Heartbeat is the debut studio album by American actor and singer Don Johnson, released on September 30, 1986, by Epic Records. In the United States, the album peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200 in October 1986 and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) the following month. The title track peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1998, the album was reissued by Razor & Tie with six additional tracks from Johnson's follow-up album, Let It Roll (1989).
Background In a 1987 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Johnson stated, "I wanted the record to be modern, tough rock and I think I achieved that on some level. I didn't want it to sound like something that other people designed and I just stopped by for a few minutes to do the vocals. And I made it clear to Walter [Yetnikoff, then president and CEO of CBS Records] that I would walk away from it if I didn't think it was credible. I was prepared every step of the way to throw it away and walk away."
Musician reviewer J. D. Considine wrote: "Don Johnson sings as well as Glenn Frey acts." Anita Sarko in Spin commented that with 'Johnson having a voice, should maybe rethink his fascination with Southern boogie and L. A. AOR'.
Track listing All tracks produced by Chas Sandford, except tracks 11–16, produced by Keith Diamond.
Personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of Heartbeat.
Musicians
Don Johnson – lead vocals Chas Sandford – guitar ; guitar solo ; background vocals ; piano, tambourine Mark Leonard – bass Curly Smith – drums Charles Judge – keyboards Bill Champlin – background vocals ; keyboards ; organ Tamara Champlin – background vocals Dweezil Zappa – guitar solo Bonnie Raitt – harmony vocals Earl Gardner – horns Lenny Pickett – horns ; sax solo ; horn arrangements Michael Des Barres – background vocals Ron Wood – acoustic guitar ; guitars, harmony vocals Stevie Ray Vaughan – guitar solo Dickey Betts – guitars Jamie Skylar – background vocals Willie Nelson – solo, harmony vocals Mickey Raphael – harmonica
Technical Chas Sandford – production, mixing Gary McGachan – engineering, mixing Dave Axelbaum – second engineer Stephen Marcussen – mastering Stuart Furusho – mastering
Artwork Frank Olinsky (Manhattan Design) – art direction Roberta Ludlow – cover illustration Mary Ellen Mark – back cover photo, inside photo (left) Stephen Frailey – inside photo (right) Jerry Tobias – collage photos, inner sleeve photo Glenn Watson – collage photos Diane Sillan – collage photos Mark Penberthy – inner sleeve illustration
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Heartbeat Chart (1986–1987) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 44 European Albums (Music & Media) 22 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) 5 US Billboard 200 17
Year-end charts + 1986 year-end chart performance for Heartbeat Chart (1986) Position Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 92
+ 1987 year-end chart performance for Heartbeat Chart (1987) Position Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) 19 European Albums (Music & Media) 57 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 28 Norwegian Fall Period Albums (VG-lista) 9
Certifications
Notes
References