Be Yourself Tonight

Last updated

Be Yourself Tonight
Eurythmics - Be Yourself Tonight.png
Studio album by
Eurythmics
Released29 April 1985
RecordedNovember 1984 – January 1985 in Paris, Detroit and Los Angeles
Genre
Length43:15
Label RCA
Producer David A. Stewart
Eurythmics chronology
1984 (For the Love of Big Brother)
(1984)		Be Yourself Tonight
(1985)		 Revenge
(1986)
Singles from Be Yourself Tonight
  1. "Would I Lie to You?"
    Released: 9 April 1985
  2. "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)"
    Released: 24 June 1985
  3. "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves"
    Released: 1 October 1985
  4. "It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)"
    Released: 30 December 1985
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Record Mirror Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Smash Hits 71⁄2/10 [6]
The Village Voice B+ [7]

Be Yourself Tonight is the fourth studio album by British pop duo Eurythmics, released on 29 April 1985 by RCA Records. [8]

Contents

Background

Largely recorded in Paris, with additional recording in Detroit and Los Angeles, this album saw Eurythmics move away from their previous more experimental, synthesizer-based songs, to a more commercial pop/rock sound. Combining elements of Motown and rock music, the album incorporates a more traditional band line-up/instrumentation. Nonetheless, the recordings still possessed an atmospheric and cutting edge sound, winning David A. Stewart awards for his production work on the album. The release of the album coincided with a new look for singer Annie Lennox, who ditched the androgynous look of the previous albums and became, in biographer Lucy O'Brien's words, "a bleach-blonde rock 'n' roller". Be Yourself Tonight includes guest appearances by notable artists such as Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Elvis Costello.

Chart performance

Be Yourself Tonight reached the top 3 in the UK and top 10 in the US, as well as spawning several hit singles. The album includes the duo's first (and only) UK number-one "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)". The first single released was "Would I Lie to You?". It would hit #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, #6 on the Cash Box Top 100 and also hit #1 in Australia.

No tour followed the album's release, due to Lennox's recuperation from vocal fold nodules (which also caused her to miss 1985's Live Aid concert).

On 14 November 2005, Sony BMG repackaged and released Eurythmics' back catalogue as "2005 Deluxe Edition Reissues". Each of their eight studio albums' original track listings were supplemented with bonus tracks and remixes.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart, except where noted

No.TitleLength
1."Would I Lie to You?"4:25
2."There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)"5:22
3."I Love You Like a Ball and Chain"4:04
4."Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (duet with Aretha Franklin)5:54
5."Conditioned Soul"4:30
6."Adrian" (duet with Elvis Costello)4:29
7."It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)"3:45
8."Here Comes That Sinking Feeling"5:40
9."Better to Have Lost in Love (Than Never to Have Loved at All)"5:06
Total length:43:15
2005 special edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Grown Up Girls" 4:12
11."Tous les garçons et les filles"
3:25
12."Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (duet with Aretha Franklin) (ET Mix) 7:48
13."Would I Lie to You?" (Extended Mix) 4:59
14."Conditioned Soul" (Live) 5:07
15."Hello I Love You"
2:50
Total length:71:36

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Be Yourself Tonight. [9]

Eurythmics

Additional musicians

  • Nathan East – bass (tracks 1, 4)
  • Olle Romo – drums (tracks 1, 2, 5–9); wood stomping (track 3)
  • Benmont Tench – organ (tracks 1, 4)
  • Dave Plews – trumpet (tracks 1, 7)
  • Martin Dobson – saxophones (tracks 1, 7)
  • Dean Garcia – bass (tracks 2, 5–9); wood stomping (track 3)
  • Michael Kamen – strings (tracks 2, 9); celeste (track 6); brass arrangement idea (track 7); keyboard solo, string parts (track 8)
  • Stevie Wonder – harmonica (track 2)
  • Angel Cross – backing vocals (track 2)
  • The Charles Williams Singers – backing vocals (track 3); gospel choir (track 4)
  • Adam Williams – drum computer program (track 3)
  • Sadie (and other uncredited performers) – gravel stomping (track 3)
  • Aretha Franklin – "super" vocals (track 4)
  • Stan Lynch – drums (track 4)
  • Mike Campbell – lead guitar (tracks 4, 6)
  • Elvis Costello – harmony vocal (track 6)

Technical

Artwork

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Be Yourself Tonight
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia—150,000 [40]
Brazil—56,000 [41]
Canada (Music Canada) [42] 2× Platinum200,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) [43] Gold27,170 [43]
France (SNEP) [44] Gold100,000*
Germany (BVMI) [45] Gold250,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [46] Platinum15,000^
Sweden (GLF) [47] 2× Platinum200,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [48] 2× Platinum600,000^
United States (RIAA) [49] Platinum1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurythmics discography</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves</span> 1985 single by Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Would I Lie to You? (Eurythmics song)</span> 1985 single by Eurythmics

"Would I Lie to You?" is a song written and performed by British pop duo Eurythmics. Released on 9 April 1985 as the lead single from the band's fourth studio album, Be Yourself Tonight (1985), the song was the first by the duo to feature their change in musical direction from a predominantly synthpop style to rock and rhythm and blues. The song, and its accompanying album, featured a full backing band and relied less on electronic programming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)</span> 1985 single by Eurythmics

"There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" is a song by the British musical duo Eurythmics, released as the second single from their fifth studio album, Be Yourself Tonight (1985). It features a harmonica solo by American musician Stevie Wonder. The song became a worldwide success; most notably in Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom, where it remains the duo's only chart-topper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)</span> 1985 single by Eurythmics

"It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)" is a song written and recorded by the British pop music duo Eurythmics. It was released as the fourth and final single from their 1985 album Be Yourself Tonight. The song was produced by Dave Stewart, and the song's brass arrangement was devised by Michael Kamen.

References

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  43. 1 2 "Eurythmics" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
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  49. ↑ "American album certifications – Eurythmics – Be Yourself Tonight". Recording Industry Association of America. 13 September 1985.

Bibliography

Further reading

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