Heartbeat (Buddy Holly song)
Encyclopedia
"Heartbeat" is a rockabilly
song
written
by Bob Montgomery
and Norman Petty
and recorded
originally by Buddy Holly
in 1958. The B side of the single was "Well... All Right" (Buddy Holly, Norman Petty, Jerry Allison, Joe Mauldin).
peak.
The song had more chart impact in the UK
reaching #30 first in January 1959 and again upon its April 1960 re-issue.
"Heartbeat" would subsequently reach the UK Top Ten twice: first in 1975 for Showaddywaddy
— #7 that September — and again in 1992 when the version Nick Berry
recorded as the theme to the Heartbeat TV series (in which Berry starred) reached #2 that June.
(Sheila, 1962), Bobby Vee
(I Remember Buddy Holly, 1963), Herman's Hermits
— who had originally been named the Heartbeats after the Buddy Holly song — (Herman's Hermits on Tour
, 1965), Dave Berry
(One Dozen Berries, 1966), Skeeter Davis
(Skeeter Sings Buddy Holly, 1967), Cliff Richard
(Don't Stop Me Now, 1967; also a non-charting US single release), Humble Pie
(Town and Country
, 1969), Cilla Black
(It Makes Me Feel So Good, 1976), the Knack
(Get the Knack
, 1979), Connie Francis
(With Love to Buddy, 1996), Mike Berry (Buddy — a Life in Music, 1999), Speedy Sparks (OK, Let's Play, 2001) and P. J. Proby
(Sentimental Journey, 2003).
The Hollies
, who had named themselves after Buddy Holly, made their only attempt at having a hit remake of a Buddy Holly song with a 1980 single release of "Heartbeat", a midtempo version that failed to chart.
"Heartbeat" served as the title cut for a 1993 album release by Hank Marvin
. (Cliff Richard provided the background vocal on the instrumental track). Marvin's album reached no. 17 in the UK.
On the 2004 album, The Crickets and Their Buddies, which featured various vocalists fronting Buddy Holly's band the Crickets
, Nanci Griffith
provided the vocal on a remake of "Heartbeat".
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
written
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
by Bob Montgomery
Bob Montgomery (musician)
Bob Montgomery is an American singer, songwriter, and music producer/publisher.Montgomery was born in Lampasas, Texas. He was a songwriting partner and best friend of Buddy Holly, performing together as the duo "Buddy and Bob" while teenagers in high school...
and Norman Petty
Norman Petty
Norman Petty was an American musician, songwriter, and pioneer record producer who helped shape modern popular music, including pop and rock....
and recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
originally by Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
in 1958. The B side of the single was "Well... All Right" (Buddy Holly, Norman Petty, Jerry Allison, Joe Mauldin).
Hit versions
The last Buddy Holly single to be released during his lifetime, "Heartbeat" was only a minor hit in the US with a #82 Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
peak.
The song had more chart impact in the UK
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
reaching #30 first in January 1959 and again upon its April 1960 re-issue.
"Heartbeat" would subsequently reach the UK Top Ten twice: first in 1975 for Showaddywaddy
Showaddywaddy
Showaddywaddy are a 1970s pop group from Leicester, England. They specialised in revivals of hit songs from the 1950s and early 1960s, and dressed as Teddy Boys.-History:...
— #7 that September — and again in 1992 when the version Nick Berry
Nick Berry
Nicholas "Nick" Berry is a British television actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as Simon Wicks in the British soap opera EastEnders from 1985 to 1990 and as PC Nick Rowan in the British drama television series Heartbeat from 1992 to 1998.-Career:Berry started acting at the age of...
recorded as the theme to the Heartbeat TV series (in which Berry starred) reached #2 that June.
Cover versions
Versions of "Heartbeat" have appeared on albums (indicated in parenthesis) by Tommy RoeTommy Roe
Tommy Roe is an American pop music singer-songwriter.Best-remembered for his hits "Sheila" and "Dizzy" , critic Bill Dahl wrote that Roe was "widely perceived as one of the archetypal bubblegum artists of the late 1960s, but Roe cut some pretty decent rockers along the way, especially early in his...
(Sheila, 1962), Bobby Vee
Bobby Vee
Robert Thomas Velline , known as Bobby Vee, is an American pop music singer. According to Billboard magazine, Vee has had 38 Hot 100 chart hits, 10 of which hit the Top 20.-Career:...
(I Remember Buddy Holly, 1963), Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits are an English beat band, formed in Manchester in 1963 as Herman & The Hermits. The group's record producer, Mickie Most , emphasized a simple, non-threatening, clean-cut image, although the band originally played R&B numbers...
— who had originally been named the Heartbeats after the Buddy Holly song — (Herman's Hermits on Tour
Herman's Hermits On Tour
Herman's Hermits On Tour was the second album released in the U.S. and Canada by MGM Records for the band Herman's Hermits...
, 1965), Dave Berry
Dave Berry (musician)
Not to be confused with English 1960s singer Mike Berry.Dave Berry is a British pop singer and former teen idol of the 1960s...
(One Dozen Berries, 1966), Skeeter Davis
Skeeter Davis
Mary Frances Penick , better known as Skeeter Davis, was an American country music singer best known for crossover pop music songs of the early 1960s. She started out as part of The Davis Sisters as a teenager in the late 1940s, eventually landing on RCA Records. In the late '50s, she became a solo...
(Skeeter Sings Buddy Holly, 1967), Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
(Don't Stop Me Now, 1967; also a non-charting US single release), Humble Pie
Humble Pie (band)
Humble Pie was a rock band from England, finding success both in the UK and the US. They are remembered for songs such as "Black Coffee" "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", and "Natural Born Bugie"...
(Town and Country
Town and Country (album)
Town and Country is rock outfit Humble Pie's second studio album, released in November 1969 .-Album profile:An interesting anomaly in the Humble Pie oeuvre, Town And Country finds the band in a gentler mood than their first album...
, 1969), Cilla Black
Cilla Black
Cilla Black OBE is an English singer, actress, entertainer and media personality, who has been consistently popular as a light entertainment figure since 1963. She is most famous for her singles Anyone Who Had A Heart, You're My World, and Alfie...
(It Makes Me Feel So Good, 1976), the Knack
The Knack
The Knack was an American New Wave rock quartet based in Los Angeles that rose to fame with their first single, "My Sharona", an international number one hit in 1979.-Founding :...
(Get the Knack
Get the Knack
Get Knack is the debut album by The Knack, released in June 1979. The album was the fasting-selling debut album on Capitol Records since Meet the Beatles in 1964. It went platinum in just two months and spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
, 1979), Connie Francis
Connie Francis
Connie Francis is an American pop singer of Italian heritage and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s. Although her chart success waned in the second half of the 1960s, Francis remained a top concert draw...
(With Love to Buddy, 1996), Mike Berry (Buddy — a Life in Music, 1999), Speedy Sparks (OK, Let's Play, 2001) and P. J. Proby
P. J. Proby
P.J. Proby is an American singer, songwriter, and actor, who has portrayed Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison in musical theater productions as well as enjoying a successful recording career in his own right....
(Sentimental Journey, 2003).
The Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
, who had named themselves after Buddy Holly, made their only attempt at having a hit remake of a Buddy Holly song with a 1980 single release of "Heartbeat", a midtempo version that failed to chart.
"Heartbeat" served as the title cut for a 1993 album release by Hank Marvin
Hank Marvin
Hank Brian Marvin is an English guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows. The group, which primarily performed instrumentals, was formed as a backing band for vocalist Cliff Richard...
. (Cliff Richard provided the background vocal on the instrumental track). Marvin's album reached no. 17 in the UK.
On the 2004 album, The Crickets and Their Buddies, which featured various vocalists fronting Buddy Holly's band the Crickets
The Crickets
The Crickets are a rock & roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer/songwriter Buddy Holly in the 1950s. Their first hit record was "That'll Be the Day", released in 1957....
, Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith, is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
provided the vocal on a remake of "Heartbeat".