Wonderful Tonight

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For the racehorse, see Wonderful Tonight (horse).

"Wonderful Tonight"
Single by Eric Clapton
from the album Slowhand
B-side"Peaches and Diesel"
Released10 March 1978 (1978-03-10)[1]
GenreSoft rock
Length3:45
LabelRSO
SongwriterEric Clapton
ProducerGlyn Johns
Eric Clapton singles chronology
"Lay Down Sally"
(1977) 		"Wonderful Tonight"
(1978) 		"Promises"
(1978)

"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.

Background

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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

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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

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Performance

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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

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Certifications

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Certifications and sales for "Wonderful Tonight"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[23] Platinum 90,000‡
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

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Damage version

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"Wonderful Tonight"
Single by Damage
from the album Forever
B-side"I'm Ready"
Released28 April 1997 (1997-04-28)
Length4:01
LabelBig Life
SongwriterEric Clapton
ProducerSteve 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

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  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)
  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

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 28 April 1997
  • CD
  • cassette
 Big Life [44]
United States 9 September 1997
Critique [45]

David Kersh version

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"Wonderful Tonight"
Single by David Kersh
from the album If I Never Stop Loving You
Released14 March 1998
GenreCountry
LabelCurb
SongwriterEric Clapton
ProducerPat 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

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Chart (1998) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[46] 45
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[47] 29

Butch Baker version

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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.[48]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  2. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). "the hard-rock pioneer and guitar god also become a soft-rock star in the mid-1970s. He celebrated his sobriety with (... ) the Top 5 hit "Lay Down Sally" and hit No. 16 with the ballad "Wonderful Tonight," both off his 1977 Slowhand album"
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  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).. CHUM. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4615a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  8. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Wonderful Tonight". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  10. ^ "Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  11. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  13. ^ "Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  14. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  15. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  16. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  17. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
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  31. ^ "Damage – Wonderful Tonight". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
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  34. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Damage". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  35. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 28, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  36. ^ "Damage – Wonderful Tonight" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  37. ^ "Damage – Wonderful Tonight". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  38. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  39. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
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  46. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 7891." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 24 August 1998. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  47. ^ "David Kersh Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
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