Running with the Night
{{Infobox song
| name = Running with the Night
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Lionel Richie
| album = Can't Slow Down
| B-side = Serves You Right
| released = November 1983
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
- Rock{{cite web|first= Tim |last= Coffman|url=https://whatculture.com/music/10-amazing-rock-songs-by-pop-artists|title=10 Amazing Rock Songs By Pop Artists|website=WhatCulture|date=March 1, 2022|access-date=September 18, 2022}}{{cite book|first=Michaelangelo|last=Matos|title=Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year|chapter= Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles: August 12, 1984|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RGLbDwAAQBAJ|date=8 December 2020|publisher=Hachette Books|isbn=978-0-306-90337-3|page=239}}
- R&B
| length = 4:05 (single version)
6:02 (album version)
| label = Motown
| writer = {{hlist|Lionel Richie|Cynthia Weil}}
| producer = {{hlist|Lionel Richie|James Anthony Carmichael}}
| prev_title = All Night Long (All Night)
| prev_year = 1983
| next_title = Hello
| next_year = 1984
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|wXJ5IHwBLrA|"Lionel Richie - Running With The Night"}}}}
}}
"Running with the Night" is the second single released from American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie's multi-platinum and Grammy Award-winning 1983 album, Can't Slow Down. Richie co-wrote the song with songwriter Cynthia Weil and co-produced it with James Anthony Carmichael.
Recording
The electric guitar solo on "Running with the Night" was played by Steve Lukather, best known as a member of the rock band Toto.Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 279. Lukather sat down in the studio and the engineer played the basic tracks of the song, for him to hear for the first time, so he could plan his part. As the music played, he jammed along on his instrument. At the conclusion of the tune, he said to the engineer, "Okay, I'm ready for a take." The producer replied, "That was a take."{{Cite web |url=http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/steve-lukather-bonus-interview-outtakes-from-his-august-2013-gp-feature/152123 |title=GuitarPlayer Steve Lukather Bonus Interview Outtakes August 2013 |access-date=2013-07-23 |archive-date=2013-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716143845/http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/steve-lukather-bonus-interview-outtakes-from-his-august-2013-gp-feature/152123 |url-status=dead }} Some adult contemporary stations edited out Lukather's guitar solo. Singer Richard Marx added backing vocals on the track as a session singer; he had also lent his vocals to Richie's "All Night Long (All Night)" and "You Are".
Reception
Released as the follow-up single to Richie's hit "All Night Long (All Night)", "Running with the Night" became another Billboard Hot 100 top ten for the singer, peaking at #7 in early 1984.Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 529. The song also reached the top ten on two other Billboard charts that year, topping out at #6 on both the adult contemporary and R&B charts. "Running with the Night" also made the top ten on the UK Singles Chart, reaching #9 in January 1984.[https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Hello Official Charts Company info from Official Charts Company] Retrieved 24 March 2009.
In its contemporary review of the single, Cash Box said that "Richie presents a dramatic, smooth, mid-tempo tale of tripping the light fantastic, and he once again proves his ability to synthesize a melting pot of styles."{{cite magazine|title=Reviews|magazine=Cash Box|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1983/CB-1983-11-26.pdf|date=November 26, 1983|accessdate=2022-07-20|page=8}} In a positive retrospective review Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote "he even adds a bit of rock with the sleek nocturnal menace of 'Running With the Night,' one of the best songs here. He doesn't swing for the fences like Michael did in 1982; he makes safe bets, which is more in his character."{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/cant-slow-down-mw0000650685 |title=Running with the night review |last=|first= |date= |website=AllMusic |access-date=28 September 2016}}
Music video
The music video for the song was directed by Bob Giraldi. It begins at a wedding reception, and focuses on a bridesmaid (Sheila E.) who sits alone. It then cuts to Richie and a group of men who pair up with women, except for Richie. They dance through streets and then crash the wedding reception during which Richie then pairs up with the lonely bridesmaid. The wedding guests and Richie's company then dance together.
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable"
!style="width: 220pt;"|Chart (1983) !style="width: 40pt;"|Peak |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|8|artist= Lionel Richie|song=Running with the Night|accessdate=9 August 2016}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
Samples
- Rihanna sampled this song on "Push Up On Me", a track from her 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad. Both Richie and Weil are given songwriter credit.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{YouTube|jB0xF--aBME|"Running With The Night"}}
- [http://www.discogs.com/Lionel-Richie-Running-With-The-Night/release/1206752 Single release info from discogs.com]
{{Lionel Richie}}
Category:Music videos directed by Bob Giraldi
Category:Songs written by Lionel Richie
Category:Songs with lyrics by Cynthia Weil
Category:Song recordings produced by James Anthony Carmichael