Heartbeat Like Thunder

"Heartbeat Like Thunder"
Single by Steve Harley
B-side "Warm My Cold Heart"
Released April 1986[1]
Format 7", 12"
Genre Pop, Rock
Length 3:51
Label RAK Records
Writer(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 version)"
(1986)

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

Background

In 1984, Harley signed a contract to record three albums for RAK - the record label belonging to Mickie Most. With the minor hit "Irresistible" released in May 1985, Harley soon found himself set to star as the Phantom in the London premiere of The Phantom of the Opera. He recorded the promotional single of the title song, alongside Sarah Brightman, which went to No. 7 in the UK charts during February 1986.[4] However he was replaced close to rehearsals by Michael Crawford. After this, he focused on recording new material and in April 1986, "Heartbeat Like Thunder", Harley's second release for the RAK label was released.[5][6]

Like the "Irresistible" single, the song featured a dominant use of synthesisers. "Heartbeat Like Thunder" in particular contains a wall of sound of synthesisers and emulators with a couple of melodies on top of it.[7] The song was recorded with Duncan Mackay on keyboards, as well as drummer Mark Brzezicki of Big Country.[7] The song also uses unknown female backing vocal, and was mastered at The Penthouse.[6] 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."

Despite the Top 10 success of "The Phantom of the Opera", "Heartbeat Like Thunder" failed to make an appearance on the UK Singles Chart. Despite this, Harley and Most continued to record together, working on Harley's upcoming solo album titled El Gran Senor, which was due to follow shortly after the release of the second version of "Irresistible". However, after the third single release, the company went bust, leaving the album unreleased. 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]

In June 2009, the song was unofficially uploaded onto YouTube, where it has since gained approximately 7,100 views.[9]

Release

The single was released via 7" and 12" vinyl through RAK Records in the UK only.[2] The single featured the B-Side "Warm My Cold Heart" which was written and produced solely by Harley.[1] The B-Side was exclusive to the single and has not appeared on any other release since.[10] The song was written in the early 1980s, with Harley originally introducing the song on the Cockney Rebel Christmas tour of 1980. He also introduced "Such is Life", "I Could Be Anyone" and a reggae-version of "Mr. Soft" on this tour.[11] For the 12" version of the single, an "Extended Re-mix" of the track was used.[6] The release included artwork, a full colour picture sleeve, which featured a photograph of Harley posing.[12]

Following the original release, the song has not appeared on any Steve Harley compilations, however 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.[13]

Promotion

No music video was created for the single.

In a NME magazine around the time, an advert using the same photograph of Harley on the single's cover was featured.

Track listing

7" Single
  1. "Heartbeat Like Thunder" - 3:51
  2. "Warm My Cold Heart" - 3:28
12" Single
  1. "Heartbeat Like Thunder" - 5:47
  2. "Warm My Cold Heart" - 3:28

Critical reception

Andy Kellman of Allmusic noted the song by highlighting it in a review of the Hardest Hits, Vol. 3 compilation.[14]

Personnel

References

  1. 1 2 "Steve Harley - Heartbeat Like Thunder / Warm My Cold Heart - RAK - UK - RAK 387". 45cat. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  2. 1 2 "Steve Harley - Heartbeat Like Thunder at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2012-05-28. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  3. ↑ "Steve Harley Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1951-02-27. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  4. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22960/sarah-brightman-and-steve-harley/
  5. ↑ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 424–425. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  6. 1 2 3 "Steve Harley - Heartbeat Like Thunder (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2012-05-28. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  7. 1 2 "The Great Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel Story". Steveharley.www.50megs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  8. 1 2 "Grand Senor". Steveharley.www.50megs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  9. ↑ YouTube (2009-06-17). "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Heartbeat Like Thunder". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  10. ↑ "Steve Harley - Heartbeat Like Thunder (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  11. ↑ http://steveharley.www.50megs.com/news.html
  12. ↑ "Images for Steve Harley - Heartbeat Like Thunder". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  13. ↑ "Heartbeat Like Thunder - Steve Harley : Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  14. ↑ Kellman, Andy (1994-12-26). "Hardest Hits, Vol. 3 - Various Artists : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
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