After Mott The Hoople yesterday I had to go into full Ian Hunter mode. The piano intro in the song is incredible. Not only the riff but the sound they got off of it. This song was written by Hunter and Mick Ronson. It was about a night in an Indianapolis jail. I have a quote by Hunter at the bottom of the page about it.
The song was off of the brilliantly named album You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic and it peaked at #35 in the Billboard 100 and #49 in the UK in 1979. The album has been called by some critics his best ever. The album also has one of his most recognizable songs Cleveland Rocks. The song peaked at #68 on the Billboard 100 Charts in 1979.
Ian Hunter had a great band behind him on this song. Mick Ronson on guitar, and the E Street Band’s Gary Tallent on bass, Roy Bittan on keyboards, and Max Weinberg on drums. It was produced by Mick Ronson.
You can just picture yourself cruising down the highway with this song blasting from the speakers. It’s got that timeless feel that makes you wanna listen to it over and over again. Just like this song…Ian Hunter doesn’t seem to age. He released an album last year called Defiance Part 1. On April 19, 2024…he is releasing part II of that album Defiance Part 2: Fiction.
My friend Christian has a review of Defiance Part 1 from last year…check it out. CB has a review of You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic.
Ian Hunter: It was about a night in a city jail, in Indianapolis. And the last interview I just did before you was from Indianapolis! That was what the song was about. It was done with The E Street Band, so the initial recording [sounded] too much like Bruce! So Ronson was like, “Come on, do it how you wrote it!” And I said, “I can’t remember how I wrote it!” And then he remembered the groove, which was more rock and roll.
Just Another Night
Oh no, the fuzz, all in a lineMy oh my, I think I’m gonna dieAnd it’s just another nightIt’s just another night
Got a long black face; Who goes there?All the reefer madnessput a poor kid in jailAnd it’s just another nightYeah, it’s just another night
Oh take it easy boy or it’s DOAChrome on my body and a lot of folks sayThat it’s just another nightHey, It’s just another nightOh, it’s just another night on the other side of life
Head one’s a saw-bones and he wrecked my chairSaid “How’d you like to do it in a room downstairs”And it’s just another nightOh, just another night
Hey now, Papa Joe, Don’t you pull my hairAll this intrigue, it gets me out of my leagueAnd it’s just another nightIt’s just another night
His old man spent a fortune just to get him inBut baby boy growed up just as stupid as himAnd it’s just another nightIt’s just another nightIt’s just another night on the other side of life
Just another night, hung down slowI don’t like the hotel let me goHells bells! Give me a chance!This rock ‘n’ roller don’t wanna danceJust another nightJust another nightWell, it’s just another night on the other side of life
I never felt so bad; Where’s my shades?It’s gonna be a long one getting crazedA head spoutin’ noodles said, “What do you plead?”I said “You ain’t got to touch a man to make a man bleed”
‘N’ it’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night!
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