Writer: Bruce Springsteen
Producers: Jon Landau and Bruce Springsteen
Recorded: Spring 1977 through early spring 1978 at the Record Plant and Atlantic Studios in New York City
Released: June 1978
| Players: | Bruce Springsteen — vocals, guitar “Miami” Steve Van Zandt — guitar Garry Tallent — bass Clarence Clemons — saxophone Roy Bittan — piano Danny Federici — organ Max Weinberg — drums |
| Album: | Darkness On The Edge Of Town (Columbia) |
The first single from Bruce Springsteen's fourth album, “Prove It All Night” peaked at Number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 — the highest charting single from Darkness On The Edge Of Town and Springsteen's highest charting single to that point, behind the title track from Born To Run.
In concert, Springsteen & the E Street Band turned “Prove It All Night' into a lengthy epic, with piano and guitar solos preceding its start. There was supposed to be a live version of the song released as a promotional single to radio stations, but those plans got canceled.
The recording of Darkness On The Edge Of Town was delayed by legal fights between Springsteen and his former manager, Mike Appel. The two battled in court over Springsteen's song publishing and ownership of his masters, finally settling out of court in May 1977.
By that time, Springsteen had a wealth of material ready and reportedly worked on nearly 30 songs in the year-long recording sessions.
Among the songs not used on Darkness were: “Fire,” which became a hit for the Pointer Sisters; “Because The Night,” which became a hit for Patti Smith; “Rendezvous,” which was covered by several artists; and “Hearts Of Stone” and “Talk to Me,” which were recorded by fellow New Jerseyans Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes.
Darkness peaked at Number Five on the Billboard 200 and at Number 16 on the U.K. album chart.
It was certified platinum the same month as its release.
