Tonight's the Night (song)
Encyclopedia
"Tonight's the Night" is the title and lead track from The Shirelles
' 1961 album Tonight's the Night. Written by Luther Dixon
and Shirley Owens
, the song dealt with a woman's feelings before losing her virginity
and was released as the pre-album's second single in 1960. In 2010 Rolling Stone
listed as one of the best songs of all time.
after having worked with Perry Como
, Nat King Cole
, and Pat Boone
. It also marks the debut of composer Horace Ott
.
, the degree of enthusiasm has been described as similar to that shown in Buddy Holly
's "Oh, Boy!
. The emotional content is reflected in Owens' vocals, which are described as full of "desire and vulnerability", as well as with a sense of "innocence and striving"; the effect is from her creating the effect of singing almost out of tune.
The strings in the song are similar to "There Goes My Baby", although Dixon notes that it was influenced by Brazilian Baião. Rolling Stone
also notes the Latin style
, with numerous instances of syncopation
.
Soon after its release, it had to compete with a cover by The Chiffons
, which used a similar arrangement and style. The Chiffons' cover eventually peaked at 76, becoming their first hit.
selected "Tonight's the Night" as the 409th best song of all time in their 2010 update to The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
list. It was the lower-ranked of two Shirelles songs; "Will You Love Me Tomorrow
" was ranked 126th.
The Shirelles
The Shirelles were an African-American girl group that achieved popularity in the early 1960s. They consisted of schoolmates Shirley Owens , Doris Coley , Addie "Micki" Harris , and Beverly Lee...
' 1961 album Tonight's the Night. Written by Luther Dixon
Luther Dixon
Luther Dixon was an American songwriter, record producer, and singer. Dixon's songs achieved their greatest success in the 1950s and 60s, and were recorded by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Jackson 5, B.B. King, Dusty Springfield, and others...
and Shirley Owens
Shirley Owens
Shirley Alston Reeves was the lead member of the hit singing group, The Shirelles. As well as Owens, the Shirelles consisted of classmates of hers from Passaic High School, New Jersey: Addie "Micki" Harris, Doris Kenner Jackson, and Beverly Lee. Through marriages, she became Shirley Alston and...
, the song dealt with a woman's feelings before losing her virginity
Virginity
Virginity refers to the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. There are cultural and religious traditions which place special value and significance on this state, especially in the case of unmarried females, associated with notions of personal purity, honor and worth...
and was released as the pre-album's second single in 1960. In 2010 Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
listed as one of the best songs of all time.
Production
"Tonight's the Night" was cowritten by The Shirelles' lead singer Shirley Owens, as well as Luther Dixon. It was the first production for the band by Dixon, who was booked for the band by Florence GreenbergFlorence Greenberg
Florence Greenberg was an American record label owner, music executive and a record producer.- Life and career :...
after having worked with Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
, Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
, and Pat Boone
Pat Boone
Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...
. It also marks the debut of composer Horace Ott
Horace Ott
Horace Ott is a noted composer, record producer, conductor and pianist. Although not formally credited he was one of the writers of Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood and arranged the Village Peoples hit Y.M.C.A.. He also led of the Horace Ott Orchestra....
.
Theme and style
"Tonight's the Night" deals with "romantic surrender" and "soulful yearning"; it tells of a woman who is both expectant and hesitant regarding her first sexual experienceSexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
, the degree of enthusiasm has been described as similar to that shown in Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
's "Oh, Boy!
Oh, Boy! (song)
"Oh, Boy!" is a song originally performed by Buddy Holly's band The Crickets. It was written by Sonny West and Bill Tilghman; the band's manager Norman Petty added his name as co-composer. The song was recorded between June 29 and July 1, 1957, at Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico, with Holly...
. The emotional content is reflected in Owens' vocals, which are described as full of "desire and vulnerability", as well as with a sense of "innocence and striving"; the effect is from her creating the effect of singing almost out of tune.
The strings in the song are similar to "There Goes My Baby", although Dixon notes that it was influenced by Brazilian Baião. Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
also notes the Latin style
Latin American music
Latin American music, found within Central and South America, is a series of musical styles and genres that mixes influences from Spanish, African and indigenous sources, that has recently become very famous in the US.-Argentina:...
, with numerous instances of syncopation
Syncopation
In music, syncopation includes a variety of rhythms which are in some way unexpected in that they deviate from the strict succession of regularly spaced strong and weak but also powerful beats in a meter . These include a stress on a normally unstressed beat or a rest where one would normally be...
.
Release
The single was released in September 1960. By 1961 it had gone gold. According to Greil Marcus, the song was shocking when it was released for its frank depiction of "a woman ... aware of her mind and body".Soon after its release, it had to compete with a cover by The Chiffons
The Chiffons
The Chiffons was an all girl group originating from the Bronx area of New York in 1960.-Biography:The Chiffons were one of the top girl groups of the early 1960s...
, which used a similar arrangement and style. The Chiffons' cover eventually peaked at 76, becoming their first hit.
Chart history
| Chart (1960) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
39 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
14 |
Legacy
Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
selected "Tonight's the Night" as the 409th best song of all time in their 2010 update to The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" was the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone, issue number 963, published December 9, 2004, a year after the magazine published its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"....
list. It was the lower-ranked of two Shirelles songs; "Will You Love Me Tomorrow
Will You Love Me Tomorrow
"Will You Love Me Tomorrow", also known as "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and originally recorded by The Shirelles. It has been recorded by many artists and was ranked among Rolling Stone 's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time at #125...
" was ranked 126th.
Personnel
- Lead vocals: Shirley OwensShirley OwensShirley Alston Reeves was the lead member of the hit singing group, The Shirelles. As well as Owens, the Shirelles consisted of classmates of hers from Passaic High School, New Jersey: Addie "Micki" Harris, Doris Kenner Jackson, and Beverly Lee. Through marriages, she became Shirley Alston and...
- Backing vocals: Doris ColeyDoris ColeyDoris Coley was a member of the Shirelles. She initially left the group in 1968, but returned in 1975....
, Beverly LeeBeverly LeeBeverly Lee was a member of the all girl vocal pop group, The Shirelles. She was born on August 3, 1941, in Passaic, New Jersey.Today, she holds the trademark for the Shirelles' name.-External links:*...
, Addie "Micki" Harris