Original Release
Released in the United Kingdom as a single in January 1967, "Let's Spend the Night Together" reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was included on the American version of the Stones' album Between the Buttons, and was also released there as a single. However, due to the then-controversial nature of the lyrics (with its suggestion of casual sex) most radio stations opted to play the flip side "Ruby Tuesday" instead. The two songs charted separately on the US Billboard Hot 100, "Let's Spend the Night Together" stalling at #55 while "Ruby Tuesday" became a #1 hit. "Let's Spend the Night Together" features piano by both Brian Jones and Keith Richards, organ by Jones, Drums from Charlie Watts, electric guitar by Richards and bass by either Jones or Richards, lead vocals by Mick Jagger and backing vocals from both Jagger and Richards. Bassist Bill Wyman does not appear on this track.
On The Ed Sullivan Show, the band was initially refused permission to perform the number. Sullivan himself told Jagger, "Either the song goes or you go". A compromise was reached to substitute the words "let's spend some time together" in place of "let's spend the night together"; Jagger agreed to change the lyrics but ostentatiously rolled his eyes at the TV camera while singing them. When the Rolling Stones, following their performance of the song, returned back on stage, they were all dressed up in Nazi uniforms with swastikas, which caused Ed Sullivan to angrily order them to return to their dressing rooms to change back into their performance clothes, however, they left the studio altogether. (Source: "Dick Clark's 25 years of Rock and Roll") (1981). As a result of this incident, Ed Sullivan announced that the Rolling Stones would be banned from performing on his show again. However, the Stones did appear on the show again and performed three songs on 23 November 1969. Ironically, the group's "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" had been performed uncensored in 1966. In April 2006, for their first-ever performance in China, authorities prohibited the group from performing the song due to its "suggestive lyrics".
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