5 Little-Known Songs Bruce Springsteen Wrote for Other Famous Musicians

used as the soundtrack of the film “Light of Day,” starring Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett. 
This song’s composer was Bruce Springsteen, who originally wrote it as an ode to his involvement in music and the amount of time he spent in his early years driving from New Jersey down to Asbury Park to see shows, to play shows, or just to hang out. The lyrics are a bit of a rambling and soul-baring reawakening for the rock star, as well as a portrayal of the fictional group’s lead singer/songwriter. The song took on a new dimension when the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was cast in the movie as the Barbusters’ guitarist, Joe Rasnick, centering on his relationship with his sister, a Cleveland mom and aspiring singer who wasn’t very into either Bruce Springsteen or the Barbusters. The movie embraced Springsteen’s original material, including the tune “Light of Day.”

Because the Night — Patti Smith Group

Patti Smith Group’s album “Easter” is the apex of a resurgence for the punk-poet, capped off by the inclusion of “Because the Night” in the LP tracklist. It was a co-writing credit with none other than Bruce Springsteen after he gave Smith some chord changes and a chorus that he was never going to use himself. 
Smith connected with the song’s emotional core, melding her poetic sensibilities with a heart-soaring melody. The song became a milestone in Smith’s career when she released it as a single — it wasn’t just a groundbreaking hit for her, but it was also a smash. “Because the Night” reached No. 13 on the Hot 100, effectively launching Smith’s stardom in the U.S. Her next album, 1978’s “Wave,” became her highest-charting effort, peaking at No. 10. “Wave” also contained the Smith-Springsteen collaboration “Fire of Unknown Origin.”