"Tonight" was released by EMI America Records on 24 September 1984, with the catalogue number EMI America DB 1. Its release came only nine months after the end of the Serious Moonlight tour. Coming off the successes of "Let's Dance", the tour and Bowie's appearance in "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence", "Tonight" continued Bowie's run of commercial success, peaking at number one on the UK Albums Chart. Although not as successful in the US as its predecessor, "Tonight" peaked at number 11 on the "Billboard" 200.