Be Yourself Tonight

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1985 studio album by Eurythmics

title: "Be Yourself Tonight" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1985-albums", "albums-produced-by-dave-stewart-(eurythmics)", "contemporary-r&b-albums-by-english-artists", "eurythmics-albums", "rca-records-albums"] description: "1985 studio album by Eurythmics" topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_Yourself_Tonight" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1985 studio album by Eurythmics ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]

FieldValue
nameBe Yourself Tonight
typestudio
artistEurythmics
coverEurythmics - Be Yourself Tonight.png
altA photograph of Annie now wearing a jacket, seen with white hair. The name of the duo is seen in red scrolling vertically.
released29 April 1985
recordedNovember 1984 – January 1985 in Paris, Detroit and Los Angeles
* New wave<ref name"AllMusic"/
* soul<ref name"AllMusic"/
* pop rock<ref name"AllMusic"/
* synth-pop<ref name"Weisbard & Marks 1995"
length43:33
labelRCA
producerDavid A. Stewart
prev_title1984 (For the Love of Big Brother)
prev_year1984
next_titleRevenge
next_year1986
misc{{Singles
nameBe Yourself Tonight
typestudio
single1Would I Lie to You?
single1date9 April 1985
single2There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)
single2date24 June 1985
single3Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves
single3date21 October 1985
single4It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)
single4date30 December 1985
::

| name = Be Yourself Tonight | type = studio | artist = Eurythmics | cover = Eurythmics - Be Yourself Tonight.png | alt = A photograph of Annie now wearing a jacket, seen with white hair. The name of the duo is seen in red scrolling vertically. | released = 29 April 1985 | recorded = November 1984 – January 1985 in Paris, Detroit and Los Angeles | studio = | genre =

Be Yourself Tonight is the fourth studio album by British pop duo Eurythmics, released on 29 April 1985 by RCA Records. It spawned four singles – "Would I Lie to You?", "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)", "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (a duet with Aretha Franklin) and "It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)". The album has been described as their most commercially successful album, and has been pitched as "one of the greatest pop and rock albums of the 1980s". A notable departure from both the musical composition and image of their previous albums, Be Yourself Tonight was widely regarded as an example of their finest work due to their continued "innovation" of their music.

It was a major commercial success for Eurythmics on international albums charts, reaching the top five in regions including Australia (where it reached number one), New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Finland and the United Kingdom. Elsewhere, it reached the top ten in the United States, Switzerland and Germany.

It was nominated for the Billboard Music Award for Top Billboard 200 Album and Top Compact Disk Award at the 1985 Billboard Music Awards and the Brit Award for British Album of the Year at the 1986 Brit Awards. Two of the albums singles – "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" and "Would I Lie to You?" were nominated for two awards at the 28th Annual Grammy Awards in 1986 for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal respectively.

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 pop/rock sound with some R&B elements. Songs, such as "Would I Lie To You?" were influenced by 1960s style music, as well as utilising American soul and British pop. 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. The album features a range of genres performed by the duo, many of which were performed by the band for the first time. It has been described as both a "masterpiece" and "one of the best pop/rock albums of the 1980s" largely in part a result of their "innovation and ability to not succumb to the machine”.

Release and promotion

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

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. The album was certified double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), indicating sales in excess of 600,000 copies, and Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales in excess of one million copies.

Track listing

| all_writing = Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart, except where noted | title1 = Would I Lie to You? | length1 = 4:25 | title2 = There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart) | length2 = 5:22 | title3 = I Love You Like a Ball and Chain | length3 = 4:04 | title4 = Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves | note4 = duet with Aretha Franklin | length4 = 5:54 | title5 = Conditioned Soul | length5 = 4:30 | title6 = Adrian | note6 = duet with Elvis Costello | length6 = 4:29 | title7 = It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back) | length7 = 3:45 | title8 = Here Comes That Sinking Feeling | length8 = 5:40 | title9 = Better to Have Lost in Love (Than Never to Have Loved at All) | length9 = 5:06 | total_length = 43:15 | headline = 2005 special edition bonus tracks | title10 = Grown Up Girls | length10 = 4:12 | title11 = Tous les garçons et les filles | writer11 = | length11 = 3:25 | title12 = Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves | note12 = duet with Aretha Franklin) (ET Mix | length12 = 7:48 | title13 = Would I Lie to You? | note13 = Extended Mix | length13 = 4:59 | title14 = Conditioned Soul | note14 = Live | length14 = 5:07 | title15 = Hello I Love You | writer15 = | length15 = 2:50 | total_length = 71:36

Notes

  • Track 4 is edited to 5:22 on the 2018 vinyl remaster
  • Track 9 is incorrectly labelled "Better to Have Lost in Love (Then Never to Have Loved at All)" on the 2005 remastered reissue.
  • Track 13 of the 2005 remastered reissue is listed as the "ET Mix", but it is actually the "Extended Mix" from the "Would I Lie to You?" 12-inch single.
  • The live version of "Conditioned Soul" (track 14) was recorded on 14 February 1987, not in 1985. It was captured during Eurythmics' Revenge Tour at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, and it's the same performance featured in their Eurythmics Live video. This was omitted from the final video release but remains part of the audio recording used for the bonus track.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Be Yourself Tonight.

Eurythmics

  • Annie Lennox – vocals (all tracks); keyboards (tracks 2–6, 8, 9); keyboard sequencers (track 7)
  • David A. Stewart – guitars (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6–9); sequencers (tracks 1, 5, 7); keyboards (tracks 2–5, 8, 9); bass sequencer, drum computer program (track 3); electric guitar, slide guitar (track 5); six-stringed octave guitar (track 6)

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

  • David A. Stewart – production, mixing
  • Adam Williams – mixing (tracks 1–3, 5, 7, 9); engineering (tracks 2, 4–9)
  • Don Smith – special help (track 1); engineering (tracks 2, 4); mixing (tracks 3, 4, 6, 8); additional engineering (track 6)
  • Jay Willis – engineering assistance (tracks 2–4)
  • Shelly Yakus – drum recording (track 4)
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering

Artwork

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table title="Weekly chart performance for ''Be Yourself Tonight''"] | Chart (1985) | Peak position | Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) | European Albums (Eurotipsheet) | Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) | French Albums (IFOP) | Italian Albums (Musica e dischi) | Japanese Albums (Oricon) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | | | | | | | | | 5 | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | 20 | | | | | | | | | 18 | | | | | | | | | 44 | | | | | | | | ::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table title="1985 year-end chart performance for ''Be Yourself Tonight''"]

Chart (1985)PositionAustralian Albums (Kent Music Report)Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)European Albums (Eurotipsheet)German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)Norwegian Autumn Period Albums (VG-lista)Norwegian Summer Period Albums (VG-lista)UK Albums (Gallup)US Billboard 200
5
17
16
10
28
12
16
6
15
54
::

::data[format=table title="1986 year-end chart performance for ''Be Yourself Tonight''"]

Chart (1986)PositionAustralian Albums (Kent Music Report)Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)European Albums (Music & Media)UK Albums (Gallup)
86
75
53
30
::

Certifications and sales

References

Bibliography

References

  1. Gerard, Chris. (15 April 2024). "The 100 Best Alternative Songs of the 1980s".
  2. (1995). "[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]". [[Vintage Books]].
  3. Promis, Jose F.. "Be Yourself Tonight – Eurythmics".
  4. Larkin, Colin. (2011). "The Encyclopedia of Popular Music". [[Omnibus Press]].
  5. Page, Betty. (4 May 1985). "Albums".
  6. Considine, J. D.. (2004). "[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide". [[Simon & Schuster]].
  7. Rice, Maureen. (8–21 May 1985). "Eurythmics: Be Yourself Tonight".
  8. Christgau, Robert. (27 August 1985). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". [[The Village Voice]].
  9. (4 May 1985). "News".
  10. "Official Albums Chart on 12/5/1985".
  11. "NZ Charts".
  12. (14 January 2015). "Chartifacts".
  13. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts".
  14. "Eurythmics {{!}} Biography, Music & News".
  15. (28 December 1985). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
  16. (28 April 2020). "Revisiting Eurythmics' 'Be Yourself Tonight' (1985) {{!}} Tribute".
  17. "Be Yourself Tonight, Album".
  18. "Gold & Platinum".
  19. Eurythmics. (1985). "Be Yourself Tonight". [[RCA Records]].
  20. "Chartifacts". [[Australian Recording Industry Association]].
  21. (17 June 1985). "European Top 100 Albums".
  22. Pennanen, Timo. (2006). "Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972". [[Otava (publisher).
  23. "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste".
  24. "Classifiche". [[Musica e dischi]].
  25. Okamoto, Satoshi. (2006). "Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005". [[Oricon.
  26. (25 December 1985). "RPM's Top 100 Albums of 1985".
  27. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1985". [[Dutch Charts]].
  28. (23 December 1985). "Pan-European Awards 1985".
  29. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1985". GfK Entertainment.
  30. "Top Selling Albums of 1985". [[Recorded Music NZ]].
  31. "Topp 40 Album Høst 1985". [[VG-lista]].
  32. "Topp 40 Album Sommer 1985". VG-lista.
  33. (18 January 1986). "Top 100 Albums (January 5–December 28, 1985)".
  34. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1985".
  35. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1986". Dutch Charts.
  36. (27 December 1986). "European Hot 100 Albums – Hot 100 of the Year 1986".
  37. (24 January 1987). "Top 100 Albums (January to December 1986)".
  38. Barker, Glenn A.. (9 November 1985). "Majors".
  39. Serpa, Paulo Ernesto. (2 January 1990). "A parada de sucessos do Hollywood Rock". [[Jornal do Brasil]].

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