Ballard was initially a guitarist with Buster Meikle & The Day Breakers in 1961, together with Roy Ballard, Russ's older brother on piano and Bob Henrit on drums. After a stint with The Roulettes, backing Adam Faith, he then went on to join Unit 4 + 2 (also Unit Four Plus Two) in the early 1960s, before becoming the lead singer and guitarist of Argent, writing their hit the rock-anthem God Gave Rock and Roll to You, which would later be covered by both Petra and Kiss.
In 1972, Ballard performed on The Zombies frontman Colin Blunstone's album Ennismore, which was produced by Chris White. Ballard also wrote the hit single, I Don't Believe in Miracles, which featured on that album.
He left Argent in 1973 and pursued a solo and songwriting career. He wrote such hits as Three Dog Night's Liar, Hot Chocolate's 1977 UK chart topper So You Win Again, and Rainbow's Since You Been Gone (also featured on Ballard's second solo album Winning) and I Surrender. As a solo artist, Ballard charted once on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, when "On the Rebound" reached #58 in 1980. Progressive rock band Uriah Heep covered On the Rebound in 1982 on their album, Abominog.
Ballard also wrote and performed on The Who's vocalist Roger Daltrey's first two solo albums - Daltrey (1973) and Ride a Rock Horse (1975) and produced several singles.
British pop band Hello recorded Ballard's New York Groove in 1975, reaching #7 in Germany and #9 in the UK. In 1978 New York Groove would again feature on KISS' lead-guitarist Ace Frehley's solo album and be a hit once more.
Ballard also wrote the #17, 1981 hit for Santana, called Winning, which appeared on their album entitled Zebop! and had previously been released by Ballard himself on his second solo album.
Ballard wrote and produced You Can Do Magic for the group America. The single climbed to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1982, and helped resurrect the band's career. The following year, America brought in Ballard to produce their follow-up album, Your Move. One of its tracks, The Border, which was co-written by Ballard with Dewey Bunnell, reached #33 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Borrowing from The Cure's Simon Gallup's 1981 "Other Voices" bass riff, Ballard wrote ABBA singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad's 1982 solo hit: I Know There's Something Going On (with drums played by Phil Collins). The track reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. He also penned Can't Shake Loose for fellow ABBA former member, Agnetha Fältskog, which peaked at #29 in the same listings.
His song Voices - from the album Russ Ballard - was featured on the Miami Vice episode entitled "Calderone's Return: Part 2 - Calderone's Demise", which aired on 26 October 1984. The song was a brief hit on rock radio stations, peaking at #15 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. However, "Voices" stalled below the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #110. The song In The Night (also from the Russ Ballard album), was also featured in Miami Vice, and included in the episode entitled "Calderone's Return: Part 1 - The Hit List". The show also featured Your Time Is Gonna Come by Ballard and recorded by Roger Daltrey for the movie soundtrack: McVicar.
The Fire Still Burns, the title track of his 1985 album attained #15 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
In 1991 the song he co-wrote with John Waite (The Babys) and Jonathan Cain, So This Is Eden, appeared on Bad English's album, Backlash.
Ballard has also written and produced for Elkie Brooks, and more recently, acting as a talent scout, he "discovered" Lauren Harris.
Other artists he's worked with or have covered songs written by him include Bay City Rollers, Pointer Sisters, Carol Douglas, Clout, Kandidate, Long John Baldry, Peter Criss (KISS drummer), The Cats, Bruce Dickinson, The Brian May Band to name a few.
In The Night
Russ Ballard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the night
And then until the daybreak, they're gonna love or then before light
A heart will break, there in the night
Look in the alley, along the road, there the losers stand
There in the rain they bide their time, hustling what they can
They bet just to get that bottle in their hand
There in the night, somewhere in the night
And on a street in the heart of town, the lady in black she turns around
In the night, yeah
She stares at the man in the Cadillac, he drives by but he'll be back, yeah
Before the light, there in the night
See the guy along the road, who can he be
Wait awhile he'll turn around, see the man is me
'Cause when I sleep I dream, dreams won't set me free
There in the night, somewhere in the night, yeah
Oh, we do what we do, just to get through, there in the night
When the sun goes down, there the night will wait
Then slowly move for the kill
If you would come back again, it would take away this pain
But I don't know if you ever will
There in the night, somewhere in the night
Oh, there in the night, somewhere in the night, yeah
Oh, there in the night, somewhere in the night
Oh, there in the night, somewhere in the night
The lyrics of Russ Ballard's song "In the Night" paint a vivid picture of a city at night, where strangers meet, hearts break, losers hustle, and dreams haunt. The first few lines describe a chance encounter between two strangers at 2 A.M. in the downtown street, who will love until daybreak, or until the light shines and the illusion fades. The idea of finding love in the night is an interesting one, as it suggests a certain desperation or urgency to connect, to feel alive, to escape the emptiness or loneliness of the day. The line "A heart will break, there in the night" hints at the fragility of love, as well as the danger or risks involved in pursuing it in the dark.
The second verse describes a different scene, that of losers standing in the alley, or along the road, waiting for something, anything, to happen, selling their pride or body for a bottle of liquor. The image of the rain adds to the sense of gloom and hopelessness. The line "Oh, they do what they do, just to get through, there in the night" captures the essence of survival, of doing whatever it takes to survive, even if it means sacrificing one's dignity, morals, or health. The same line applies to the singer, who reveals that he is also a man in the night, dreaming of a better life, but trapped in his own reality.
The final verse turns the focus to the lady in black, who stares at the man in the Cadillac, knowing that he will come back, before the light shines and the truth is revealed. The line "When the sun goes down, there the night will wait, then slowly move for the kill" echoes the sense of danger and unpredictability of the night, where anything can happen, and the line "But I don't know if you ever will" hints at unfulfilled expectations, unrequited love, or broken promises. The repetition of "there in the night, somewhere in the night" reinforces the theme of the song, that of the night being a mysterious, powerful, and transformative realm that transcends reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Two A.M. in the downtown street, there on a corner two strangers meet
Two strangers meet at a street corner in the middle of the night.
In the night
Their meeting takes place at night.
And then until the daybreak, they're gonna love or then before light
They will love until dawn or until they part before sunrise.
A heart will break, there in the night
Someone's heart will be broken during this night.
Look in the alley, along the road, there the losers stand
People who have lost something can be seen in the alley and along the road.
There in the rain they bide their time, hustling what they can
They wait for their opportunity in the rain and do whatever they can to earn money.
They bet just to get that bottle in their hand
They gamble to get money for alcohol.
There in the night, somewhere in the night
All these things are happening somewhere in the night.
Oh, they do what they do, just to get through, there in the night
People do what they have to do to get through the night.
And on a street in the heart of town, the lady in black she turns around
A woman dressed in black turns around on a busy street.
In the night, yeah
Once again, it is night time.
She stares at the man in the Cadillac, he drives by but he'll be back, yeah
The woman looks at the man in a Cadillac, he drives away but she expects him to return.
Before the light, there in the night
Their interaction takes place before sunrise.
See the guy along the road, who can he be
A man is seen along the road and his identity is unknown.
Wait awhile he'll turn around, see the man is me
After waiting, it is revealed that the man along the road is the singer himself.
'Cause when I sleep I dream, dreams won't set me free
The artist dreams when he sleeps, but they do not provide him with freedom from reality.
There in the night, somewhere in the night, yeah
All these events take place somewhere in the night.
Oh, we do what we do, just to get through, there in the night
The singer and others do what they need to do to make it through the night.
When the sun goes down, there the night will wait
The night is always ready to begin when the sun sets.
Then slowly move for the kill
The night seems to move slowly towards its inevitable conclusion at dawn.
If you would come back again, it would take away this pain
The artist wishes someone would come back and relieve his pain.
But I don't know if you ever will
The artist is uncertain if this person will ever return.
Oh, there in the night, somewhere in the night
The night is a mysterious and unpredictable time.
Oh, there in the night, somewhere in the night
Once again, the night is emphasized as a setting for these events.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BALLARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tyjax5119
”He’s going after #8... HE’S GOING AFTER SONNY!”
@decakjeisaozasuncem8843
ahahahhaa yeah
@Kherian888
Miami Vice brought me here !
@farkkis
Hehee, same here 🤣😎
@8ball4040
Me too. 2022
@vyhfreitas3370
Estou assistindo
Essa série é incrível.
Fiquei triste quando o Rodriguez morreu.
@vincentphillips2577
Same here.
@deandeifir9515
Same, didn't realise ace frehleys version was a cover. Prefer this though. Rainbow's cover of since you've been gone is far superior than original ballard version though
@Nixter1974007
As Crockett arrives home with Caroline and Billy, Ludovicio Armstrong awaits in the dark, while Tubbs speeds to the rescue along with half of Dade County PD.....
Perfection....👌
@mcclift9451
Watching right now
12.31.2022