Patti Smith Group, Because The Night | 1 Hit WONDERful

In the 10th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2025), we highlight “Because The Night” performed by the Patti Smith Group. 

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy ! On 1 Hit WONDERful, we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  It is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, that ONE hit earned them recognition. So, in the 10^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2025), we dive into “Because The Night”, the one-hit wonder by the Patti Smith Group.

“Love is an angel disguised as lust / Here in our bed until the morning comes.” Ooh-wee! Patti Smith, ‘the high priestess of punk-poetry,’ was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.  That is a big deal. Surprisingly, by pop standards, Smith has one hit to her name.  That one hit wonder, “Because the Night”, is attributed to the Patti Smith Group. It is the third track from the group’s 1978 album, Easter.  “Night” peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Notably, Smith penned the song with a fellow rock legend, Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen had begun writing it initially. Smith finished the song. Jimmy Iovine is responsible for getting Springsteen to give Smith the song. He also produced it.   

“Because the Night” commences with piano accompaniment. Smith sings quietly and reservedly initially. “Take me now, baby, here as I am / Pull me close, try and understand,” she sings in the first verse, continuing, “Desire is hunger, it’s the fire I breathe / Love is a banquet on which we feed.”  Soon, “Because of You” becomes bigger, and Smith belts. It features dramatic, hard-rocking musical accompaniment.  The punk energy is prevalent in this non-punk-rock song.  I love the heaviness of the sound of the drums. Later, there is also an electrifying electric guitar solo. Rock on! The melodies are tuneful, while the overall songwriting instrumentally and lyrically are strong.  The chorus is the section to beat:

“Because the night belongs to lovers

Because the night belongs to lust

Because the night belongs to lovers

Because the night belongs to us.”

Great contrast is provided in the bridge. The songwriting continues to be ‘on point’ as Smith asserts, “With love we sleep / With doubt the vicious circle turns and burns / Without you, I cannot live.” Smith may have only notched one hit, but “Because the Night” is a rad one.  Patti Smith ate this track up !

Patti Smith Group // Easter // Arista // 1978

Patti Smith Group, Because The Night: 1 Hit WONDERful No. 10 (2025) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Arista; Antoni Shkraba, KoolShooters, Pavel Danilyuk, Photo By: Kaboompics.com, RDNE Stock project from Pexels; AcatXIo, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]