Love Is Alright Tonite

Album: Working Class Dog (1981)
Charted: 20
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, Rick Springfield is scraping to get by and it seems like the world is going crazy, but everything is alright tonight because he'll be with his baby.

    "'Love Is Alright Tonight' is a real atypical pop/rock song," he said on the radio show The Hot Ones. "It's like a rock and roll 9 to 5. It's all the things about getting out and having a good time set to a rock and roll beat. This is one of the simpler and one of my favorite songs on that album."
  • This was the third single from Rick Springfield's Working Class Dog album, following "Jessie's Girl" and "I've Done Everything For You." The album was a breakthrough for Springfield, an Australian who at the time also had a role on the soap opera General Hospital.
  • This song and the rest of the album were recorded at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles, which build a legend thanks to its Neve console and distinctive drum sound. When Dave Grohl made a 2013 documentary about the studio (Sound City), "Love Is Alright Tonite" was used in it along with commentary from Springfield and bits of a few of his other songs. Springfield and his wife Barbara met at the studio.
  • The album title comes from a line in this song:

    I'm working hard, I don't know why
    I'm like a working-class dog


    The Working Class Dog front cover features a bull terrier named Ronnie that was given to Rick by his ex-girlfriend, with a photo of Springfield on the back cover. The record company wanted Rick on the cover to take advantage of his popularity on General Hospital, so in the first pressings, he's on the front cover and the dog is on the back. Rick wanted Ronnie on the front, so in the end he won out and all future releases went out with the pooch on the cover and Rick on the back. Mike Doud, who designed it, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Album Package.
  • Surprisingly, Springfield didn't release a video for this song, even though MTV had recently gone on the air and played "Jessie's Girl" to death. He was very busy around this time, which is probably why. In addition to touring and promoting the album, he was also appearing on the soap opera General Hospital in a regular role as Dr. Noah Drake.
  • "Love Is Alright Tonite" appears in the 2001 movie Wet Hot American Summer and in the 2009 Californication episode "Mr. Bad Example."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song Spoofs

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song SpoofsSong Writing

When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.