The track was produced by Gordon Raphael and was issued on RCA Records with the song "When It Started" as the B-side.

The song's opening guitar riff and overall structure is based on "American Girl" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

[3] The Strokes were invited to be the opening act for several dates on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' 2006 tour.

In September 2006, NME placed "Last Nite" at number one on its list of the 50 Greatest Tracks of the Decade.

In May 2007, NME magazine placed "Last Nite" at number nine in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever.

American pop singer Vitamin C covered "Last Nite" and released it as a single in July 2003.

It features Vitamin C, as a blonde, in or around the Hotel Chelsea as well as other New York City night spots.