"Heartbeat" is a
rockabillysong originally recorded by
Bob Montgomery and credited to
Norman Petty. It was recorded most famously by
Buddy Holly in 1958. The
B-side of the single was "Well... All Right" (Buddy Holly, Norman Petty, Jerry Allison, Joe Mauldin). "Heartbeat" reached the UK top 10 twice. Firstly in 1975 for
Showaddywaddy at number 7 and again in 1992 for
Nick Berry, recorded as the theme to the television series Heartbeat and reached number 2.
Hit versions
"Heartbeat" was the second to last of Holly's singles to be released during his lifetime. It was a minor hit in the United States, reaching number 82 on the
Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Holly's single had more chart impact in the
UK, reaching number 30 in January 1959 and again upon its reissue in April 1960. In the interim between the two UK chartings of the Holly original, a remake by
the Dale Sisters (catalogue number
HMV POP 710) reached number 33 in the UK.[1][2]
"Heartbeat" subsequently reached the UK top 10 twice. Firstly in 1975 for
Showaddywaddy, number 7 that September,[3] and again in 1992 when
Nick Berry's version, recorded as the theme to the television series Heartbeat, in which he starred, reached number 2 that June.[4]Tommy Allsup played the lead guitar part on the recording.
The Hollies, who had named themselves after Buddy Holly, made their only attempt at having a hit remake of a Buddy Holly song with a 1980 single release of "Heartbeat", a midtempo version that charted at #82 on the
Billboard Hot 100.
A Dutch rendering of "Heartbeat" was recorded in 1982 by
Ciska Peters (
nl).
"Heartbeat" served as the title cut for a 1993 album release by
Hank Marvin. (Cliff Richard provided the background vocal on the instrumental track). Marvin's album reached no. 17 in the UK.
On the 2004 album, The Crickets and Their Buddies, which featured various vocalists fronting Buddy Holly's band
the Crickets,
Nanci Griffith provided the vocal on a remake of "Heartbeat".