“The Night Chicago Died” is about a shoot-out between the Chicago Police and gangsters tied to Al Capone. It was inspired by the real-life Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, although that involved Capone’s men killing seven of Bugs Moran’s gang members and had nothing to do with the police, though some of the gangsters did disguise themselves as police offers. No confrontation large enough to leave around one hundred police deaths ever happened. Al Capone was arrested in 1932 for income tax evasion.
“The Night Chicago Died” was Paper Lace’s follow-up single to “Billy Don’t Be a Hero”, a No. 1 hit in the U.K. but virtually unheard in the U.S. where Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods’ cover reached No. 1. Callander and Murray wrote both songs.
The U.S. single received a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, signifying sales of at least half a million copies. Though the song’s story is set in the United States, Paper Lace was unable to perform the song live in the U.S. at the height of its popularity because of contractual issues.
“The Night Chicago Died” – Single by Paper Lace from the album And Other Bits of Material, Paper Lace (US Version)
Released 15 June 1974
Songwriters Peter Callander, Mitch Murray
Charted No.1 US; No.2 UK; No.1 Australia; No.2 Canada; No.1 New Zealand
