SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT

Manfred Mann's Earth Band's cover version

[Album Version and Single Edit:][1977 Single Version:]

Crazy Janey and her mission man
Were back in the alley tradin' hands
'Long came Wild Billy with his friend G-Man
All duded up for Saturday night

Well, Billy slammed on his coaster brakes
Said, "Anybody wanna go to Greasy Lake?
It's a mile down on the dark side of route eighty-eight
I got a bottle of rose, let's try it

We'll pick up Hazy Davy and Killer Joe
And I'll take you all out to where the gypsy angels go
They're built like light
And they dance like spirits in the night"

All night
You don't know what they can do to you
Spirits in the night (all night)
In the night (all night)
Stand right up and let 'em shoot through you

Wild Billy was a crazy cat (ha, ha, ha, ha, ha)
And he shook some dust out of his coonskin cap
He said, "Trust some of this, it'll show you where you're at
Or at least it'll help you to feel it"

By the time we made it up to Greasy Lake
My head was out the window; Janey's fingers in the cake
I think I really dug her; I was too loose to fake
I said, "I'm hurt," she said, "Honey, let's heal it"

And we danced all night to a soul fairy band
And she kissed me just right like a lonely angel can
She felt so nice
Just as soft as a spirit in the night

All night
Janey don't know what she do to you
Spirits in the night (all night)
In the night (all night)
Stand right up and let it shoot through you

[crowd noises]

[instrumental break]

(Spirits in the night, in the night)
(Spirits in the night, all night)
(Spirits in the night, in the night)
(Spirits in the night, all night)

Now the night was bright, and the stars threw light
On Billy and Davy dancing in the moonlight
Down near the water in a stone mud fight
Killer Joe passed out on the lawn

Hazy Davy got really hurt
He ran into the lake in just his socks and a shirt
Me and Crazy Janey's making love in the dirt
Singing our birthday songs

Janey said it was time to go
So we closed our eyes and said goodbye to gypsy angel row
Felt so right
Together we moved like spirits in the night

All night
You don't know what they can do to you
Spirits in the night (all night)
All night (all night)
Stand right up and let 'em shoot through you
Spirits in the night
All night
You don't know what they can do to you
Spirits in the night
All night
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Spirits in the night
All night
Spirits in the night
All night
Spirits in the night
Spirits in the night

Crazy Janey and her mission man
Were back in the alley tradin' hands
Along came Wild Billy with his friend G-Man
All duded up for Saturday night

Well, Billy slammed on his coaster brakes
Said, "Anybody wanna go to Greasy Lake?
It's a mile down on the dark side of route eighty-eight
I got a bottle of rose, let's try it

We'll pick up Hazy Davy and Killer Joe
And I'll take you all out to where the gypsy angels go
They're built like light
And they dance like spirits in the night"

All night
You don't know what they can do to you
Spirits in the night (all night)
In the night (all night)
Stand right up and let 'em shoot through you

Wild Billy was a crazy cat (ha, ha, ha, ha, ha)
He shook some dust out of his coonskin cap
And said, "Trust some of this, it'll show you where you're at
Or at least it will help you to feel it"

By the time we made it up to Greasy Lake
My head was out the window; Janey's fingers in the cake
Think I really dug her; I was too loose to fake
I said, "I'm hurt," she said, "Honey, let's heal it"

We danced all night to a soul fairy band
And she kissed me just right like a lonely angel can
She felt so nice
Just as soft as a spirit in the night

Janey don't know what she do to you
Spirits in the night (all night)
All night (all night)
Stand right up and let 'em shoot through you
Spirits in the night (all night)
All night
You don't know what they can do to you
Spirits in the night
All night
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Spirits in the night
All night
Spirits in the night
All night


Page last updated: 08 Nov 2011

Info

The above lyrics are for Manfred Mann's Earth Band's cover version of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT. They released it on their 1975 album Nightingales & Bombers. Their version differs from Springsteen's mostly in its arrangement, relying heavily on keyboards and using different harmonies in the chorus.

[Click thumbnail to enlarge/reduce artwork]

Manfred Mann's Earth Band have recorded three Bruce Springsteen songs, all from his debut album Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.: SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT in 1975, BLINDED BY THE LIGHT in 1976, and FOR YOU in 1980. Manfred Mann's Earth Band did Springsteen quite a service by covering some of his songs during the period when he was a virtual unknown in most of Europe. The Hollies and their band leader Alan Clarke also helped in during the same period.

The Different Versions

Three studio versions of the track were released: an "Album Version", a "Single Edit", and a "1977 Single Version". They clock at 6:25, 3:17, and 3:15 respectively. The "Album Version" and the "Single Edit" are the same recording, with Mick Rogers on vocals, while the "1977 Single Version" is a different re-recorded version that takes advantage of Manfred Mann's Earth Band new vocalist Chris Thompson.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band released the song under the title "Spirits In The Night", but the "1977 Single Version" that features Chris Thompson on vocals was slightly renamed "Spirit In The Night". Lyrics for the "Album Version" are the one in the left-side column, lyrics for the "Single Edit" are the one in the left-side column but with the parts in bold edited out, and lyrics for the "1977 Single Version" are the ones in the right-side column.

The "Album Version" features Mick Rogers on guitar and vocals, Manfred Mann on organ and synthesizers, Collin Pattenden on bass, Chris Slade on drums and percussion, Ruby James on backing vocals, Doreen Chanter on backing vocals, Martha Smith on backing vocals, David Millman on viola, Chris Warren-Green on violin, Nigel Warren-Green on cello, Graham Elliott on cello, and David Boswell-Brown on cello.

Single Releases

The SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT single preceded the album, released on 25 Jul 1975 in the UK. That "Single Edit" peaked at #97 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976, while the "1977 Single Version", released in spring 1977 and featuring Chris Thompson on vocals, reached #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 04 Jun 1977.

Country Chart Peak position Weeks in chart Charting period
USA Billboard Hot 100 40 8 Apr-Jun 1977
Canada RPM Top Singles 64 9 May-Jul 1977
The Netherlands Dutch Top 40 15 6 Sep-Oct 1975
The Netherlands Nationale Hitparade Top 30 10 5 Sep-Oct 1975
Belgium   3   1975

The "Single Edit" was released worldwide in 1975, with AS ABOVE SO BELOW PART 2 on the B-side. The U.S. promo issues have SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT on both sides.


Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / AS ABOVE SO BELOW PART 2"

7" - Bronze (BRO 18) - UK, 1975

Stock copy, no picture sleeve.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT [Edited Version, 2:56, Mono] / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT [Edited Version, 2:56, Stereo]"

7" - Warner Bros. (WBS 8152) - USA, 1975

Promo copy, no picture sleeve.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT [6:26] / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT [3:13, Edited]"

7" - Warner Bros. (WBS 8176) - USA, 1975

Promo copy, no picture sleeve.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / AS ABOVE SO BELOW PART 2"

7" - Bronze (16 195 AT) - Germany, 1975

Stock copy, with picture sleeve (version 1).

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / AS ABOVE SO BELOW PART 2"

7" - Bronze (16 195 AT) - Germany, 1975

Stock copy, with picture sleeve (version 2).

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / AS ABOVE SO BELOW PART 2"

7" - Bronze (16 195 AT) - Holland, 1975

Stock copy, with picture sleeve (version 1).

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / AS ABOVE SO BELOW PART 2"

7" - Bronze (16 195 AT) - Holland, 1975

Stock copy, with picture sleeve (version 2).

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / AS ABOVE SO BELOW PART 2"

7" - Bronze (BRO 18) - Italy, 1975

Stock copy, with picture sleeve.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / AS ABOVE SO BELOW PART 2"

7" - Bronze (5000 018) - Portugal, 1975

Stock copy, with picture sleeve.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / AS ABOVE SO BELOW PART 2"

7" - Bronze (P-1413B) - Japan, 1975

Stock copy, with picture insert.

The "1977 Single Version" was released in 1977 in the UK, Germany, and New Zealand, with THE ROAD TO BABYLON on the B-side. In North America, it was released with QUESTIONS on the B-side, and on the B-side of BLINDED BY THE LIGHT. The U.S. promo issue have SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT on both sides.


Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / THE ROAD TO BABYLON"

7" - Bronze (BRO 42) - UK, 1977

Stock copy, no picture sleeve.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / THE ROAD TO BABYLON"

7" - Bronze (17 946 AT) - Germany, 1977

Stock copy, with picture sleeve.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / THE ROAD TO BABYLON"

7" - Bronze (BRO 42) - New Zealand, 1977

Stock copy, no picture sleeve.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / QUESTIONS"

7" - Warner Bros. (WBS 8355) - USA, 1977

Stock copy, no picture sleeve.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / QUESTIONS"

7" - Warner Bros. (WBS 8355) - Canada, 1977

Stock copy, no picture sleeve.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT"

7" - Warner Bros. (GWB 0350) - USA, 1977

Stock copy, no picture sleeve.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT"

7" - Warner Bros. (GWB 0350) - USA, 1977

Stock copy, no picture sleeve. This is a "Back To Back Hits" series reissue.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT"

7" - Warner Bros. (GWB 0350) - Holland, 1977

Stock copy, with picture sleeve. This is a U.S. import record, issued with unique Dutch "Oldies 45" picture sleeve. The A-side and the B-side are switched.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT [Stereo] / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT [Mono]"

7" - Warner Bros. (WBS 8355) - USA, 1977

Promo copy, no picture sleeve. SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT is misspelled "Spirit" on the labels, but included is a card that reads "The correct title should be 'Spirit In The Night'."

Official Releases

Besides its availability on 7-inch singles, the "Single Edit" (with Mick Rogers on vocals) was also released as a bonus track on the European 1999 and Japanese 2005 reissues of the Nightingales & Bombers album. The "1977 Single Version" (with Chris Thompson on vocals) was also released as a bonus track on the North American and Australia 1977, European 1999, Japanese 2005, and UK 2008 reissues of The Roaring Silence album.


Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- Nightingales & Bombers

CD - Cohesion (MANN 008) - Europe, 1999

European remastered edition with two bonus tracks, including the "Single Edit" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- Nightingales & Bombers

CD - Air Mail Archive (AIRAC-1129) - Japan, 2005

Japanese remastered "LP replica" reissue with two bonus tracks, including the "Single Edit" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- The Roaring Silence

LP - Warner Bros. (BSK 3055) - USA, 1977

U.S. reissue with the "1977 Single Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT as bonus track. Comes in a blue cover instead of brown.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- The Roaring Silence

LP - Warner Bros. (BSK 3055) - Canada, 1977

Canada reissue with the "1977 Single Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT as bonus track. Comes in a blue cover instead of brown.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- The Roaring Silence

LP - Festival/Bronze (L 36398) - Australia, 1977

Australian issue with the "1977 Single Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT as bonus track. It was released by Festival Records, but on the Bronze Records Label.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- The Roaring Silence

CD - Cohesion (MANN 009) - Europe, 1999

European remastered edition with four bonus tracks, including the "1977 Single Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- The Roaring Silence

CD - Air Mail Archive (AIRAC-1129) - Japan, 2005

Japanese remastered "LP replica" reissue with four bonus tracks, including the "1977 Single Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- The Roaring Silence

LP - Creature Music (MANNLP009) - UK, 2008

UK 2008 reissue on 180-gram vinyl, with the "1977 Single Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT as bonus track.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band cover of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT was included on many Manfred Mann's Earth Band compilations albums, including:


Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- Spotlight (1971 - 1991)

CD - Cohesion (COMME-CD13) - UK, 1992

Contains the "Album Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- Blinded By The Light: The Very Best Of Manfred Mann's Earth Band

CD - Arcade (8800068) - Germany, 1992

Contains the "Album Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- Blinded By The Light: The Very Best Of Manfred Mann's Earth Band

CD - Arcade (8800068) - Holland, 1992
Cassette tape - Arcade (8800069) - Holland, 1992

Contains the "Album Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- The Very Best Of Manfred Mann's Earth Band

CD - Arcade (9100003) - Norway, 1993

Contains the "Album Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- The Very Best Of Vol. 1 & 2

2-CD - Arcade (88 00 184) - Germany, 1993

Contains the "Album Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- The Best Of Manfred Mann's Earth Band Featuring Blinded By The Light

CD - Warner Archives (9 46231-2) - USA, 1996
Cassette tape - Warner Archives (9 46231-4) - USA, 1996

Contains the "Album Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- The Best of Manfred Mann's Earth Band Re-Mastered

CD - Cohesion (MANN018) - UK, 1999

Contains the "Album Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- Blindin'

CD - Music Club (MANN019) - EU, 2000
CD - Music Club (MCCD 414) - UK, 2000

Contains the "Album Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Manfred Mann -- The Complete Greatest Hits Of Manfred Mann: 1963-2003

2-CD - Cohesion (MANFRED1DE) - Germany, 2003

Contains the "Album Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Manfred Mann -- The Evolution Of Manfred Mann

2-CD + DVD - Cohesion (MANFRED1) - UK, 2003

Contains the "Album Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Manfred Mann and Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- World Of Mann: The Very Best Of Manfred Mann & Manfred Mann's Earth Band

2-CD - Universal Music TV (9839162) - UK, 2006

Contains the "Album Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- Blinded By the Light & Other Hits

CD - Flashback Records (R2 74820) - USA, 2007

Contains the "Single Edit" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

The song also appeared on a few various artists compilation albums, including two Bruce Springsteen tribute albums:


Various artists -- Songs From The Boss

LP - Dover Records (ADD 3) - UK, 1988
CD - Dover Records (CCD 3) - UK, 1989
Audio cassette - Dover Records (ZDD 3) - UK, 1988

This is a various artists Bruce Springsteen tribute album. SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT is performed by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

Various artists -- Child In Time: Rock Giants

CD - BR Music (BX 401-2) - Holland, 1992

Contains the "Single Edit" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Various artists -- 100% Rock Classics Part Two

CD - 100% Pure (TCD 2942) - UK, 2001

Contains either the "Single Edit" or the "1977 Single Version" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Various artists -- Rock Classics: The Heavyweights

2 CD - Repertoire (REP 4765 - WL) - Germany, 2002

Contains the either the "Single Edit" of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT.

Various artists -- If I Were The Boss: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen

CD - Castle (CMQCD1422) - UK, 2006

This is a various artists Bruce Springsteen tribute album. SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT is performed by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

Available Versions

List of available versions of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT on this website:

Credits / References

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake).

Request

Please contact me if you have scans or info about any official release containing Manfred Mann's Earth Band's cover of SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT that's not mentioned on this page. An Australian pressing of the "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / THE ROAD TO BABYLON" single does exist. I also need better scans of the following 7-inch singles:

  • "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT [6:26] / SPIRIT IN TH NIGHT [3:13, Edited]" Warner Bros. (WBS 8176) - USA, 1975
  • "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / AS ABOVE SO BELOW PART 2" Bronze (BRO 18) - Italy, 1975
  • "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / QUESTIONS" Warner Bros. (WBS 8355) - Canada, 1977
  • "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT" Warner Bros. (GWB 0350) - Holland, 1977
  • "SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT [Stereo] / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT [Mono]" Warner Bros. (WBS 8355) - USA, 1977

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