Relive Patti Smith’s passionate performance of ‘Because The Night’ in Germany, 1979
In 1979, Patti Smith continued to demonstrate her dominance over her art. Having released her seminal album Horses in 1975, the soon-to-be queen of punk was still marauding her way across any stage available. Smith’s undeniable talent screamed through every rendition.
It’s often difficult to place Smith in one particular art, the star is always offering an array of poetry, prose, an unstoppable punk ethos and always a performance at every turn. But one performance of her song ‘Because The Night’ sings out like no other.
This particular effort is taken from a gig in
‘Because The Night’ was recorded originally as part of Springsteen’s sessions for his Darkness on the Edge of Town album, but once he
As luck would have it, Smith was working with engineer Jimmy Lovine who had been across both albums in some capacity. Knowing each artist’s plight, Lovine made the connection and gave Smith a copy of the track for ‘Because The Night’, and she instantly took to the song. Ever the writer, Smith re-cast it and went about recording what would be a mega-hit for the punk poet.
This video is part of a mammoth set which includes some intense performances of her Horses hits and is well worth sitting down and marvelling at. But for now, we like to bring you our favourite slice of that particular pie.
This performance of ‘Because The Night‘ is so unashamedly raw it sees Smith undoubtedly connected to her fans like no other artist, and because of it, the music takes itself to another plain.
Take a look below at Patti Smith performing ‘Because The Night’.
