Wonderful Tonight

For the racehorse, see Wonderful Tonight (horse).

"Wonderful Tonight" is a song written and performed by English singer Eric Clapton. The ballad was included on Clapton's 1977 album Slowhand. Clapton wrote the song on his 1974 Martin D-28 guitar about Pattie Boyd.^[2] The female vocal harmonies on the song are provided by Marcella Detroit (then Marcy Levy) and Yvonne Elliman. It peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 15 July 1978, spending seven weeks in the top 40. In Canada it was in the top 40 for nine weeks.

"Wonderful Tonight"
Single by Eric Clapton
from the album Slowhand
B-side	"Peaches and Diesel"
Released	10 March 1978 (1978-03-10)[1]
Genre	Soft rock
Length	3:45
Label	RSO
Songwriter(s)	Eric Clapton
Producer(s)	Glyn Johns
Eric Clapton singles chronology
"Lay Down Sally" (1977) "Wonderful Tonight" (1978) "Promises" (1978)

Background

On 7 September 1976, Eric Clapton wrote "Wonderful Tonight" for then-girlfriend Pattie Boyd while waiting for her to get ready to attend Paul and Linda McCartney's annual Buddy Holly party.^{[citation needed]} The song is mentioned in her 2007 autobiographical book Wonderful Today.

Reception

Billboard described "Wonderful Tonight" as "perhaps Clapton's prettiest and mellowest love ballad in some time."^[3] Billboard particularly praised Clapton's guitar playing during the interludes.^[3] Cash Box said that "Eric’s singing is superbly understated; the guitar work is simple and evocative" and praised "the gentle beat and organ accompaniment."^[4] Record World called it a "light, pretty ballad from [the album Slowhand that should also move quickly up the charts" and praised Clapton's singing."^[5]

Personnel

• Eric Clapton – lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar
• George Terry – rhythm guitar
• Dick Sims – Fender Rhodes and Hammond organ
• Carl Radle – bass guitar
• Jamie Oldaker – drums and percussion
• Marcy Levy and Yvonne Elliman – harmony and backing vocals

Performance

In 1988, Clapton appeared in the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert as a guest guitarist for Dire Straits. The group became his backing musicians for a surprise performance of "Wonderful Tonight" during their set.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1978) Peak position Canada (CHUM)[6] 16 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] 15 France (IFOP)[8] 3 Ireland (IRMA)[9] 13 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] 26 US Billboard Hot 100[11] 16 US Billboard Adult Contemporary[12] 39 Chart (1988) Peak position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 5 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[14] 6 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[1] 2 Chart (1991–1992) Peak position Japan International Singles (Oricon)[16] 1 UK Singles (OCC)[17] Live version 30 Chart (2009) Peak position UK Singles (OCC)[18] 81

Year-end charts Chart (1978) Position Canadian Top Singles (RPM)[19] 144 Chart (1988) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 39 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 14 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 9

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Wonderful Tonight"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[23]	Gold	45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[24]	Gold	35,000‡
Japan (RIAJ)[25]	Million	1,000,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[26]	Platinum	600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[27]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

Damage version

"Wonderful Tonight"
Single by Damage
from the album Forever
B-side	"I'm Ready"
Released	28 April 1997 (1997-04-28)
Length	4:01
Label	Big Life
Songwriter(s)	Eric Clapton
Producer(s)	Steve Mac
Damage singles chronology
"Love Guaranteed" (1997) "Wonderful Tonight" (1997) "Love Lady" (1997)

British R&B group Damage covered "Wonderful Tonight" and released it as the fifth single from their debut studio album, Forever (1997), in April 1997. The single peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's highest-charting single. The song is prominently performed by Coreé Richards, with little vocal input from any other members of the band. The music video features the band performing the song in a recording studio with cut scenes of a girl preparing to go on a night out. The B-side, "I'm Ready", launched the career of Craig David, being the first song he had ever written to be released by himself or another artist.

Track listings

• UK CD1^[28]

1. "Wonderful Tonight"
2. "I'm Ready" (Rashaan J Bromfield, Coreé Richards, Noel Simpson, Jade Jones, Andrez Harriott, Craig David)
3. "Wonderful Tonight" (Ethnic Boyz Mix)

• UK CD2^[29]

1. "Wonderful Tonight" (acoustic mix)
2. "Just My Imagination" (Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong)
3. "Love II Love" (acoustic mix)

• UK cassette single^[30]

1. "Wonderful Tonight"
2. "I'm Ready" (Bromfield, Richards, Simpson, Jones, Harriott, David)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1997) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[31] 39 Estonia (Eesti Top 20)[32] 11 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[33] 30 Ireland (IRMA)[34] 15 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[35] 26 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[36] 26 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[37] 34 Scotland (OCC)[38] 12 UK Singles (OCC)[39] 3 UK Indie (Music Week)[40] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position UK Singles (OCC)[41] 77

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[42]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	28 April 1997	CD cassette	Big Life	[43]
United States	9 September 1997	Rhythmic contemporary contemporary hit radio	Critique	[44]

David Kersh version

"Wonderful Tonight"
Single by David Kersh
from the album If I Never Stop Loving You
Released	14 March 1998
Genre	Country
Label	Curb
Songwriter(s)	Eric Clapton
Producer(s)	Pat McMakin
David Kersh singles chronology
"If I Never Stop Loving You" (1997) "Wonderful Tonight" (1998) "Something to Think About" (1998)

"Wonderful Tonight" was covered by country singer David Kersh on his album If I Never Stop Loving You in 1998. His version went to number 29 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

Charts

Chart (1998)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[45]	45
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[46]	29

Butch Baker version

The song was covered by country music singer Butch Baker on his album We Will, whose rendition reached number 66 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1989.^[47]