"A Good Heart" is a song written by

Maria McKee Maria Luisa McKee (born August 17, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for her work with Lone Justice, her 1990 song " Show Me Heaven", and her song "If Love Is a Red Dress (Hang Me in Rags)" from soundtrack of the film ...

and recorded by

Northern Irish The people of Northern Ireland are all people born in Northern Ireland and having, at the time of their birth, at least one parent who is a British Nationality Law, British citizen, an Irish nationality law, Irish citizen or is otherwis ...

singer

Feargal Sharkey Seán Feargal Sharkey (born 13 August 1958) is a singer and environmentalist from Northern Ireland. He was the lead vocalist of punk band the Undertones in the 1970s and 1980s and a solo artist in the 1980s and 1990s. His 1985 solo single " ...

, released as the first single from his self-titled debut album. It was released in September 1985 and became a number-one hit in the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

Background

Written by then-

Lone Justice Lone Justice was an American country rock band formed in 1982 by guitarist Ryan Hedgecock and singer Maria McKee in Los Angeles. The band released two albums, '' Lone Justice'' in 1985 and '' Shelter'' the following year, before disbanding in ...

frontwoman

about her relationship with

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were an American rock band formed in Gainesville, Florida, in 1976. The band originally comprised lead singer and rhythm guitarist Tom Petty, lead guitarist Mike Campbell, keyboardist Benmont Tench, drummer ...

keyboard player

Benmont Tench Benjamin Montmorency "Benmont" Tench III (born September 7, 1953) is an American musician and singer, and a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Early years Tench was born in Gainesville, Florida, the second child of Benjamin M ...

and produced by the

Eurythmics Eurythmics were a British New wave music, new wave duo formed in 1980, consisting of Scottish vocalist Annie Lennox and English musician and producer Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Dave Stewart. They were both previously in the Tourists, a band t ...

' Dave Stewart, this was former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey's third solo single. The song was Sharkey's only

number one single ''#1 Single'' is a reality-based show that aired on E! Entertainment Television in the United States. The eight-segment program premiered on January 22, 2006 and ended its run on March 19, 2006. Synopsis In this reality-based series, all of ...

and stayed at the top of the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in November 1985. However, it fared less well in the US, peaking at No. 74 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Sharkey followed up the single with the Tench-written "

You Little Thief "You Little Thief" is a song by Northern Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released in December 1985 as the second single from his self-titled debut album. It was written by Benmont Tench and produced by David A. Stewart. The song reached 5 in the ...

". This song was allegedly about Tench's side of the relationship with McKee. However, Tench denies the song is about McKee. Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter/guitarist Kris McKay performed a version of the song, featured on the soundtrack for the 1989

Patrick Swayze Patrick Wayne Swayze ( ; August 18, 1952 – September 14, 2009) was an American actor, singer, songwriter, and dancer. Known for his romantic, tough, and comedic roles in blockbusters and cult films, Swayze was nominated for three Golden Glob ...

movie '' Road House''. In 2007, McKee released her own recording of the track on her album ''

Late December ''Late December'', released on April 24, 2007, is Maria McKee's sixth solo album. The album contains the single " A Good Heart", a song McKee had written over 20 years earlier but had never released. Feargal Sharkey Seán Feargal Sharke ...

''.

Reception

Armond White Armond Allen White (born 1953) is an American film and music critic who writes for ''National Review'' and ''Out''. He was previously the editor of '' CityArts'' (2011–2014), the lead film critic for the alternative weekly '' New York Press ...

at ''

Spin Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spin (physics) or particle spin, a fundamental property of elementary particles * Spin quantum number, a number which defines the value of a particle's spin * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thr ...

'' said, "A strong, distinct voice and musical savvy could make anyone a vinyl hero, but the skills of the Undertones' former lead singer are more grating than ingratiating. Sharkey's machine produces an insistent warble—his voice lacks shocks."

Formats

Personnel

: lead vocals, synthesizers,Walmsley, Richard (1986). "A Heart to Heart with Feargal Sharkey." ''International Musician and Recording World'', February 1986. (Accessible @muzines.co.uk)
Retrieved 6 January 2024. sequencers * Patrick Seymour: keyboards * David A. Stewart: guitars, slide guitar solo *

Dean Garcia Dean Garcia (born 3 May 1958) is an English multi-instrumentalist musician, best known as a member of the alternative rock duo Curve from 1990 to 2005. He also released solo work and collaborated with many other artists. Biography Garcia was ...

: bass guitar *

Olle Romo Olle Romö is a Swedish music producer, songwriter, and drummer. Romo rehearsed with Swedish progressive rock group Kaipa in early 1982; however, he left the group after a few weeks to join Eurythmics, and he was a drummer for them from the mid ...

: drums *

Debra Byrd Debra Byrd (July 19, 1951 – March 5, 2024) was an American vocalist who worked with Barry Manilow in and after Lady Flash and Bob Dylan, appeared on Broadway, and served as the head vocal coach for ''American Idol'' and ''Canadian Idol'', al ...

: backing vocalsFeargal Sharkey- "I Heard the News that Debra Byrd has left us." @Twitter (X), 7 March 2024.
Retrieved 29 March 2024. * Freida Williams: backing vocals

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Sales and certifications

Release history

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Good Heart, A 1985 songs 1985 singles A&M Records singles Dutch Top 40 number-one singles Feargal Sharkey songs Irish Singles Chart number-one singles Number-one singles in Australia Song recordings produced by Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) Songs written by Maria McKee UK singles chart number-one singles Virgin Records singles