Let's Spend the Night Together

"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.

Recording

The song was recorded in December 1966 at the RCA Records studio in Hollywood, California, where the group recorded most of their 1965–1966 hits.
Recording engineer Glyn Johns recounts that while mixing "Let's Spend the Night Together", Oldham was trying to get a certain sound by clicking his fingers. 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.

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

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". 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 bandleader Brian Jones. As a result of this incident, Sullivan announced that the Rolling Stones would be banned from performing on his show again. However, the Stones did appear on the show again and performed three songs on 23 November 1969.

In April 2006, for their first-ever performance in China, authorities prohibited the group from performing the song due to its "suggestive lyrics".

Charts

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:
* ''Flowers'' (1967)
* '' Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)'' (1969)
* '' Hot Rocks 1964–1971'' (1971)
* '' Rolled Gold: The Very Best of the Rolling Stones'' (1975)
* ''30 Greatest Hits'' (1977)
* '' Singles Collection: The London Years'' (1989)
* '' Forty Licks'' (2002)
* '' Singles 1965–1967'' (2004)
* '' GRRR!'' (2012)
*A live version appears on ''Still Life'' (1982).

Personnel

According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon, except where noted:

The Rolling Stones
*Mick Jagger lead vocals and backing vocals
* Keith Richards rhythm guitar, bass, piano, backing vocals
* Brian Jones organ
*Charlie Watts drums

Additional personnel and production
*Jack Nitzsche piano
* Andrew Loog Oldham producer, truncheons
*Glyn Johns sound engineer
* Eddie Kramer assistant sound engineer

David Bowie version

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. It was a Dutch Top 40 hit, peaking at number 19

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

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". Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray (1981). ''Bowie: An Illustrated Record'': p.55 However, ''Rolling Stones contemporary review found the Bowie version "campy, butch, brittle and unsatisfying".

Other releases

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 1969/1974'' (1997)
* 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).

Personnel

According to biographer Chris O'Leary:
*David Bowie – lead vocal, ARP synthesiser
*Mick Ronson – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocal
*Trevor Bolder – bass
* Mick Woodmansey – drums
* Mike Garson – piano

Production
*David Bowie – producer
* Ken Scott – producer, engineer

See also

* List of songs banned by the BBC

References

Sources

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Let's Spend The Night Together
1967 singles
1967 songs
1973 singles
David Bowie songs
Decca Records singles
London Records singles
RCA Records singles
Number-one singles in Germany
Song recordings produced by Andrew Loog Oldham
Song recordings produced by David Bowie
Song recordings produced by Ken Scott
Songs written by Jagger–Richards
The Rolling Stones songs
Obscenity controversies in music