# Heartbeat (Don Johnson album)

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
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 (all tracks)
* Chas Sandford – guitar (all tracks); guitar solo (track 1); background vocals (tracks 3, 5, 7); piano, tambourine (track 6)
* Mark Leonard – bass (all tracks)
* Curly Smith – drums (tracks 1–10)
* Charles Judge – keyboards (tracks 1–4, 9, 10)
* Bill Champlin – background vocals (tracks 1–3, 5, 7); keyboards (tracks 2, 5); organ (track 6)
* Tamara Champlin – background vocals (tracks 1–3, 5, 7)
* Dweezil Zappa – guitar solo (track 3)
* Bonnie Raitt – harmony vocals (tracks 4, 6)
* Earl Gardner – horns (tracks 5, 7)
* Lenny Pickett – horns (tracks 5, 7); sax solo (track 5); horn arrangements
* Michael Des Barres – background vocals (track 5)
* Ron Wood – acoustic guitar (track 6); guitars, harmony vocals (track 7)
* Stevie Ray Vaughan – guitar solo (tracks 6, 7)
* Dickey Betts – guitars (track 7)
* Jamie Skylar – background vocals (track 7)
* Willie Nelson – solo, harmony vocals (track 8)
* Mickey Raphael – harmonica (track 8)

### 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

## Certifications

Certifications for Heartbeat :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Platinum | 100,000$^^$ |
| Finland (Musiikkituottajat) | Gold | 28,470 |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 250,000$^^$ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Gold | 25,000$^^$ |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000$^^$ |
| $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||