The Tattooed Heart


The Tattooed Heart is an album by the American musician Aaron Neville, released in 1995. The first single was "Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You ", which Neville sang on an episode of All My Children. The album peaked at No. 64 on the Billboard 200. It sold more than 500,000 copies. Neville promoted the album by touring with his brothers.

Production

The album was produced by Steve Lindsey, with additional production by Keith Stegall on tracks 9 and 12. "Use Me" is a cover of the Bill Withers song. Aaron's brothers Charles and Cyril sang on the song. "For the Good Times" is a cover of the Kris Kristofferson song; it contains backing vocals by Kelly Willis. "Crying in the Chapel" is a cover of the pop-gospel standard. Steve Cropper played guitar on the album.

Critical reception

The Guardian wrote that the songs "are nothing special but Neville transcends their flaws." Newsday opined that "Neville's new release purports to be classic pop soul with country and gospel elements, but what it really calls to mind is the kind of mid-'70s soft rock exemplified by Art Garfunkel's Breakaway and Boz Scaggs' Silk Degrees." The Kingston Whig-Standard labeled The Tattooed Heart "a classic easy-listening soul album." The Indianapolis Star concluded that "Neville conveys more commercial savvy than passion."
The Hartford Courant called Neville's voice "a glider of an instrument, amazingly pure and angelically lilting." The Hamilton Spectator deemed the album "a pleasant mixture of adult contemporary and country." The Vancouver Sun determined that "Neville's airy wail sails free and clear of all snags and almost mesmerizes the listener into a restful half-sleep." The Los Angeles Times considered the album to be a "seamless collection of stylishly rendered lite soul, pop and country."

Personnel

Production