"Baby, It's Tonight" is a song by American singer-songwriter and guitarist Jude Cole. Written by Cole and produced by David Tyson, the song was released by Reprise Records in March 1990 as the lead single from his second album, A View from 3rd Street (1990).[1]
"Baby It's Tonight" remains Cole's highest-charting single, peaking at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2][3] It also peaked at number 3 on the Album Rock Tracks chart in the US and number six on the RPM Top Singles Chart. On year-end charts, the song ranked 11th on the Top Album Rock Tracks chart and 37th on the RPM Top Singles chart.
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 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][failed verification] 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 the Adult Contemporary chart, 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 Cole's highest-charting song and reflecting sustained multi-format support.[10]
Music trade publication Gavin Report 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.[failed verification] The single appeared on the magazine's list of growing AC tracks through the spring of 1990.[11]
↑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.
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