Search - Don Johnson :: Heartbeat

The Ultimate Guilty Pleasure

DRD | 08/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hoo-boy. One can't really discuss the 80s without discussing Don Johnson, and one can't really love the 80s without loving the actor who defined the decade. The musical question is, How to justify this with the fact that the title track from this album constantly shows up on "cheesiest," "worst" and "makes me want to kill myself" lists? I've got to come clean: I think DJ is great. I'm one of those freaks who has no problem with him comparing himself to De Niro, because I completely agree with the sentiment. And I know that makes me sick and wrong. So, that out of the way, how about the album? Realistically, it's a sturdy, serviceable corporate pop/rock record. It's obvious the record company wanted to cash in on the Vice craze in a big way. This album boasts big-name talent like Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Ron Wood and others on vocals and backing tracks, and more big-name talent like Bog Seger and Tom Petty helping out with songwriting. The sound has an eighties production sheen, but avoids the cheesy keyboards and actually sounds pretty muscular on tracks like "Last Sound Love Makes" and "Gotta Get Away." The one indulgence I will allow myself, as a DJ fan, is to go over the top in my description of the album closer, "Can't Take your Memory." A beautiful piano-driven ballad, Don delivers a vocal of striking power and emotion. I really believe you could play this track in a "blind" test, and most folks would herald the dude singing it as a major undiscovered talent. But, alas, he is Don Johnson. A joke to many, a hero to some and a major talent nonetheless. Five stars for DJ fans, two and a half for everybody else."

Don is more than just Sonny Crockett

Shannan | 08/24/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Don's premier album will be quite a surprise to those who think he's nothing more than Sonny Crockett. Don has a pleasant tenor voice which sounds better in the ballads. I purchased the album when in first came out in 1985 and have since replaced it with cd. This particular release contains several songs from his second album "Let it Roll". DJ fans will love "Little Ones Lullabye", written by Don. All in all, it's worth the listen."

Awesome! A Must Have For People In The Know!

DRD | 06/09/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I took tons of ribbing from my friends for my three year search for the Heartbeat cassette. It was well worth it! Now I'm going to buy the CD. What a great bunch of songs. Why Don doesn't put out a Nash Bridges soundtrack or do some singing on the show is beyond me. This guy has got talent! I got even with one of my pals by playing the song Coco No. He thought it sounded real good - he ate his words and took back all the bad things he said about this album from that moment on. Now he's looking for it. Buy this CD."