"Tonight" is the sixteenth studio album by David Bowie, released on September 24, 1984, through EMI America Records. Following the commercial success of his previous album, Let’s Dance, Bowie recorded Tonight in mid-1984 at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Canada, after completing the Serious Moonlight Tour. The album was co-produced by Bowie, Derek Bramble, and Hugh Padgham, with many musicians from Let’s Dance returning, though Bowie contributed little creatively, opting not to play any instruments.
Musically, Tonight features a blend of pop, blue-eyed soul, dance, and rock, retaining the sound that had attracted a new audience while incorporating elements of R&B and reggae. Bowie wrote only two original songs for the album, relying heavily on covers, including the title track, a duet with Tina Turner, and several Iggy Pop songs, with Pop actively involved during the sessions.
The album achieved commercial success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart, supported by singles like "Blue Jean," "Tonight," and "Loving the Alien." However, critical reception was largely negative, with many critics citing a lack of creativity and innovation. Bowie himself later expressed dissatisfaction with this period, describing Tonight as not one of his stronger works. He did not tour to promote the album extensively and performed only a couple of its tracks on later tours. In 2018, Tonight was remastered as part of the Loving the Alien (1983–1988) box set.
David Bowie's Let's Dance, released in April 1983, marked a significant turning point in his career, catapulting him to global superstardom. Following the album's success, Bowie embarked on the Serious Moonlight Tour from May to December 1983, which further solidified his popularity. However, by the tour's end, Bowie felt creatively stagnant, realizing he no longer understood his audience. He admitted that the demands of touring left him drained of new ideas.
After a holiday in Bali and Java with Iggy Pop, who was experiencing financial struggles despite the royalties from Bowie's cover of "China Girl," the two artists were eager to collaborate on new music. Bowie initially proposed a live album, Serious Moonlight, but pressure from his label to produce a follow-up album compelled him to enter the studio unprepared.
Bowie aimed to explore R&B, funk, and reggae influences for his next project, deciding not to work again with his Let's Dance co-producer Nile Rodgers. Instead, he chose Derek Bramble, a former bassist for Heatwave and a producer known for his work with David Grant. Bowie brought Bramble to Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland, to record demos with local musicians. Musicians present during the Tonight sessions praised the demos as "tremendous," describing them as "funky, raw, and full of promise."
To capture the sound of these sessions, Bowie sought out engineer Bob Clearmountain, who was unavailable, and instead brought in Hugh Padgham, known for his work with artists like XTC, Genesis, and the Police. Padgham agreed to work with Bowie at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Canada, where he had recently completed recording with the Police. This collaborative approach set the stage for Tonight, which would continue the pop sensibilities established in Let's Dance while incorporating new musical directions.
