B-side "Root Beer Rag" Format 7" Genre Rock | Released March 1979 Recorded 1978 Length 6:35 | |
"Until the Night" is a song written by Billy Joel for his 1978 album, 52nd Street. The song, which Joel has confirmed was inspired by the Righteous Brothers, is an example of Joel's penchant for evoking the hit sounds of the 1960s which would be the basis for his 1983 album, An Innocent Man.
Although passed over for single release in the US, "Until the Night" was issued as the second single from 52nd Street in the UK - following "My Life" - in March 1979 and reached #50 on the UK Singles Chart.
Various versions of the single are in existence, with different B-sides, namely "Root Beer Rag", "Big Shot", and "Just The Way You Are" (all on CBS label).
"Until the Night" is also included on the 2005 Billy Joel four-CD and one-DVD compilation entitled My Lives (in reference to the song "My Life").
Cover Verions
As "In der Nacht", "Until the Night" was recorded by Helena Vondráčková for her 1979 album Doch in der Nacht, which comprised German-language renderings of Billy Joel songs: "In der Nacht" was issued as the album's single (with "Ein Engel, der weiss, was er will" - originally "She's Always a Woman"- as the B-side).
Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers recorded "Until the Night" for his 1980 album Sweet Thunder.