Tonight (David Bowie album)
Sixteenth studio album by David Bowie, released in 1984.
Tonight is the sixteenth studio album by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, issued on 24 September 1984 through EMI America Records. It came after Let's Dance, his biggest commercial hit, and was written and recorded in mid-1984 at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Canada, once the Serious Moonlight Tour ended. Bowie co-produced the album with Derek Bramble and Hugh Padgham. The album’s sound largely mirrors its predecessor, because Bowie aimed to hold onto the new audience he had won, though a few tracks show R&B and reggae influences.
Most of the same musicians from Let's Dance and its tour returned for Tonight, with some new faces. Bowie followed the same creative approach as before: he played no instruments and gave the musicians little direct input. The music is described as pop, blue-eyed soul, dance, and rock. Lacking fresh ideas from touring, Bowie wrote only two new songs himself. Three tracks, including the title song, are covers of pieces Bowie had co-written with Iggy Pop, who was around for most of the sessions and co-wrote two songs. The title track is a duet with Tina Turner. The cover art, showing Bowie painted blue against an oil-painting background, was designed by Mick Haggerty.
The album was a commercial hit, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart, supported by the singles "Blue Jean," "Tonight," and "Loving the Alien." Critics, however, gave it poor reviews, mostly citing a lack of creativity. After his next album, Never Let Me Down (1987), also got panned, Bowie expressed disappointment with this period, calling Tonight not one of his stronger efforts—a view later critics shared. He did not tour for the album and only performed "Loving the Alien" and "Blue Jean" on later tours. The album was remastered in 2018 as part of the box set Loving the Alien (1983–1988).
Background and development
David Bowie released his fifteenth studio album, Let's Dance, in April 1983. It was a huge commercial success, making him a worldwide superstar. He supported it with the Serious Moonlight Tour from May to December 1983. Despite that success, Bowie felt creatively stuck; he realized he no longer knew his audience and later admitted touring left him without new ideas. After the tour ended, he vacationed in Bali and Java with his friend Iggy Pop.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- David Bowie
- Released
- 24 September 1984
- Recorded
- May–June 1984
- Studio
- Le Studio (Morin-Heights, Canada)
- Genre
- Pop
- blue-eyed soul
- dance
- rock
- Label
- EMI America
- Producer
- David Bowie
- Derek Bramble
- Hugh Padgham
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
David Bowie released his 15th studio album Let's Dance in April 1983, a major commercial success that propelled him to worldwide megastardom. He supported the album with the successful Serious Moonlight Tour from May to December 1983. Despite its success, Bowie found himself at a creative stalemate; he realised he no longer knew his audience and later admitted that touring left him devoid of new ideas. At the tour's conclusion, Bowie went on holiday in Bali and Java with his friend, singer Iggy Pop. Pop, having suffered from poor finances for several years, earned royalties from the success of Bowie's recording of "China Girl" and the two were eager to work together on Bowie's next project. Bowie felt he was ill-prepared to record a new album, instead proposing a live album called Serious Moonlight. Pressure from the label to release a follow-up led Bowie into the studio unprepared.
Recording for the new album began at Le Studio in May 1984, less than five months after the Serious Moonlight Tour. Bowie arrived for the sessions with eight of the nine songs that would appear on the album. Most of the personnel from Let's Dance and the tour returned for the record, including drummer Omar Hakim, bassist Carmine Rojas, percussionist Sammy Figueroa and backing vocalist George Simms. Like Let's Dance, Bowie played no instruments and he delegated almost all responsibility for the music to the musicians, only occasionally offering critical input. Iggy Pop was present during most of the sessions and collaborated with Bowie on multiple tracks. The album features a guest appearance from singer Tina Turner, who sings a duet with Bowie on the title track, "Tonight". The sessions were troublesome, with a falling out between Bramble and Padgham towards the end, leading to Bramble's departure and Padgham taking over as producer.
Reader's Guide
Tonight was a commercial success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart, supported by the singles "Blue Jean", "Tonight" and "Loving the Alien". Critical reception was poor, with most finding a lack of creativity. Following the critical dismissal of his next studio album Never Let Me Down (1987), Bowie expressed dissatisfaction with this period, calling Tonight not one of his stronger efforts, a sentiment echoed by later commentators. He did not tour to support the album and only performed "Loving the Alien" and "Blue Jean" on subsequent tours. The album was remastered in 2018 as part of the box set Loving the Alien (1983–1988).
Commentators have characterised Tonight as pop, blue-eyed soul, dance and rock. Author James E. Perone recognises the presence of reggae, R&B and ska. Bowie purposefully made the album's sound similar to Let's Dance and the Serious Moonlight Tour because he felt the new fans expected to hear the same thing on the new album as the one before. Of the nine songs on the final album, Bowie was the sole writer for only two, "Loving the Alien" and "Blue Jean"; two were co-written by Bowie and Pop, "Tumble and Twirl" and "Dancing with the Big Boys"; and the remaining five are cover versions, three originally by Pop: "Don't Look Down", "Tonight" and "Neighborhood Threat". The other covers are the Beach Boys' 1966 song "God Only Knows" and the Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller-penned "I Keep Forgettin", originally made famous by Chuck Jackson.
Track listing
Side one
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loving the Alien | David Bowie | 7:11 |
| 2 | Don't Look Down | Iggy Pop, James Williamson | 4:11 |
| 3 | God Only Knows | Brian Wilson, Tony Asher | 3:08 |
| 4 | Tonight (with Tina Turner) | Bowie, Pop | 3:46 |
Side two
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neighborhood Threat | Bowie, Pop, Ricky Gardiner | 3:12 |
| 2 | Blue Jean | Bowie | 3:11 |
| 3 | Tumble and Twirl | Bowie, Pop | 5:00 |
| 4 | I Keep Forgettin | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Gil Garfield | 2:34 |
| 5 | Dancing with the Big Boys (with Iggy Pop) | Bowie, Pop, Carlos Alomar | 3:34 |
| Total length | 35:47 | ||
Track listing from the source article.
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