"Rhythm of My Heart" is a song written by Marc Jordan and John Capek that was first recorded by Dutch rock and roll artist René Shuman, included on his 1986 self-titled debut album. In 1991, British singer Rod Stewart recorded the song for his sixteenth album, Vagabond Heart (1991), with production by Trevor Horn. It is the album's opening track and was released as its second single on 4 March 1991 by Warner.
Stewart's version reached 3 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and No. 1 on the Canadian and Irish charts. The melody is an adaptation of "Loch Lomond". The meter, stanzas and lyrics are also based on the poem. The Great Highland bagpipes feature during Stewart's version.
Track listings 7-inch single "Rhythm of My Heart" – 4:12 "Moment of Glory" – 4:37
12-inch single "Rhythm of My Heart" – 4:12 "Moment of Glory" – 4:37 "I Don't Want to Talk About It" (newly recorded) – 4:49
CD maxi – Europe "Rhythm of My Heart" – 4:12 "Moment of Glory" – 4:37 "I Don't Want to Talk About It" (newly recorded) – 4:49
Credits and personnel Credits are lifted from the Vagabond Heart album booklet.
Studios Recorded at Cherokee Studio, Conway Studio (Hollywood, California), and Sarm Studio (London, England) Mastered at Precision Mastering (Los Angeles)
Personnel
Marc Jordan – writing John Capek – writing Joe Turano – backing vocals, choir director Arnold Stiefel – backing vocals Gary Falcone – backing vocals Jerry Cook – backing vocals John Batdorf – backing vocals Lionel Conway – backing vocals Randel Crenshaw – backing vocals Robert Jason – backing vocals Roger Freeland – backing vocals Robin Le Mesurier – guitars Steve Lukather – guitars Neil Stubenhaus – bass guitar Gary Maughan – Fairlight programming Kevin Savigar – keyboards, string arrangement and conducting Richard Cottle – keyboards Michael MacNeil – squeezebox Kevin Weed – bagpipes John Robinson – drums Nick Strimple – choir director Trevor Horn – production, mixing Steve Macmillan – mixing, engineering Stephen Marcussen – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1991)PeakpositionDenmark (IFPI) 9Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 7Europe (European Hit Radio) 1Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)Radio Luxembourg Singles. 31 March 1991. 1 UK Airplay (Music Week) 1US Cash Box Top 100 9Zimbabwe (ZIMA)* Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000 7
Year-end charts Chart (1991)PositionAustralia (ARIA) 13Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 29Belgium (Ultratop) 80Canada Top Singles (RPM) 4Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) 4Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 26Europe (European Hit Radio) 2Germany (Media Control) 16New Zealand (RIANZ) 38Sweden (Topplistan) 62Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 20UK Singles (OCC) 34US Billboard Hot 100 50US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 12US Cash Box Top 100 10
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United Kingdom4 March 1991Warner Bros.Australia8 April 1991Japan25 April 1991Mini-CD
Covers
"Rhythm of My Heart" was also covered by Runrig, who released it as a single in 1996. This is the version heard on the Loch Ness soundtrack when it was released on CD in 2005, instead of Stewart's version heard in the film.
In popular culture Stewart's version of the song was used during the closing credits of the 1996 family film Loch Ness. The single was also used in the 2000 film The Perfect Storm. "Rhythm of My Heart" was played at the British farewell ceremony in Hong Kong in 1997.
References