Heartbeat (Buddy Holly song)

"Heartbeat"
Single by Buddy Holly
B-side"Well... All Right"
ReleasedNovember 5, 1958
RecordedAugust 1958
StudioNorman Petty Recording Studios (Clovis, New Mexico)
GenreRock and roll, pop rock
Length2:11
LabelCoral Records
SongwritersBob Montgomery, Norman Petty
ProducerNorman Petty
Buddy Holly singles chronology
"Early in the Morning"
(1958)		 "Heartbeat"
(1958)		 "It Doesn't Matter Anymore"
(1959)

"Heartbeat" is a rockabilly song recorded by Buddy Holly and released in 1958 as a single on Coral Records. It was written by Bob Montgomery and Norman Petty. Buddy Holly's recording charted in the US and the UK.

The B-side of the single was "Well... All Right" written by Buddy Holly, Norman Petty, Jerry Allison, and Joe Mauldin, which would be covered by Blind Faith and Santana.

"Heartbeat" was covered and reached the UK top 10 twice: once in 1975 for Showaddywaddy at number seven and again in 1992 for Nick Berry, recorded as the theme to the television series Heartbeat, which reached number two.

Hit versions

"Heartbeat" was the second to last of Holly's singles to be released during his lifetime. It was a minor hit in the United States, reaching number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Holly's single had more chart impact in the United Kingdom, reaching number 30 in January 1959 and again upon its reissue in April 1960. In the interim between the two UK chartings of the Holly original, a remake by the Dale Sisters (His Master's Voice POP 710) reached number 33 in the UK.

"Heartbeat" subsequently reached the UK top 10 twice. Firstly in 1975 for Showaddywaddy, number seven that September, and again in 1992 when Nick Berry's version, recorded as the theme to the television series Heartbeat, in which he starred, reached number two that June. Tommy Allsup played the lead guitar part on the recording.

Charts

Buddy Holly version

Chart (1959) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts)30
US Billboard Hot 10082

Showaddywaddy version

Chart (1975) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)5
UK Singles (Official Charts)7
West Germany (GfK)21

Nick Berry version

Cover versions of "Heartbeat"

Versions of "Heartbeat" have appeared on albums by:

Cover versions of "Well... All Right"

The B-side of the single, "Well... All Right", was covered by:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records. p. 138. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ↑ "The Dale Sisters Discography – UK". 45cat. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
  3. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart on 20/9/1975 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart on 20/6/1992 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 22/1/1959 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Buddy Holly Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Heartbeat | IRMA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts (West Germany)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 27. July 4, 1992. p. 18. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. July 11, 1992. p. 14. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. January 16, 1993. p. 8.
  12. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 739.