Tonight, Tonight, Tonight
"Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" is the second track on the 1986 album Invisible Touch by Genesis, released in March 1987 as the fourth single from the album. It peaked at No. 3 in the US and No. 18 in the UK. The working title was "Monkey, Zulu".
Background and composition[edit]
In a video documentary on the making of the album Invisible Touch,[2] the song was based around a drum pattern written by Phil Collins on a LinnDrum drum machine. Keyboardist Tony Banks accompanied this with an ominous sounding chord progression which set up the dark atmosphere of the song, which lead to the creation of lyrics - which deal with a drug addict trying to make contact with his dealer to get his next fix. Mentioned in the words are the struggle with addiction ('a load on your back that you can't see', 'shake it loose', 'let it go', 'just get it away from me'), increasingly desperate attempts to get hold of the dealer ('I've got to get it (the money) to you', 'I keep calling but you're never home'), with the middle eight culminating in a final explosive release of anger and an anguished plea for help ('but now I'm in too deep', 'please get me out of here!'), with Collins' overdubbing a series of powerful drum fills using his trademark gated reverb sound. The album version runs for almost nine minutes due to a long refrain and keyboard solo in the middle, which was omitted for the single version and radio play.
Versions[edit]
The single included an edited version (at 4:32) and the first part of "Domino" ("In the Glow of the Night") as the B-side. A new edit of the single version was released on the 1999 compilation Turn It On Again: The Hits (as well as its "sequel" The Tour Edition) and later on The Platinum Collection. This revised edit features a different cross fade and different edit points as compared to the original 1987 edit version. Some singles that included the full version of the song included the second part of "Domino" ("The Last Domino") as the B-side. Other releases contained the song "Paperlate" and a 12" remix of "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight". The full live version from the Live at Wembley Stadium video was included as a B-side on the "Never A Time" CD single.
The song was performed during concerts in support of Invisible Touch. A shorter version (which segued into "Invisible Touch") was played on the We Can't Dance, Turn It On Again, and The Last Domino? tours, albeit transposed down a key to account for the deepening of Phil Collins's voice.
Cash Box said it has a "remote, eery...ambiance that features Phil Collins' emotional singing and propulsive drumming."[3]
The song was used in a beer advertisement.[3]
Music video[edit]
The music video for the song was shot in the Bradbury Building in Los Angeles.
7": Virgin / GENS 4 United Kingdom
12": Virgin / GENSG 4–12 United Kingdom
12": Virgin / GENS 4–12 United Kingdom
CD: Virgin / CDEP1 United Kingdom
Note: A rare withdrawn UK CD-single contained "Invisible Touch" (Extended Remix)" instead of "Paperlate"