As they're closing it down
I'm gonna open it up And while they're going to sleep We'll just be starting to touch "Until The Night" is one of Billy's best songs, though you seldom hear it or hear about it. This underrated epic is the "sonic masterpiece" of 52nd Street as one music critic stated. It is a powerful song about the redemptive qualities of love and a tribute to the Righteous Brothers ("You've Lost That Loving Feeling" and "Unchained Melody") as well as the Phil Spector "wall of sound." Billy also delivers one of his finest vocal performances, mastering both the resonant bass of Bill Medley and the yearning tenor of Bobby Hatfield.
Musically and lyrically the verses slowly layer and build up into a dramatic crescendo that explodes into the impassioned chorus "until the night when I see you again." The imagery in the song's bridge evokes a city at dusk, the end of the work day ("when the last of the light has gone"). As weary workers pour into the streets and cars turn on their headlights to make the trek home to rest for the next day, the singer has something else in mind, his love. As others are "closing it down," he and his love are "gonna open it up," and while others go to sleep, they will just be starting to love. Billy and The Righteous Brothers at the
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I never ask you where you go
After I leave you in the morning We go our different ways to separate situations It's not that easy anymore Today I do what must be done I give my time to total strangers But now it feels as though the day goes on forever More than it ever did before Until the night, until the night I just might make it Until the night, until the night When I see you again Now you're afraid that we have changed And I'm afraid we're getting older So many broken hearts, so many lonely faces So many lovers come and gone I'll have my fears like every man You'll have you tears like every woman Today we'll be unsure, is this what we believe in And wonder how can we go on Until the night, until the night I just might make it Until the night, until the night When I see you again When the sun goes down And the day is over When the last of the light has gone As they pour into the street I will be getting closer As the cars turn their headlights on As they're closing it down I'm gonna open it up And while they're going to sleep We'll just be starting to touch I'm just beginning to feel I'm just beginning to give I'm just beginning to feel I'm just beginning to live Before I leave you again Before the light of dawn Before this evening can end I have been waiting so long Until the night Until the night I just might make it Until the night Until the night I'll just keep holding on Until the night Until the night When I see you again Vertical Divider
Billy on "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" SiriusXM. Billy discusses "Until The Night" from SiriusXM.
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It is an "us against the world" or "us in our bubble" notion that will resonate with anyone who has been caught in love's rapture -- or clutches. The theme of the song is similar to that of "When In Rome" ("then you go away and you're gone all day, but I know you're coming home tonight") from 1989's StormFront, but musically the songs are quite different.
"Until The Night" is transcendent. Even the critics who had panned "Just The You Are" admitted that Billy had written a gorgeous gem, though some considered it overly produced. This is a Phil Spector tribute after all. Music critic Stephen Holden had this to say about "Until the Night" in his 1978 review of 52nd Street in Rolling Stone:
"Until The Night" is transcendent. Even the critics who had panned "Just The You Are" admitted that Billy had written a gorgeous gem, though some considered it overly produced. This is a Phil Spector tribute after all. Music critic Stephen Holden had this to say about "Until the Night" in his 1978 review of 52nd Street in Rolling Stone:
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"The singer is as keenly aware as Spector of the ridiculousness as well as the sublimity of the big-city teenage sexual jungle, and because his Righteous Brothers imitation is as tongue in cheek as it is reverent, "Until the Night" works as both tribute and joke. Billy Joel and Phil Ramone are the first artist/producer combination to capture the precarious balance between the ludicrous and the monumental in Phil Spector (how can anyone take Spector more than half-seriously these days?), and Joel's lyric -- simultaneously nonsensical, self-parodying and romantic -- is as charming as it is bogus. "Until the Night" is the formal piece de resistance of an album that, though far from great, boasts much of the color and excitement of a really good New York street fair."
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I disagree with Holden's statement that the album is "far from great" and that "Until The Night" is a "tongue in cheek" imitation of Phil Spector (I think it is more earnest) but I do agree that "Until The Night" is the "piece de resistance" of the 52nd Street.
The Righteous Brothers apparently liked the song as Bill Medley recorded a cover version of it on his 1981 album Sweet Thunder (see video below). They asked Billy to introduce them at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2003. Billy did a very good introduction as usual (YouTube video). See photo above. He has also introduced Fats Domino, Ray Charles, John Mellencamp, and Sam & Dave at their inductions into the Hall of Fame. * * * * * * * * * *
Although "Until The Night" was not released as a single in the United States, it became a favorite of many diehard Billy Joel fans. The song was released as a single in the UK, where The Righteous Brothers were also very popular, and reached #50 on the UK charts. Here is an excellent website for The Righteous Brothers by Peter Richmond.
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Bobby Hatfield and Phil Spector
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Background photo: unknown, but I believe this a Columbia Records publicity photo (please e-mail if you know the photographer/source).
Videos
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Studio version from 1978 album (audio only). © 1978, 2011 Sony Music Entertainment.
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Live performance from 1982. This is "rare" because it was not included on the concert video Live from Long Island. Russell Javors (guitarist) accompanies Billy on vocals.
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This is a good live version from 1998 in Philadelphia. Billy is joined on the song by singer Bekka Bramlett.
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Great live version with Billy and Mike Delguidice, from August 4, 2015 at Nassau Coliseum.
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Demo version of "Until The Night" (audio only)
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Bill Medley's cover of "Until The Night" from 1981.
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The Professor of Rock discusses "Until The Night," one of Billy's "hidden gems" with Bill Medley.
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Publicity photo (1981)
All music and lyrics by Billy Joel, except as noted. Lyrics to Billy Joel songs are © Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC. This is an unofficial fan site providing information and commentary on Billy Joel's music. This site has no advertisements, makes no money, and does not collect any personal information. It is not affiliated, endorsed, or sponsored by Billy Joel, UMPG, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Sony Music, Columbia Records, Maritime Music, or any Billy Joel organization. Billy Joel's official site is at BillyJoel.com.