Be Yourself Tonight

Be Yourself Tonight is the fourth studio album by British pop duo Eurythmics, released on 29 April 1985 by RCA Records.

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 commercial pop/rock sound. 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.

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.

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

On 14 November 2005, Sony BMG repackaged and released Eurythmics' back catalogue as "2005 Deluxe Edition Reissues". Each of their eight studio albums' original track listings were supplemented with bonus tracks and remixes.

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

 * Laurence Stevens – art, design
 * Paul Fortune – photography