"A Good Heart" is a song written by Maria McKee and recorded by the Northern Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released as the first single from his eponymous debut studio album. It was released on 30 September 1985 by Virgin Records and became a number-one hit in the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
Background Written by then-Lone Justice frontwoman Maria McKee about her relationship with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers keyboard player Benmont Tench and produced by the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart, this was former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey's third solo single. The song was Sharkey's only number one single 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". 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 movie Road House. In 2007, McKee released her own recording of the track on her album Late December.
Critical reception Armond White at Spin 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 Feargal Sharkey: 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: bass guitarDean Garcia - Eurythmics - General Discussion (26 June 2011 post) @basschat.co.uk Retrieved 6 January 2024. Olle Romo: drums"Discography" @olleromo.com Retrieved 6 January 2024. Debra Byrd: 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
Notes
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1985–1986)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)1Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)5Italy (Musica e dischi) Set Tipo to Singoli, then enter Feargal Sharkey into the Arista field and click cerca.18Portugal (AFP)2South Africa (Springbok Radio)3
Year-end charts Chart (1985)PositionUK Singles (OCC)8 Chart (1986)PositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)8Belgium (Ultratop)24Canada Top Singles (RPM)51Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)13Netherlands (Single Top 100)49New Zealand (RIANZ)9South Africa (Springbok Radio)15West Germany (Media Control)41
Sales and certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United Kingdom30 September 1985VirginUnited StatesFebruary 1986A&M
References
External links