Tonight is the sixth album by FM, a progressive rock group from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, released on Duke Street Records in 1987. It was their last studio album for 28 years. Further albums of live and demo material were issued between this period. It reached #87 on the Canadian charts, November 28, 1987
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Two members of this version of the group did not appear on any other FM albums: Simon Brierley (exLee Aaron's band and Strange Advance) on guitars, and Greg Critchley (exPortland Bros. and The Spoons) on drums, the latter replacing Martin Deller. Other lineups of FM were notable for not using electric guitars, therefore this change made a significant alteration to their sound.
In 1986, prior to the album's release, "She Does What She Wants" was issued as a single on MCA, their previous label,[2] which suggests Tonight was intended as an MCA release initially. "Good Vibrations" was issued privately as a single to members of the group's fan club. Other singles (on Duke Street) include "Dream Girl" backed with "The Real Thing" (1987), "Magic (In Your Eyes)" backed with "I'm Not Mad (Ready for the World)" (1988), and another release of "She Does What She Wants" backed with "She Does What She Wants (Front and Main Mix, A cappella version)". "Dream Girl" reached #41 and "Magic (In Your Eyes)" reached #52.[3][4] Tonight was written because the girlfriend of one of the singers died in an airplane crash.[citation needed]
The album was first issued on green vinyl as a limited edition, followed by a black vinyl edition. A CD edition was also released. The CD is augmented by five tracks from FM's previous album, Con-Test.[5] The acquisition of release rights for those tracks from MCA Records (who had reissued Con-Test in 1986, the original edition being on Quality Records in 1985) led to Duke Street reissuing the full album as a CD. Duke Street did not reissue another vinyl edition of that album.
The green vinyl edition came with a 6-inch by 4-inch sticker, and an order form for band paraphernalia (shirts, buttons, etc.) including fan club membership application. According to the form, members would receive a copy of a "Good Vibrations" single with a non-album instrumental version of the song on the B-side, not available elsewhere, as well as a poster and a quarterly newsletter subscription.
The cover art was a detail of a painting called "The Dreamer" by Robert Vanderhorst.
