Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)

"Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)"
Single by Kim Carnes
from the album Barking at Airplanes
B-side"Oliver (Voice on the Radio)"
ReleasedApril 1985
Length3:35
LabelEMI America
Songwriter(s)Kim Carnes
Producer(s)
  • Kim Carnes
  • Bill Cuomo
Kim Carnes singles chronology
"Invitation to Dance"
(1985) 		"Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)"
(1985) 		"Abadabadango"
(1985)
Music video
"Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)" on YouTube

"Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)" is a song by American singer-songwriter Kim Carnes and the lead single from her ninth studio album, Barking at Airplanes (1985). Written by Carnes, and co-produced with Bill Cuomo, the track was inspired by her eldest son's struggles with nightmares and fear of the dark as a child. It was released as a single in April 1985 by EMI America.

The song became one of Carnes' highest-charting singles, peaking at no. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the top 40 in various countries.

Lyrics and composition

Carnes was inspired to write "Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)" due to her son Collin's fear of the dark as a child. She incorporated the album's title, Barking at Airplanes, into the song title as a parenthesis. "I had a golden retriever [..] Every time the airplanes would go over, she’d bark at the airplanes. I thought, that’s such a cool, crazy title for an album."[1]

Writing for the GRAMMY Awards website, Crystal Larsen likened "Crazy in the Night" to the work of American songwriter and producer Jim Steinman.[2]

Track listings

  • 7-inch single[3]
A. "Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)" – 3:35
B. "Oliver (Voice on the Radio)" – 3:46
  • 12-inch single[4]
A. "Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)" (dance mix) – 5:10
B. "Barking at Airplanes (Part II)" (dub mix) – 4:59

Credits and personnel

  • Bill Cuomo – co-producer, synthesizers
  • Craig Hull – background vocals
  • Craig Krampf – drum programming, background vocals
  • Daniel Moore – background vocals
  • Dave Ellingson – background vocals
  • David Egerton – second engineer
  • Denny Densmore – second engineer
  • Duane Seykora – additional second engineer
  • Eric Blum – back cover photography
  • George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York)
  • Greg Gorman – cover photography
  • Henry Marquez – art direction
  • Judy Clapp – second engineer
  • Kim Carnes – lead vocals, background vocals, co-producer
  • Mark Ettel – recording engineer
  • Matthew Rolston – inner sleeve photography
  • Michael Brokaw (Kragen & Co.) – direction
  • Mike Shipley – mixer
  • Niko Bolas – additional engineer
  • Richard Bosworth – additional second engineer
  • Sabrina Bucharek – second engineer
  • Steve MacMillan – second engineer
  • Sue McGonigle – project coordinator
  • Tony Chiappa – second engineer
  • Vigon Seireeni – design
  • Waddy Wachtel – electric guitar, background vocals

Charts

Chart (1985) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 21
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 8
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] 18
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] 11
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[9] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 15
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[11] 24
US Cash Box Top 100[12] 22

References

  1. ^ Wikane, Christian John (April 23, 2017). "Where the Heart Is An Interview With Multi-Grammy Winner Kim Carnes, Part One". PopMatters. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  2. ^ Larsen, Crystal. "Kim Carnes Bats Her Bette Davis Eyes". grammy.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  3. ^ Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes) (sleeve). United Kingdom: EMI America. 1985. EA-199.
  4. ^ Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes) (sleeve). United States: EMI America. 1985. V-7857.
  5. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 256. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. ^ "Kim Carnes – Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0557." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  8. ^ "Kim Carnes – Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  9. ^ "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts C". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  10. ^ "Kim Carnes Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  11. ^ "Kim Carnes Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  12. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending July 20, 1985". Cash Box. Retrieved September 15, 2020.


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