A Good Heart


"A Good Heart" is a song written by Maria McKee and recorded by the Northern Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released as the first single from his eponymous debut studio album. It was released on
30 September 1985 by Virgin Records and became a number-one hit in the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

Background

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' Dave 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. 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.
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.

Critical reception

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."

Formats

Personnel

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Australia 8
Belgium 24
Canada Top Singles 51
Netherlands 13
Netherlands 49
New Zealand 9
South Africa 15
West Germany 41

Sales and certifications

Release history