Take Me Home Tonight – Eddie Money | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#4); 1986
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Brooklyn-born Edward Mahoney was still a kid when Ronnie Bennett, her sister Estelle, and cousin Nedra Talley danced and sang their way into the spotlight at Manhattan’s Peppermint Lounge.
He was 14 when the Ronette’s, as the girls were now known, began having hits. In the 1970’s Eddie briefly studied at the New York Police Academy, plus moonlighted as Eddie Money, singer.
Eventually, Eddie moved to California where Bill Graham, of the famous Fillmore rock clubs and concerts, signed him to a management deal which led to a recording contract. Meanwhile, Ronnie married and divorced producer Phil Spector, and recorded with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, while Eddie just missed the Top 10 with Baby Hold On in 1978.
In 1986, Ronnie lent her sexy vocals to Eddie’s Take Me Home Tonight, borrowing the refrain from her 1963 #2 hit, Be My Baby. As for Eddie, his performance won him a Grammy nomination as Best Male Rock Vocalist.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Eddie Money
- Richie Zito
- Jacob Dooley
Lyrics Written by:
- Mick Leeson
- Peter Vale
- Ellie Greenwich
- Jeff Barry
- Phil Spector
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).