"Here Comes the Night" (Bert Berns) [2:46]
Released as Decca F 12094 on 5 March 1965; Charts 25 March 1965; UK #2.
Them: Van Morrison (vocals) with band members include Billy Harrison (guitar), Alan Henderson (bass), Pat McAuley (keyboard), and Ronnie Millings (drums). Session musicians include Bobby Graham (drums) and probably Jimmy Page (2nd guitar).
Produced by Bert Berns.
Van Morrison. 1990. The Best of Van Morrison [13]. New York: Polygram Records, Inc [Polydor 841 970-2].
Perhaps one of the most striking features of this performance is the shift between meter and tempo. The refrain is taken at what might be described as a "walking" tempo (andante), but the verses are at double that time. Also, given the Irish band’s experiences with Decca this must have been reassuring. Indications are that Bern used the band for their own recording. (See Hoskyns 1998: 30-31.)
Bert Berns (b. 8 November 1929; Bronx; d. 30 December 1967; Manhattan) was an American songwriter and producer. His best-known collaborative composition is "Twist and Shout" which he co-wrote with Phil Medley. Berns — who worked with Van Morrison on this and several other recordings (including "Brown-Eyed Girl" in 1967) — came from Atlantic Records in the US where he produced American r&b performers such as the Drifters ("Under the Boardwalk" 1964) and Ben E King ("It’s All Over" 1964). Decca’s hope was that Bern could work his soul magic on Them. Lulu had recorded "Here Comes the Night" the previous year, with little success.
Section Time Meas. Description Text
A Refrain 0:00 20 Solo vocal (Morrison) with a chorus (Them) join on the hook. a
B Verse 0: 16 Solo vocal with guitar responses; ensemble drops volume b
A Refrain : 16 as in refrain above; ensemble opens up a
B Verse : 16 as in verse above c
A Refrain : 16 as in refrain above a
B Verse* : 16 guitar solo over verse harmonic base, but at regular tempo

—

A Verse : 16 as in verses above d
B Refrain : 16+ repeat hook and fade
Text
Well here it comes; here comes the night a
I can see right out my window walkin' down the street my girl with another guy.
His arms around her like it used to be with me. Oh, it makes me want to die.		 b
There they go, it’s funny how they look so good together; wonder what is wrong with me.
Why can’t I accept the fact she’s chosen him and simply let them be.		 c
She's with him, she's turning down the lights and now he's holding her the way I used to do.
I can see her closing her eyes and telling the lies exactly like she told me too.		 d
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British Blues Outline Them
  29-oct-09