title = Let's Spend the Night Together|website=Bowie-singles.com}} It was a Dutch Single Top 100 hit, peaking at number 19.{{Cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=David+Bowie&titel=Let%27s+Spend+The+Night+Together&cat=s|title=David Bowie - Let's Spend The Night Together|first=Steffen|last=Hung|website=Hitparade.ch|access-date=6 June 2021}} The song also peaked at number 21 on the Dutch Top 40.{{cite web |title=David Bowie - Let's Spend the NIght Together |url=https://www.top40.nl/david-bowie/david-bowie-let-s-spend-the-night-together-9700 |website=Dutch Top 40 |access-date=October 7, 2023 |language=Dutch}}

Bowie's rendition featured pulsating synthesiser effects. The singer added his own words as part of the finale:

{{poemquote|They said we were too young

Our kind of love was no fun

But our love comes from above

Let's make{{nbsp}}... love}}

Author Nicholas Pegg describes the recording as "faster and raunchier" than the Stones' performance with "a fresh, futuristic sheen",Nicholas Pegg (2000). The Complete David Bowie: pp.124-125 while NME editors Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray considered Bowie to have performed "the unprecedented feat of beating the Stones on one of their own songs", remarking on the track's "polymorphous perversity" and "furious, coked-up drive".{{sfn|Carr|Murray|1981|p=55}} However, Rolling Stone's contemporary review found the Bowie version "campy, butch, brittle and unsatisfying".{{cite magazine |first=Ben |last=Gerson |title=Aladdin Sane |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=19 July 1973 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/davidbowie/albums/album/283449/review/6067692 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014231027/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/davidbowie/albums/album/283449/review/6067692 |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 October 2007 |access-date=19 January 2008}}

In addition to its appearance on Aladdin Sane, Bowie's version of "Let's Spend the Night Together" was included on the following compilations:

  • The Best of David Bowie (Japan 1974)
  • The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974 (1997){{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |title=The Best of David Bowie 1974/1979 – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-david-bowie-1974-1979-mw0000041367 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=12 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006124441/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-david-bowie-1974-1979-mw0000041367 |archive-date=6 October 2021 |url-status=live }}
  • A live version recorded by Bowie at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, on 3 July 1973 appears on the album Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture (1983).{{cite web |last1=Viglione |first1=Joe |title=Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ziggy-stardust-and-the-spiders-from-mars-the-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000691870 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=10 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424115511/https://www.allmusic.com/album/ziggy-stardust-and-the-spiders-from-mars-the-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000691870 |archive-date=24 April 2019 |url-status=live}}

=Personnel=

According to biographer Chris O'Leary:{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=chap. 6}}

Production

  • David Bowie – producer
  • Ken Scott – producer, engineer

=Other versions=

Muddy Waters recorded a version of the song in 1968.

Claudine Longet recorded a more sensual version with bongos for her 1972 album Let's Spend the Night Together.

Jerry Garcia recorded a Folk Rock version for his 1974 album Compliments

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

=Sources=

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite book |last1=Babiuk |first1=Andy |last2=Prevost |first2=Greg |author1-link=Andy Babiuk |title=Rolling Stones Gear: All the Stones' Instruments from Stage to Studio |date=2013 |publisher=Backbeat Books |location=Milwaukee |isbn=978-1-61713-092-2}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Carr |first1=Roy |author-link1=Roy Carr |last2=Murray |first2=Charles Shaar| author-link2=Charles Shaar Murray |year=1981 |title=Bowie: An Illustrated Record |publisher=Eel Pie Pub |isbn=978-0-38077-966-6}}
  • {{cite book |last=O'Leary |first=Chris |title=Rebel Rebel: All the Songs of David Bowie from '64 to '76 |year=2015 |publisher=Zero Books |location=Winchester |isbn=978-1-78099-244-0 }}
  • {{cite book |last1=Margotin |first1=Philippe |last2=Guesdon |first2=Jean-Michel |title=The Rolling Stones All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track |date=2016 |publisher=Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers |location=New York |isbn=978-0-316-31774-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g5eTCwAAQBAJ}}

{{refend}}

{{The Rolling Stones}}

{{The Rolling Stones singles}}

{{David Bowie singles}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Let's Spend The Night Together}}

Category:1967 singles

Category:1967 songs

Category:1973 singles

Category:David Bowie songs

Category:Decca Records singles

Category:Double A-side singles

Category:London Records singles

Category:RCA Records singles

Category:Number-one singles in Germany

Category:Song recordings produced by Andrew Loog Oldham

Category:Song recordings produced by David Bowie

Category:Song recordings produced by Ken Scott

Category:Songs about casual sex

Category:Songs written by Jagger–Richards

Category:The Rolling Stones songs

Category:Obscenity controversies in music

Category:Works subject to expurgation