music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Heartbeat Like Thunder" is a song by the British singer-songwriter Steve Harley, which was released as a non-album single in 1986.[2] It was Harley's second of three singles for RAK.[3] Produced by Mickie Most, the song was written by Harley and ex-Cockney Rebel keyboardist Duncan Mackay.

"Heartbeat Like Thunder"
Single by Steve Harley
B-side	"Warm My Cold Heart"
Released	April 1986[1]
Genre	Pop
Length	3:51
Label	RAK
Songwriter(s)	Steve Harley Duncan Mackay
Producer(s)	Mickie Most
Steve Harley singles chronology
"The Phantom of the Opera" (1986) "Heartbeat Like Thunder" (1986) "Irresistible" (1986)

Background

In 1985, Harley signed a five-album recording contract with Mickie Most's label RAK. In May 1985, his RAK debut "Irresistible" scored him a minor hit on the UK Singles Chart. Towards the end of the year, Harley became involved with Andrew Lloyd-Webber's upcoming musical The Phantom of the Opera. In February 1986, Harley found himself back in the UK Top 10 when "The Phantom of the Opera" single, recorded by Harley as a duet with Sarah Brightman, went to No. 7 in the UK charts.[4] He soon found himself set to star as the Phantom in the upcoming musical.

Despite his new commitments to the musical, Harley continued working on his own solo material for RAK. As a follow-up to the "Phantom of the Opera" single, Harley released "Heartbeat Like Thunder" in April 1986, which was his second release for the RAK label.[5][6][7] Most was particularly interested in releasing the song as a single.[8] Harley later recalled in 2015, "Mickie loved the song and produced it with great sympathy, I think."[9]

Like "Irresistible", which preceded it, the song featured a dominant use of synthesisers. "Heartbeat Like Thunder" in particular was entirely synthesiser and emulator-based.[10] The song was recorded with Duncan Mackay on keyboards and Big Country drummer Mark Brzezicki on drums.[10] It was mastered at the Penthouse, Abbey Road Studios.[6]

Despite the Top 10 success of "The Phantom of the Opera", "Heartbeat Like Thunder" failed to make an appearance on the UK Singles Chart. Regardless, Harley and Most continued to record together, working on Harley's upcoming solo album El Gran Senor. The album had been set for release in 1986, however after a remixed version of "Irresistible" was released as Harley's third RAK single release, the label folded and the album was shelved. Some of the songs due to be released on the album later appeared on the 1992 album Yes You Can, however "Heartbeat Like Thunder" was not included.[8]

Release

"Heartbeat Like Thunder" was released by RAK Records on 7" and 12" vinyl in the UK only.[2] The B-Side, "Warm My Cold Heart", was written and produced by Harley.[1] It was exclusive to the single and has not appeared on any other release since.[11] "Warm My Cold Heart" was first introduced live during the Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel 1980 Christmas tour.[12] For the 12" release of the single, an "Extended Re-mix" of the A-Side was featured.[6] Both the 7" and 12" release included the same full colour picture sleeve, which featured a photograph of Harley, taken by Adrian Peacock.[13]

Although not released in Canada, "Heartbeat Like Thunder" received airplay on the Greater Toronto Area's CFNY-FM. It was listed as the station's "single add of the week" in May 1986 and was reported in July to be one of the station's top requested import songs.[14][15]

Following its original release as a single, the song has not appeared on any Steve Harley compilations. In 1994, the extended remix version appeared on the Canadian various artists compilation Hardest Hits, Vol. 3 from SPG. In 2003, the CD was included as part of a three disc set titled Hardest Hits. This appearance is the only one outside of the single, and therefore the only on CD.[16]

Promotion

Unlike "Irresistible", no music video was filmed to promote the single. In the 26 April 1986 issue of New Musical Express magazine, a half-page black-and-white advert was displayed to promote the release of the new single. It featured the same photo of Harley as on the single's sleeve.[17]

Critical reception

On its release, Lee Jacobs of the Bury Free Press gave the song a 3 out of 10 rating and wrote, "A 'nice' song from that 'nice' Mr Harley dear – you know the one? He used to have an edge to him."[18] John Lee of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner described the song as an "agreeable medium-paced soft rocker" and concluded that although it was "nothing special", the "insistent off-beat melody could prove hit material". He added, "The Cockney Rebel has aged well, and his on-record performances are as capable and youthfully mellow as they were a decade or so ago."[19]

Speaking of Harley's work on the Phantom of the Opera musical and the release of "Heartbeat Like Thunder", Bill Hagerty commented in a 1986 issue of One Day Magazine, "With the Phantom single already released and with a single of his own, "Heartbeat Like Thunder", also out, everyone knows that Harley's back in business. There's also the stage production of the Phantom, due later this year, plus a recording deal with RAK Records. It's a truly remarkable re-emergence into the limelight by this 35-year-old son of a South London postman. But don't mention the comeback word to Steve Harley. It makes him mad."[7] Andy Kellman of AllMusic retrospectively highlighted the song by mentioning it in a review of the Hardest Hits, Vol. 3 compilation.[20]

Track listing

7" Single

1. "Heartbeat Like Thunder" - 3:51
2. "Warm My Cold Heart" - 3:28

12" Single

1. "Heartbeat Like Thunder" (Extended Re-mix) - 5:47
2. "Warm My Cold Heart" - 3:28

Personnel

• Steve Harley - vocals, producer on "Warm My Cold Heart"
• Mark Brzezicki - drums
• Mickie Most - producer on "Heartbeat Like Thunder"
• Graham Marks - design
• Adrian Peacock - photography

References

---