"Every Beat of My Heart" by Rod Stewart

Song#:  2951
Date:  11/29/1986
Debut:  83
Peak:  83
Weeks:  6
Genre:  Pop, Rock



Pop Bits:  Stewart's fourteenth studio album, Every Beat of My Heart, was not performing well. It had already peaked at a low (for him) #28 and was not on track to becoming a certified gold seller. Despite the previous single, "Another Heartache," not doing well (#52), Stewart's label went ahead and issued out this title-track follow-up. It did even worse by peaking where it debuted on the Pop chart. It failed to reach any other chart as well. With those results, the label called it a day and the album fell off the chart. That left it being one of Stewart's worst performing albums to-date. Only his 1969 debut LP and 1983's Body Wishes did worse.

ReduxReview:  This was meant to be one of those big sentimental sing-along songs that would cross international boarders and make everyone weepie and nostalgic. It had a vague Irish feel to it and indeed mentioned the "Emerald Isle," but it was still generic enough for non-Irish folk to catch on and apply their own meaning. The person in the lyrics is headed home, but I'm not sure from where. From war or a war-torn country? From military service? I dunno. The song is fine, but a little slow and a bit boring. There's just not enough memorable lines or melodies to make it catch on in a bigger way. It strives to be a classic longing-for-home song that everyone rallies around while toasting their pints, but it doesn't quite make it there.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  In the UK, one further single was released from the album. Stewart's remake of The Beatles' "In My Life" would just scratch the chart at #80. "In My Life" was recorded for Rubber Soul, the Beatles' 1965 album. Although it was not selected to be a single, the song became a fan and critical favorite over the years. On Rolling Stone's 2004 list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time," the tune was ranked at #23. Although many artists have covered the song, as of this posting date none have been able to reach the Pop chart with a version. However, one artist did manage to reach the AC chart with the tune. Bette Midler recorded the song for the soundtrack to her 1991 movie For the Boys. It was the second single released from the soundtrack and it got to #20 at AC.

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