Goodnight Tonight

Recording

"Goodnight Tonight" began as an instrumental backing track McCartney had recorded in 1978. Needing a single for Wings to accompany the Back to the Egg album, McCartney took out the track and brought it into the studio, where the full Wings line-up completed it. Laine and Juber added electric guitars, mirroring Paul's parts and Holly added percussion, while the whole band sang in the chorus. Since the track was over seven minutes long, an edited version was used as the single, with the full version available as a 12-inch single. A music video was made for the song, showing Wings performing in 1930s costumes; stills from the video were used on the single's sleeve. In the US, the single was the first released under McCartney's new deal with Columbia Records.

Release

The track did not appear on Wings' then-current album Back to the Egg (from which sessions this song was recorded); it was later included on the McCartney compilations All the Best! (1987) and Wingspan: Hits and History (2001). The 7" version was released as a bonus track on the 1993 remastered CD of McCartney II, as part of The Paul McCartney Collection. The B-side of this single was "Daytime Nighttime Suffering". An extended version of the song appears on a digital iTunes re-issue of Back to the Egg.

Charts and reception

"Goodnight Tonight" was an international hit, reaching number five on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as the UK Singles Chart. John Lennon, McCartney's former songwriting partner, later commented that he did not care for the song, but enjoyed McCartney's bass guitar on the single. The single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over one million copies.

Track listings

1. "Goodnight Tonight" - 4:15
2. "Daytime Nighttime Suffering" - 3:19

1. "Goodnight Tonight" (Long Version) - 7:15
2. "Daytime Nighttime Suffering" - 3:19