Last Nite

When you dive into *Last Nite*, there's a detail that stands out: its initial guitar riff and overall structure have a clear resonance with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' *American Girl*. Tom Petty himself, in a 2006 conversation, humorously commented that The Strokes had borrowed that idea, and that he found it amusing that they admitted it. This connection led to The Strokes being invited to open some shows for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 2006. The inspiration for the song's guitar solo, on the other hand, comes from guitarist Freddie King.

The recording of *Last Nite* took place in March and April 2001 at Transporterraum studio in New York, under the production of Gordon Raphael. It was released on October 23, 2001, as the second single from their debut album, Is This It. This track marked the first time the band entered the United States charts, reaching the top five on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in late 2001. In the United Kingdom, it also received a good reception, reaching number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. The single included the song *When It Started* as the B-side. The album Is This It, released on July 30, 2001, in Australia, aimed to capture a direct sound, without major studio overdubs, relying on live performances during the recording sessions.