Beastie Boys - No Sleep Till Brooklyn (Special Version) (US 12'') (1987)
"No Sleep till Brooklyn" is a song by the New York hip hop group the Beastie Boys, and the sixth single from their debut studio album, Licensed to Ill. One of their signature songs, it describes an exhaustive tour and all the events that make it tiresome, but also emphasizes their determination not to rest until they reach their home base of Brooklyn. "No Sleep till Brooklyn" was a popular concert favorite for the Beastie Boys and traditionally used as their closing song. Among other references to then-popular metal, the title is a play on the Motörhead album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith. The song has been several covers and parodies including Stutter Rap (No Sleep til Bedtime) by Morris Minor and the Majors.
Kerry King, guitarist for Slayer, played the guitar riffs and solo; Slayer had released an album produced by Rick Rubin in 1986 (Reign in Blood). In a different tuning, the song interprets "TNT" by AC/DC. More metal commentary and adaptation is added by the video, directed by Ric Menello, as a parody of glam metal.
Later in their career, the Beastie Boys continued to perform the song live, although with altered lyrics. "M.C.A.'s in the back because he's skeezin' with a whore," was changed to "M.C.A.'s in the back with the mahjong board", and "Autographed pictures and classy hoes" was changed to "Autographed pictures to nobody knows."
The song features one of many homages to New York City's boroughs, and has been described as "joyful ranting".
Bob Dylan played the song on the "New York" episode of Season 1 of his Theme Time Radio Hour show in 2007, noting the Beastie Boys were not merely a "flash in the pan" in his introduction.
THIS:
She's Crafty (Special Version) 3:36
THAT:
No Sleep Till Brooklyn (Special Version) 4:07
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Def Jam Recordings - 44 06726, Columbia - 44 06726
Format: Vinyl, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Hip Hop
Style: Hip Hop
CREDITS:
Co-producer – Beastie Boys
Design – Eric Maze*
Photography By – Glen. E. Friedman*
Producer – Rick Rubin
Written-By – A Yauch*, M. Diamond*, R. Rubin*, The King (23)
NOTES:
Special versions taken from the LP "Licensed To Ill"
Printed in the U.S.A.
READ MORE - Beastie Boys - No Sleep Till Brooklyn (Special Version) (US 12'') (1987)
