Thursday Inspiration #147 Tonight’s the Night

Respond to this challenge, by either by using the prompt word pretty, or going with the above picture, or by means of the song ‘Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)’, or by going with another song by Rod Stewart, or anything else that you think fits.  Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright) was written by Rod Stewart, and recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama for his 1976 seventh studio album A Night on the Town.  The song was controversial at the time, and it was banned by certain radio stations, but it was a massive commercial success, as it became his second US chart topper on the Billboard Hot 100.  Rod Stewart said that he got the inspiration to write this song when he was working with guitarist Steve Cropper and someone said that line.  Dan Peek, a founding member of the band America remembers it differently, saying that he played the America song that he wrote from their 1976 album Hideaway ‘Today is the Day’ and Rod liked it and said that it gave him an idea for a song.  Peek’s song, which was produced by George Martin, was much more reserved, but some of the lyrics seem similar with, “Hold me close, you turn nighttime into day.  And you’re the most brightest star that lights my way.”  ‘Today’s the Day’ peaked at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Rod’s song stayed at #1 for eight consecutive weeks, becoming the longest run for a #1 song since the Beatles’ song ‘Hey Jude’ in 1968 and this helped to revive Stewart’s career.

This song starts out innocent enough, with the two of them being alone in his house at night kicking back.  He starts enticing her to take her clothes off, as he pours her a drink, probably hoping that she will get intoxicated.  The song gets a bit sleezy when you find out that the girl who he is trying to convince to have sex with him is a virgin.  The line, “Spread your wings and let me come inside”, got this song banned by the BBC.  At the end of this song, the girl speaks French and says, “I’m scared.  What will my mom say?”  The thing is that she doesn’t have to tell her mom, as long as she doesn’t get pregnant or catch a sexually transmitted disease.  Rod is still trying to convince her, so he speaks in French also saying, “My love come closer, kiss me.  Oh, I adore you a lot.  Tonight my friend.  Yes tonight my friend.  I love you I love you I love you.”  The female French spoken part was sung by Britt Ekland who was Rod Stewart’s girlfriend at the time.  Joan Collins introduced the couple to each other in 1975.  In 1981, the Swedish actress claimed that she ended her relationship with Stewart because he had been unfaithful.  The saxophone solo is by Jerry Jumonville.  In 2010, Rolling Stone listed this song as one of the 500 greatest songs of all time.

Relax baby and draw that blind
Kick off your shoes and sit right down
Loosen off that pretty French gown
Let me pour you a good long drink