Wonderful Tonight - wikipedia Wonderful Tonight `` Wonderful Tonight '' Single by Eric Clapton from the album Slowhand B - side `` Peaches and Diesel '' Released 1977 Format 45 Record Recorded May 1977 Genre Soft rock Length 3 : 43 Label RSO Songwriter ( s ) Eric Clapton Producer ( s ) Glyn Johns Eric Clapton singles chronology `` Lay Down Sally '' ( 1977 ) `` Wonderful Tonight '' ( 1977 ) `` Promises '' ( 1978 ) `` Wonderful Tonight '' is a ballad written by Eric Clapton. It was included on Clapton 's 1977 album Slowhand. Clapton wrote the song about Pattie Boyd. The female vocal harmonies on the song are provided by Marcella Detroit ( then Marcy Levy ) and Yvonne Elliman. Contents 1 Background 2 Personnel 3 Performance 4 Chart performance 4.1 Weekly charts 4.2 Year - end charts 5 Certifications 6 Cover versions 6.1 Damage version 6.2 David Kersh version 6.3 Butch Baker version 7 References 8 External links Background On 7 September 1976, Clapton wrote `` Wonderful Tonight '' for Boyd while waiting for her to get ready to attend Paul and Linda McCartney 's annual Buddy Holly party. Of `` Wonderful Tonight '', Boyd would say : `` For years it tore at me. To have inspired Eric, and George before him, to write such music was so flattering. ' Wonderful Tonight ' was the most poignant reminder of all that was good in our relationship, and when things went wrong it was torture to hear it. '' The song is mentioned in her autobiographical book Wonderful Tonight : George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me. Personnel Eric Clapton -- lead vocals, guitar Jamie Oldaker -- drums, percussion Carl Radle -- bass guitar Dick Sims -- fender rhodes, hammond organ George Terry -- guitar Yvonne Elliman -- harmony and backing vocals Marcy Levy -- harmony and backing vocals Performance 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. The song was featured in the film Captain Phillips and in the Friends season 6 episode `` The One With the Proposal Part 2 '' ( 18 May 2000 ) where Monica and Chandler dance to it at the end of the episode after getting engaged. The song was also featured on Ricky Gervais 's radio show, where producer Karl Pilkington argued that the lyrics suggested that it came from the point of view of a disabled man in a wheelchair. Both Gervais and co-host Stephen Merchant dismissed Pilkington 's claims as conjecture. Clapton performed an extended version of `` Wonderful Tonight '' between 1987 and 2003, featuring Katie Kissoon and Tracy Ackerman on backing vocals and David Sancious on saxophone. Clapton and Steve Winwood performed an acoustic version of the song during their 2011 tour in Japan. Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1978 -- 2000 ) Peak position Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 5 Belgium ( VRT Top 30 Flanders ) 6 Canada ( CHUM ) 16 Canadian Top Singles ( RPM ) 15 France ( IFOP ) Ireland ( IRMA ) 13 Japanese International Singles ( Oricon ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 26 US Billboard Hot 100 16 US Billboard Adult Contemporary 39 Year - end charts Chart ( 1978 ) Position Canadian Top Singles ( RPM ) 144 Chart ( 1988 ) Position Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 39 Netherlands ( Dutch Singles 100 ) 9 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Chile ( IFPI Chile ) 2 × Platinum 30,000 Denmark ( IFPI Denmark ) 2 × Platinum 20,000 France ( SNEP ) Silver 250,000 Greece ( IFPI Greece ) 2 × Platinum 40,000 Iceland ( IFPI Iceland ) 2 × Platinum 12,000 Japan ( RIAJ ) Million 1,000,000 Macao ( IFPI Macao ) Gold 15,000 Portugal ( AFP ) 2 × Platinum 100,000 Russia ( NFPF ) Gold 10,000 United Kingdom ( BPI ) Silver 250,000 United States ( RIAA ) Gold 1,000,000 Uruguay ( CUD ) Gold 10,000 Summaries Worldwide ( IFPI ) 4,000,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone Cover versions Damage version `` Wonderful Tonight '' Single by Damage from the album Forever B - side `` I 'm Ready '' Released 28 April 1997 Format CD single, cassette Genre R&B Length 4 : 01 Label Big Life Records Songwriter ( s ) Eric Clapton Producer ( s ) Steve Mac Damage singles chronology `` Love Guaranteed '' ( 1997 ) `` Wonderful Tonight '' ( 1997 ) `` Love Lady '' ( 1997 ) `` Wonderful Tonight '' was covered by British R&B / pop group Damage in 1997, and was released as the fifth single from the band 's debut studio album, Forever. The single peaked at # 3 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band 's most successful single to date, also peaking high in several other territories, which was a first for the band. The song is prominently performed by 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 listing CD1 `` Wonderful Tonight '' -- 4 : 01 `` I 'm Ready '' ( Bromfield / Richards / Simpson / Jones / Harriott / Craig David, produced by Mark Lewis ) `` Wonderful Tonight '' ( Ethnic Boyz Mix ) CD2 `` Wonderful Tonight '' ( Acoustic Mix ) `` Just My Imagination '' ( Whitfield / Strong, produced by Howard Francis ) `` Love II Love '' ( Acoustic Mix ) Cassette `` Wonderful Tonight '' -- 4 : 01 `` I 'm Ready '' Chart performance Chart ( 1997 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) 39 Ireland ( IRMA ) 15 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 26 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 34 Scotland ( Official Charts Company ) 12 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) David Kersh version `` Wonderful Tonight '' Single by David Kersh from the album If I Never Stop Loving You Released 14 March 1998 Genre Country Label Curb Songwriter ( s ) Eric Clapton Producer ( s ) Pat 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 in 1998. His version went to # 29 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Chart performance Chart ( 1998 ) Peak position Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) 45 US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) 29 Butch Baker version This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2016 ) The song was covered by country music singer Butch Baker, whose rendition reached # 66 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1989. References Jump up ^ Chris Smith ( 2006 ). Greenwood Press, ed. The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Rock History : From arenas to the underground, 1974 -- 1980. p. 102. ISBN 978 - 0 - 313 - 33611 - 9. `` 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 '' Jump up ^ Pattie Boyd ( 11 August 2007 ). `` I 'd pray Eric would pass out and not touch me ' - Part 2 of Pattie Boyd 's sensational autobiography ''. Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 8 March 2008. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Eric Clapton -- Wonderful Tonight '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Radio2 Top 30 Artiest : Eric Clapton ''. VRT ( in Dutch ). Top30-2.radio2.be. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015. Jump up ^ `` 1050 CHUM -- CHUM Charts ''. Archived from the original on 22 February 2006. Retrieved 24 March 2016. CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown ( link ). CHUM. Retrieved 15 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Top Singles -- Volume 29, No. 18, July 29, 1978 ''. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 30. ^ Jump up to : Gustave, Heidé. Le Singles Argent de la SNEP ( 1978 ) ( in French ) ( 43 ed. ). Paris : Decovert. ' Wonderful Tonight ' spent 17 weeks on the national french singles chart and peaked at number three. It was requested to be certified silver. The certification was awarded on the last week, ' Wonderful Tonight ' charted in France. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- Wonderful Tonight ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 30. Jump up ^ Oricon International Singles. `` Eric Clapton '' -- Wonderful Tonight. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Eric Clapton -- Wonderful Tonight '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Charts.nz -- Eric Clapton -- Wonderful Tonight ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Slowhand -- Eric Clapton -- Awards -- AllMusic ''. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 30. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1993 ). Top Adult Contemporary : 1961 -- 1993. Record Research. p. 50. Jump up ^ `` Top Singles -- Volume 30, No. 14, December 30, 1978 ''. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Jaaroverzichten 1988 ''. Ultratop Charts. ultratop.be -- Stefan Hung -- Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Jaaroverzichten 1988 ''. MegaCharts.nl. dutchcharts.nl -- Stefan Hung -- Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 August 2015. ^ Jump up to : Keil, Astrid ( 2014 ). Die Musikindustrie ( Limitierte Auflage ). p. 24. Jump up ^ Miyahara, Ayano ( 2003 ). 12 月 23 日 から エリック クラプトン の 最高 の バラード !. Yomiuri Shimbun. Jump up ^ Macao Music Sales ( 2001 - 2009 ). Record Sales. 2015 - 02 - 08 ( Former link : recordsales.2xik.com/The-first-blog-b1/Macao-Music-Sales-2001-2009-b1-p1.htm ). Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- Eric Clapton -- Wonderful Tonight ''. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 21 October 2015. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Wonderful Tonight in the `` Search BPI Awards '' field and then press Enter. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- Eric Clapton -- Wonderful Tonight ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 21 October 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- Damage -- Wonderful Tonight ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- Damage ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Damage -- Wonderful Tonight '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` Charts.nz -- Damage -- Wonderful Tonight ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Country Tracks : Issue 7891. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 24 August 1998. Retrieved 3 September 2013. Jump up ^ `` David Kersh Chart History ( Hot Country Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved 3 September 2013. External links Allmusic review Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Eric Clapton Discography Singles discography Videography Studio albums Eric Clapton 461 Ocean Boulevard There 's One in Every Crowd No Reason to Cry Slowhand Backless Another Ticket Money and Cigarettes Behind the Sun August Journeyman From the Cradle Pilgrim Reptile Me and Mr. Johnson / Sessions for Robert J Back Home Clapton Old Sock I Still Do Happy Xmas Live albums Eric Clapton 's Rainbow Concert E.C. Was Here Just One Night Time Pieces Vol. II Live in the Seventies 24 Nights Unplugged Crossroads 2 : Live in the Seventies One More Car, One More Rider Live in San Diego Compilations The History of Eric Clapton Eric Clapton at His Best Clapton Steppin ' Out Timepieces : The Best of Eric Clapton Backtrackin ' The Cream of Eric Clapton Crossroads Story The Cream of Clapton Blues Clapton Chronicles : The Best of Eric Clapton Complete Clapton Forever Man Singles `` After Midnight '' / `` Easy Now '' `` Blues Power '' / `` Bottle of Red Wine '' `` Let It Rain '' `` I Shot the Sheriff '' / `` Give Me Strength '' `` Willie and the Hand Jive '' `` Swing Low, Sweet Chariot '' `` Knockin ' on Heaven 's Door '' `` Hello Old Friend '' `` Carnival '' `` Lay Down Sally '' / `` Cocaine '' `` Wonderful Tonight '' `` Tulsa Time '' `` Promises '' / `` Watch Out for Lucy '' `` Early in the Morning ( Live ) '' `` I Ca n't Stand It '' `` I 've Got a Rock ' n ' Roll Heart '' `` Crosscut Saw '' `` Forever Man '' `` It 's in the Way That You Use It '' `` Behind the Mask '' `` Tearing Us Apart '' `` Pretending '' / `` Before You Accuse Me '' `` Hound Dog '' `` Bad Love '' `` Tears in Heaven '' / `` White Room ( Live ) '' `` Layla ( Acoustic ) '' `` Down & Out '' `` Motherless Child '' / `` Driftin ' '' `` Change the World '' `` Born in Time '' `` Circus '' `` My Father 's Eyes '' `` Pilgrim '' `` Blue Eyes Blue '' `` ( I ) Get Lost '' `` Come Rain or Come Shine '' / `` Ten Long Years '' `` 3 O'Clock Blues '' `` Key to the Highway '' `` Worried Life Blues '' `` I Ai n't Gonna Stand for It '' `` Every Little Thing '' / `` No Sympathy '' Soundtracks Edge of Darkness Homeboy Rush Concert films Live 1986 The Cream of Eric Clapton Live in Hyde Park In Concert : A Benefit for the Crossroads Centre at Antigua Sessions for Robert J Crossroads Guitar Festival 2004 Live at Montreux 1986 Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013 Planes, Trains and Eric Slowhand at 70 -- Live at the Royal Albert Hall Collaborations Riding with the King The Road to Escondido Live from Madison Square Garden Play the Blues : Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013 The Breeze : An Appreciation of JJ Cale Tours Journeyman World Tour 1992 Eric Clapton World Tour 2019 Eric Clapton World Tour Bands The Yardbirds John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers Cream Blind Faith Derek and the Dominoes Related Blackie Brownie The Fool Signature Stratocaster Crossroads Centre Crossroads Guitar Festival Pattie Boyd Ferrari SP12 EC Va Bene Wonderful Today Damage Rashaan J Bromfield Noel Simpson Andrez Harriott Jade Jones Studio albums Forever ( 1997 ) Since You 've Been Gone ( 2001 ) Singles `` Anything '' `` Love II Love '' `` Forever '' `` Love Guaranteed '' `` Wonderful Tonight '' `` Love Lady '' `` Ghetto Romance '' `` Rumours '' `` After the Love Has Gone '' David Kersh Studio albums Goodnight Sweetheart If I Never Stop Loving You Notable singles `` Goodnight Sweetheart '' `` Another You '' `` Day In, Day Out '' `` If I Never Stop Loving You '' `` Wonderful Tonight '' Related articles Curb Records Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wonderful_Tonight&oldid=854680846 '' Categories : 1970s ballads 1977 singles 1997 singles 1998 singles Afroman songs Butch Baker songs Curb Records singles Damage ( British band ) songs David Kersh songs Eric Clapton songs Oricon International Singles Chart number - one singles British soft rock songs Rock ballads RSO Records singles Song recordings produced by Glyn Johns Songs written by Eric Clapton 1977 songs Hidden categories : CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) Use dmy dates from October 2013 Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart called without artist Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Certification Table Entry usages for unsupported region Certification Table Entry usages for Denmark Certification Table Entry usages for France Certification Table Entry usages for Greece Certification Table Entry usages for Japan Certification Table Entry usages for Portugal Certification Table Entry usages for Russia Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Certification Table Entry usages for United States Certification Table Entry usages for Uruguay Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for Scotland Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for Canadacountry Singlechart usages for Billboardcountrysongs Articles needing additional references from December 2016 All articles needing additional references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Deutsch Español Français Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk nynorsk Português Русский Suomi Tiếng Việt 5 more Edit links This page was last edited on 13 August 2018, at 02 : 19 ( UTC ). 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Question: who is eric clapton singing about in wonderful tonight
Answer: Pattie Boyd