Baby, It's Tonight

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"Baby, It's Tonight"
Baby, It's Tonight.png
Single by Jude Cole
from the album A View from 3rd Street
B-side "Heart of Blues"
ReleasedMarch 1990
Recorded1989
Genre Pop rock
Length3:40
Label Reprise
Songwriter Jude Cole
Producer David Tyson
Jude Cole singles chronology
"You Were in My Heart"
(1987)		"Baby, It's Tonight"
(1990)		"Time for Letting Go"
(1990)

"Baby, It's Tonight" is a song by American singer-songwriter and guitarist Jude Cole. It was written by Cole and produced by David Tyson.

Contents

"Baby, It's Tonight" was released on Reprise Records as the first single from his second album A View from 3rd Street . [1] It was his highest-charting single, peaking at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. [2] [3] It also peaked at No. 3 on the Album Rock Tracks chart and No. 6 on the RPM Top Singles Chart. Eventually, the song reached No. 37 on the RPM Year-End Top Singles chart and No. 11 on the Year-End Mainstream Rock chart.

Release and reception

Upon release in early 1990, “Baby, It’s Tonight” received favorable attention from U.S. radio-industry publications. The Hard Report noted that programmers responded strongly to the single, praising its smooth pop-rock production and accessible melody, which made it an easy fit for adult-leaning Top 40 playlists. [4] In subsequent weeks, the publication continued to list the track among the most-added songs at mainstream and adult-oriented radio stations, indicating rapid early airplay growth nationwide. [5]

Radio & Records also documented the song’s steady rotation increase throughout March and April 1990, as multiple AC and CHR stations added the single to their regular playlists. The magazine highlighted the track’s strong listener callout response and noted that Cole’s vocal delivery contributed to its appeal among both pop and adult-contemporary audiences. [6] In later issues, Radio & Records reported that the song maintained momentum across major markets, placing within the publication’s upper chart tiers for several consecutive weeks. [7]

Billboard documented its rising airplay and chart position. In April 1990, the Hot 100 Breakdown pages highlighted the song as one of the week’s notable upward movers as it entered the Top 40. [8] By mid-May, “Baby, It’s Tonight” continued to advance on the Hot 100, supported by strong radio rotation and crossover performance on Adult Contemporary charts, where it approached the Top 20. [9] In its June reporting, Billboard recorded the single’s peak position at No. 16 on the Hot 100, marking Jude Cole’s highest-charting song and reflecting sustained multi-format support. [10]

Music trade publication Gavin Report also recognized the song’s performance within the Adult Contemporary domain, noting that programmers favored the track for its melodic structure and compatibility with early-1990 AC programming trends. The single appeared on the magazine’s list of growing AC tracks through the spring of 1990. [11]

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1990)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [12] 106
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [13] 6
US Billboard Hot 100 [14] 16
US Album Rock Tracks ( Billboard ) [15] 3
US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [15] 19

Year-end charts

Chart (1990)Peak
position
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [16] 37
US Album Rock Tracks ( Billboard ) [17] 11

References

  1. ↑ "The Foote Files: A Lost Hit of the 90s: 'Baby, It's Tonight'". CBS News (Texas). November 1, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  2. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2010). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (9th ed.). New York: Clarkson Potter / Ten Speed. p. 736. ISBN 978-0-8230-8554-5. Retrieved from The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits.
  3. ↑ "Hot 100 – June 23, 1990". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  4. ↑ "The Hard Report – March 16, 1990" (PDF). The Hard Report. March 16, 1990. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  5. ↑ "The Hard Report – March 23, 1990" (PDF). The Hard Report. March 23, 1990. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Radio & Records – March 30, 1990" (PDF). Radio & Records. March 30, 1990. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Radio & Records – April 20, 1990" (PDF). Radio & Records. April 20, 1990. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Billboard – April 21, 1990" (PDF). Billboard. April 21, 1990. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Billboard – May 12, 1990" (PDF). Billboard. May 12, 1990. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Billboard – June 2, 1990" (PDF). Billboard. June 2, 1990. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Gavin Report – April 6, 1990" (PDF). The Gavin Report. April 6, 1990. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Week commencing 14 May 1990 – Australian singles chart beyond Top 100: "Baby, It's Tonight" #106". Bubbling Down Under. May 14, 1990. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1260." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Baby, It's Tonight – Jude Cole (Single)". elpee.jp. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  15. 1 2 "Baby, It's Tonight — Jude Cole". Music VF. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9139." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  17. ↑ "The Year in Music 1990: Top Album Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 51. December 22, 1990. p. YE-47.
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