Don Johnson Double Feature: "Heartbeat" and "Let it Roll"

As the title says, this special entry of the blog will feture the two OOP albums by actor Don Johnson: "Heartbeat" (1986) and "Let it Roll"(1989).


!986. Neon colored clothes were all the rage. "Moonlighting" was still taking the nation by storm. Freddy Mercury was still alive and performing with Queen. And a litle man named Don Johnson had risen to fame on a little show called "Miami Vice." Johnson, for some reason unkown to man, decided to try his hand at an album
(he did have singing experience: he contributed two tracks to the soundtrack for "The Harrad Experiment," an early film role. The soundtrack is currently being shared over at 7 Black Notes). The album had only one hit single (and Johnson's only hit): the title track, "Heartbeat."

While many people have ridiculed Johnson for his singing and the songs, I didn't think that the album was bad. Sure, it's cheesy 80s music, but I prefer it to the garbage that clutters up the airwaves now. "Heartbeat" is one of the definitive albums for those who love the 80s, and once you listen to it, you'll agree. The best songs on here are "Heartbeat," "The Last Sound Love Makes." "Lost in Your Eyes," "Heartache Away," "Love Roulette," and the haunting "Can't Take Your Memory."




Three years later, Johnson decided to go back to the well and do another album, "Let It Roll." However, it didn't have the same fortunes as "Heartbeat" and quickly sank into obscurity. Because of this, not much is known about the album or the making of it. However, unlike "Heartbeat," the new album had a somewhat different style that I can't really descirbe (listen to this and "Heartbeat" back-to-back, and you'll understand). That doesn't mean it's not good, though. While there are a few clunkers ("A Better Place" is pretty forgettable), there are more positives that the negatives. Standouts are the kickoff track, "Other People's Lives", the cover of Aaron Neville's "Tell it Like it Is," "When You Only Loved Me," Angel City," the title track, and "What If It Takes All Night."

Overall, these are an underrated pair of albums that are highly reccomended to 80s fans.

Tracks (Heartbeat):

1. Heartbeat
2. Voice On a Hotline
3. The Last Sound Love Makes
4. Lost in Your Eyes
5. Coco, Don't
6. Heartache Away
7. Love Roulette
8. Star Tonight
9. Gotta Get Away
10. Can't Take Your Memory

http://www.sendspace.com/file/6vys9s

Tracks (Let it Roll):

1. Other People's Lives
2. Tell it Like it Is
3. Your Love is Safe With Me
4. A Better Place (featuring Yuri)
5. When You Only Loved Me
6. Angel City
7. Lonely Too Long
8. Let it Roll
9. What if it Takes All Night
10. Little One's Lullaby

http://www.sendspace.com/file/p5shh0