David Bowie: "Tonight" Album (1984)

David Bowie’s Tonight was released as an LP album in the UK by EMI America Records (catalog number DB 1) on September 24, 1984.

Commercial Performance:

UK: No. 1 for two weeks.

US: No. 11 on Billboard 200.

Certified Platinum (UK) and Gold (US).

Label: EMI America

Catalog Number: DB 1 (UK)

Release Date: September 24, 1984 (UK); similar dates for other markets with slight variations

Producers: David Bowie, Derek Bramble, and Hugh Padgham

Recording Location: Le Studio, Morin-Heights, Canada; May–June 1984

Genre: Pop rock, blue-eyed soul, dance, with R&B and reggae influences

Length: 35:20 (original LP)

Context: The 16th studio album and a follow-up to Bowie’s commercially successful Let’s Dance (1983), recorded after the Serious Moonlight Tour, aiming to retain his new mainstream audience.

Background and Recording

Creative Context: Tonight came nine months after the Serious Moonlight Tour ended (December 1983), driven by EMI’s push to capitalize on Let’s Dance’s global success (over 10 million copies sold). Bowie faced pressure to deliver quickly, leading to a rushed creative process.

Bowie described it as a “violent effort at a kind of Pin Ups,” referencing his 1973 covers album, though critics argue it lacked the affection of that earlier work, instead reflecting necessity due to limited original material.

The album reused collaborations with Iggy Pop from Lust for Life (1977), suggesting a reliance on past ideas rather than fresh inspiration.

Recording Process: Recorded at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Canada, over five weeks (May–June 1984), a slight extension from Let’s Dance’s three-week schedule.

Bowie contributed minimally, playing no instruments and offering little creative input, a continuation of his Let’s Dance approach. Hugh Padgham (suggested by Bob Clearmountain) and Derek Bramble co-produced, though tensions arose. Padgham noted Bramble’s “unnecessary retakes,” while Carlos Alomar criticized Bramble’s inexperience.

Key personnel included: Carlos Alomar: Guitar, bandleader.

Carmine Rojas: Bass.

Omar Hakim: Drums.

Tina Turner: Vocals on “Tonight,” a duet reflecting Bowie’s role in her 1984 comeback with Private Dancer.

Iggy Pop: Vocals on “Dancing With the Big Boys.”

The Borneo Horns: Brass section.

Arif Mardin: Strings and synthesizer arrangements.

Track Listing

The original UK LP (DB 1)

Loving the Alien (7:08)

A seven-minute art-pop epic with a distant, ethereal quality, often cited as the album’s highlight.

Don’t Look Down (4:11)

A reggae-influenced track co-written with Iggy Pop, originally from Lust for Life.

God Only Knows (3:08)

A cover of the Beach Boys’ classic, heavily orchestrated and polarizing among fans.

Tonight (with Tina Turner) (3:46)

A reggae-tinged duet, a reworking of an Iggy Pop track, with a marimba intro.

Neighborhood Threat (3:12)

Another Lust for Life reuse, a punchy rock number.

Blue Jean (3:11)

A pop-rock hit, later expanded into the Jazzin’ for Blue Jean short film.

Tumble and Twirl (with Iggy Pop) (4:58)

A quirky, co-written track with a carnival-like feel.

I Keep Forgettin’ (2:34)

A cover of Chuck Jackson’s 1962 song, delivered in a light, crooner style.

Dancing with the Big Boys (with Iggy Pop) (3:32)

A chaotic, funk-driven closer with Pop’s raw energy.

Initial Release Details

Format: Vinyl LP (DB 1, UK)Details: 33⅓ RPM black vinyl, pressed with Direct Metal Mastering (DMM) for enhanced sound quality. UK sleeve featured artwork by Mick Haggerty, inspired by Gilbert & George, with a striking blue-toned image of Bowie.

Packaging: Included a lyric inner sleeve. Labels noted “Made in EEC” and ©℗1984 David Bowie under license to EMI America.

Pressing: Manufactured and distributed by EMI, printed in Holland by EMI Services Benelux B.V., Uden.

Catalog Variations:

US: SJ-17138 (EMI America).

Canada: EL 2402271.

Japan: EMS-91049 (with obi strip).

Australia: EMI America EL 24 0227 1.

Europe: 1C 064-24 0227 1 (Germany, pressed in Holland).

Release Strategy:

Launched on September 24, 1984, to capitalize on Bowie’s post-Let’s Dance momentum and the Serious Moonlight Tour’s success (96 shows, 2.6 million fans).

Promoted with the lead single “Blue Jean” (released September 10, 1984), backed by “Dancing with the Big Boys,” and supported by the Grammy-winning Jazzin’ for Blue Jean film.

Aimed at retaining Bowie’s new pop audience, with heavy radio and MTV exposure.

Sounds, October 27, 1984

Subsequent Released Versions

Cassette (EN-98, 1984):

Tracks: Same as LP, reordered for tape flow.

Details: Released concurrently, with a J-card insert replicating the LP sleeve. Distributed in the US and UK.

CD (CDP 7 46047 2, 1984):

Tracks: Identical to LP.

Details: Early CD release, part of EMI’s digital catalog push. Sound quality varied due to 1980s mastering limitations.

1995 Virgin Reissue CD:

Tracks: Original 9 tracks plus 3 bonus tracks:

“This Is Not America” (with Pat Metheny Group, from The Falcon and The Snowman, 1985).

“As the World Falls Down” (from Labyrinth, 1986).

“Absolute Beginners” (from Absolute Beginners, 1986).

Details: Remastered with improved sound, aimed at collectors. Printed in the USA.

1999 EMI Reissue CD:

Tracks: Original 9 tracks, no bonuses.

Details: 24-bit digitally remastered, focusing on audio fidelity without extras.

2018 Parlophone Remaster (Loving the Alien Box Set):

Formats: CD and 180-gram vinyl.

Tracks: Original 9 tracks, with remixes and B-sides on separate discs (e.g., “Don’t Look Down” remix, “Tumble and Twirl” extended).

Details: Part of the Loving the Alien (1983–1988) box set, released separately in 2019.

2019 180-gram Vinyl Reissue:

Tracks: Original 9 tracks.

Details: Pressed by Parlophone, praised for rich dynamics and warmth on vinyl systems. Japanese sleeve noted as brighter than the original UK version.

Reception

Critical Response: Mixed at release. NME praised its “dizzying variety,” while Billboard highlighted “edgy dance-rock.” Retrospective reviews (e.g., The New Statesman, 2006) argue it’s underrated, with “Loving the Alien” a standout.

Critics often criticized its rushed feel and heavy reliance on covers (e.g., “God Only Knows,” “I Keep Forgettin’”), with some calling it the start of Bowie’s 1980s slump.

Legacy Influence:“Blue Jean” and “Loving the Alien” remain fan favorites, influencing 1980s pop. The Jazzin’ for Blue Jean film won a 1985 Grammy.

The album’s reggae and R&B experiments foreshadowed later eclectic works like Black Tie White Noise (1993).

Cultural Impact:

Featured in media (e.g., Glee covers “Blue Jean”). The sleeve’s Gilbert & George homage is a notable 1980s design.

Reissue Notes:

The 2019 vinyl reissue has reignited interest, with fans noting improved sound quality over original DMM pressings, which some found compressed.