| "If You Were Here Tonight" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Alexander O'Neal | ||||
| from the album Alexander O'Neal | ||||
| Released | 1985 | |||
| Genre | R&B/Soul | |||
| Label | Tabu Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Monte Moir[1] | |||
| Alexander O'Neal singles chronology | ||||
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"If You Were Here Tonight" was Alexander O'Neal's first successful hit in the UK, reaching #13 in the UK Singles Chart and also his second R&B hit, reaching #17 in the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It is featured on his self-titled 1st album along with two other R&B hits, "Innocent" and "What's Missing". The song is known for its non-rhyming lyrics.
The song's instrumental was sampled as the basis for the highly popular dancehall beat called the Sail Away Riddim in 1998. This was done by producing an up-tempo dancehall beat woven around the airy keyboard riff from "If you were here tonight". The Sail Away riddim was used to produce a 12 track "one-rhythm" album of Songs using the same instrumental. Tony Curtis performed a remake of this classic, combining the energetic beat and tender vocals to great effect. [2] Other artists on the SailAway Riddim included Beenie Man & Mr. Vegas; Chico & Frisco Kid; Sean Paul; Richie Stephens; T.O.K.; Nitty Kutchie; Round Head; Frisco Kid; Tony Curtis; Copper Cat; Demo Delgado