This Could Be the Night (1966 song)
"This Could Be the Night" | |
---|---|
Song by Modern Folk Quartet | |
Released | 1976 |
Recorded | 1965 |
Studio | Gold Star, Hollywood |
Genre | Folk rock |
Length | 2:39 |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) | Phil Spector |
Audio sample | |
"This Could Be the Night" is a song recorded by the American band Modern Folk Quartet (MFQ) in 1965. The lyrics describe a couple on the verge of conquering their inhibitions. Written in tribute to the Beach Boys' leader Brian Wilson, the song is one of three that are credited jointly to Harry Nilsson and Phil Spector, although Nilsson submitted that he was the sole writer on a 1966 copyright form.
Spector produced MFQ's version in his
Nilsson recorded the song several times, but only a 1967
Composition
According to Spector biographer Mick Brown, Nilsson wrote "This Could Be the Night" as a tribute to Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Nilsson brought it to Spector, whose productions Wilson greatly admired.
Nilsson biographer Alyn Shipton describes the lyrics as expressing "the heady mixture of hope, desire, and fear experienced when a couple who have been dating for a while are on the point of finally conquering their inhibitions and making love for the first time."[5] Wilson deemed it one of Nilsson's very best compositions and one of Spector's best productions, explaining "Well, the idea they've been dating and waiting and finally they made love … I love that message."[5]
Recording
Hoping to break into the folk rock market, Spector befriended MFQ in 1965. The quartet had recently become a quintet (and shortened their name to MFQ) with the addition of drummer Eddie Hoh and was pursuing a Byrds'-inspired sound. Spector brought the group to Gold Star Studios in Hollywood to record the song. The session date(s) are unknown, but took place in late 1965,[7][8] because the film was released in December 1965.[9]
According to Brown, "Spector's production sounded as if it had been recorded in a school gynamsium—a vibrantly echoing mélange of chiming guitars, bells and exuberant, sunny harmonies".[2] Barney Hoskyns described it as "pure Wall-of-Sound Beach Boys, light years from the sound Terry Melcher was getting with the Byrds".[10] Biographer Mark Ribowsky added that the "folk rocker" resembled a "Wagnerian folk march with Wall of Sound".[11] MFQ's Henry Diltz recalled Wilson at the studio during the sessions: "we could see him in the recording booth, in his robe and slippers, sitting there playing our song over and over, for what seemed like hours".[2][5]
Release history
"This Could Be the Night" was slated for release as MFQ's first single with the new lineup, but Spector became focused on
The song was officially released for the first time on the 1976 British compilation album Phil Spector Wall of Sound Vol. 6 – Rare Masters Vol. 2. Several later compilations include it, such as Spector's 1991 career retrospective box set, Back to Mono (1958–1969).
Harry Nilsson versions
Nilsson recorded a version of the song in the 1960s, which went unreleased. It was lost and forgotten until an
Brian Wilson version
"This Could Be the Night" | |
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Song by Brian Wilson | |
from the album For the Love of Harry: Everybody Sings Nilsson | |
Released | May 9, 1995 |
Length | 2:31 |
Label | Music Masters Rock |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) |
|
In 1973, Melody Maker reported that Wilson remembered most of the song "very clearly" while playing it on piano for his guests. The newspaper added, "Brian obviously got a buzz from singing it with differently harmonized bass lines and new riffs, and it was fascinating to hear how, even though he was only mucking about, the harmonies and rhythms were pure Brian Wilson. No one else could've been playing that piano."[7]
Wilson claimed that he had been attempting to get the lyrics from Spector to record a version with the pop duo
References
- ^ Scott, John. L (1965-12-01). "Performers Rock, Audience Roll at Pop-Folk Concert". The Los Angeles Times. pp. Part V 21. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4000-7661-1.
- ^ "This Could Be the Night (Legal Title) – BMI Work #1499318". BMI Repertoire. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
- ^ Peerce, Larry (director) (1966). The Big T.N.T. Show (Film). Event occurs at opening credits.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-933069-0.
- ISBN 978-1-55022-690-4.
- ^ ISBN 9780600361428.
- ^ Deck, Carol (November 6, 1965). "Modern Folk Quartet". KRLA Beat. 1 (34). BEAT Publications: 12.
- ^ "The B-I-G "TNT" Show Starts Friday - Dec. 24 (Advertisement)". The Danville Register. December 22, 1965. pp. 4–D. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
- ^ ISBN 0-312-17056-4.
- ISBN 978-1-4616-6103-0.
- ^ Scott, Vernon (1965-12-05). "'Way Out' Move Set For Youths". Sunday Ledger-Enquirer. Columbus, Georgia. pp. E-5. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
- The Modern Folk Quartet. Collector's Choice. CCM-524.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The RCA Albums Collection - Harry Nilsson". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
- ^ Doe, Andrew G. "TIMELINE1995". Bellagio 10452. Endless Summer Quarterly. Retrieved October 8, 2015.