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A Good Heart

For the Elton John song, see Wonderful Crazy Night.

"A Good Heart" is a song written by Maria McKee and recorded by Northern Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, 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.

"A Good Heart"
Single by Feargal Sharkey
from the album Feargal Sharkey
B-side
  • "Anger Is Holy"
  • "Ghost Train Blues"
Released30 September 1985 (1985-09-30)
Length4:39
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Maria McKee
Producer(s)David A. Stewart
Feargal Sharkey singles chronology
"Loving You"
(1985) 		"A Good Heart"
(1985) 		"You Little Thief"
(1985)
Official audio
"A Good Heart" on YouTube

Background

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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' David A. 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.[1] 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.[2]

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.

Reception

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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."[3]

Formats

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7-inch single[4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."A Good Heart"Maria McKee4:39
2."Anger Is Holy"
  • David A. Stewart
  • Feargal Sharkey
  • Tim Daly
2:20
12-inch single[5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."A Good Heart"McKee4:39
2."Ghost Train Blues"
  • Stewart
  • Sharkey
  • Daly
3:08
3."Anger Is Holy"
  • Stewart
  • Sharkey
  • Daly
2:20

Personnel

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Charts

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Sales and certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[37] Gold 50,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[38] Gold 75,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[39] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 30 September 1985
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
 Virgin [40]
United States February 1986 A&M [41]

References

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  1. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 455. ISBN 978-1-904994-10-7.
  2. ^ T-T, Chris (29 October 2014). "My Favourite Songwriting Myth Debunked". The Huffington Post UK. London: BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  3. ^ Armond White (April 1986). "Spins". Spin. No. 12. p. 41.
  4. ^ Feargal Sharkey (1985). A Good Heart (UK 7-inch single vinyl disc). Virgin Records. VS 808.
  5. ^ Feargal Sharkey (1985). A Good Heart (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Virgin Records. VS 808-12.
  6. ^ a b c d 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.
  7. ^ Dean Garcia - Eurythmics - General Discussion (26 June 2011 post) @basschat.co.uk Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Discography" @olleromo.com Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  9. ^ Feargal Sharkey- "I Heard the News that Debra Byrd has left us." @Twitter (X), 7 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Australian Top 50 Singles – Week Ending 2nd March, 1986". ARIA. Retrieved 3 March 2016 – via Imgur.
  11. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 270. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  12. ^ "Feargal Sharkey – A Good Heart" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Feargal Sharkey – A Good Heart" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0655." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  15. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 3, no. 1. 6 January 1986. p. 14.
  16. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – A Good Heart". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  17. ^ "M&D: Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 8 May 2023. Set Tipo to Singoli, then enter Feargal Sharkey into the Arista field and click cerca.
  18. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 5, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Feargal Sharkey – A Good Heart" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Feargal Sharkey – A Good Heart". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  21. ^ "Feargal Sharkey – A Good Heart". VG-lista. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  22. ^ "Top 3 in Europe". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 3, no. 13. 5 April 1986. p. 14.
  23. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website – SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (S)". Rock.co.za. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  24. ^ "Feargal Sharkey – A Good Heart". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  25. ^ "Feargal Sharkey: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  26. ^ "Feargal Sharkey Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  27. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Feargal Sharkey – A Good Heart" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  28. ^ "Top 100 Singles". Music Week. 18 January 1986. p. 10.
  29. ^ "Kent Music Report No 650 – 29 December 1986 > National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 16 December 2019 – via Imgur.
  30. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1986" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  31. ^ "Top 100 Singles of '86". RPM. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  32. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  33. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  34. ^ "End of Year Charts 1986". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  35. ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1986". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  36. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1986" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  37. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Feargal Sharkey – A Good Heart". Music Canada. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  38. ^ "Dutch single certifications – Feargal Sharkey – A Good Heart" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 16 July 2022. Enter A Good Heart in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1986 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  39. ^ "British single certifications – Feargal Sharkey – A Good Heart". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  40. ^ Strickland, Andy (28 September 1985). "Index: Sharkatak". Record Mirror. p. 4. ISSN 0144-5804.
  41. ^ Strong, M. C. (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Edinburgh: Canongate Books Ltd. p. 857. ISBN 978-0-86241-385-9.
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