"Heart of Gold" is a song by English band

Johnny Hates Jazz Johnny Hates Jazz are a British band, currently consisting of Clark Datchler (songwriter, vocalist, keyboards) and Mike Nocito (guitarist, bassist, producer, engineer). In April 1987, they achieved international success with their first hit s ...

, released by

Virgin Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...

in 1988 as the fourth single from their debut studio album '' Turn Back the Clock'' (1987). The song was written by

Clark Datchler Clark Wynford Datchler (born 27 March 1964) is an English singer-songwriter and record producer. He first rose to fame in 1987 as the lead singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in the pop band Johnny Hates Jazz. Early career Born in 1964 ...

and produced by Calvin Hayes and Mike Nocito. It reached number 19 in the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

and remained in the top 100 for seven weeks.

Background

Lead vocalist and writer

was inspired to write "Heart of Gold" after talking to a prostitute he met in

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. He told ''

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'' in 1988, Musically, the song was partly inspired by

Rick James James Ambrose Johnson Jr. (February 1, 1948 – August 6, 2004), better known by his stage name Rick James, was an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, James began his musical career in ...

' "Mr. Policeman", a song from his 1981 album '' Street Songs''. Recalling "Heart of Gold" in 2021, Datchler told Will Harris, "It was a semi-reggae track, big horn section. It turned out to be a good track." He added that it was a "really good recording" and one which provides a "good illustration of my usicalinfluences as a kid".

Music video

The song's music video was directed by

David Fincher David Andrew Leo Fincher (born August 28, 1962) is an American film director. His films, mostly psychological thrillers and biographical dramas, have received 40 nominations at the Academy Awards, including three for him as Best Director. Fin ...

Critical reception

Upon its release, Max Bell of ''

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'' gave "Heart of Gold" a three out of five star rating and commented, "Ostensibly a song about a lady of the night, it drifts into the subconscious before you can say 'hang on, I don't usually fall for innocuous songs like this'. Still, it's stylish, if eminently forgettable." Eleanor Levy of ''

Record Mirror ''Record Mirror'' was a British weekly music newspaper between 1954 and 1991 for pop fans and record collectors. Launched two years after the ''NME'', it never attained the circulation of its rival. The first UK album chart was published in ''Re ...

'' described it as a "slightly more up-tempo number

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never quite manages to break out of its cosy, lolloping trot". She added, "Yet the Johnnies do write exceedingly good tunes and their slickness is expertly, even lovingly, crafted." John Lee of the ''

Huddersfield Daily Examiner The ''Huddersfield Daily Examiner'' is an English local daily evening newspaper covering news and sport from Huddersfield and its surrounding areas. History The first edition was published as a weekly, starting on 6 September 1851, as the ''H ...

'' praised the song as "punchy and crisp" and felt that the "tale of a prostitute set to a bouncy back track is bound to give the another hit". ''

Music & Media ''Music & Media'' was a pan-European magazine for radio, music and entertainment. It was published for the first time in 1984 as ''Eurotipsheet'', but in 1986 it changed name to ''Music & Media''. It was originally based in Amsterdam, but later ...

'' noted it "luckily asa bit more bite and spice" than the "drooling" " Turn Back the Clock". They added, "A sometimes very

Level 42 Level 42 is an English jazz-funk band formed on the Isle of Wight in 1979. They had a number of UK and worldwide hits during the 1980s and 1990s. Their highest-charting single in the UK was " Lessons in Love", which reached number three on the ...

-like drive is coupled with some effective brass and a joyful chorus."

Track listing

7–inch single (UK, Europe and Australasia) #"Heart of Gold" – 3:28 #"Leave It Up to Me" – 3:22 7–inch limited edition, numbered box set (UK) #"Heart of Gold" – 3:28 #"Leave It Up to Me" – 3:22 12–inch single (UK, Europe and Australasia) #"Heart of Gold" (Extended Version) – 6:41 #"Leave It Up to Me" – 3:22 #"Heart of Gold" – 3:28 CD and cassette limited edition single (UK) #"Heart of Gold" – 3:28 #"Leave It Up to Me" – 3:22 #"Heart of Gold" (Extended Mix) – 6:41 #"The Cage" – 3:59

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the ''Turn Back the Clock'' vinyl LP liner notes and the UK 12-single vinyl single. Johnny Hates Jazz *

* Mike Nocito * Calvin Hayes Additional musicians * Stevie Lang – backing vocals *

Miriam Stockley Miriam Arlene Stockley (born 15 April 1962) is a British singer. She was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and her work is influenced by the African music of her home country. Her distinctive ''vocal warm up#Vocalise, vocalise'' style gained in ...

– backing vocals Production * Calvin Hayes – producer * Mike Nocito – producer * Will Gosling – remix engineer ("Heart of Gold") Other * Nicole Redican – sleeve design *

Simon Fowler Simon Geoffrey Fowler (born 25 May 1965 in Meriden, Warwickshire) is an English singer and acoustic guitarist, best known as the frontman of Ocean Colour Scene. The Fanatics Simon Fowler commenced his music career as the lead singer and songwr ...

– photography (front sleeve) * Sheila Rock – photography (back sleeve) * Andrea – model

Charts

References

{{authority control 1987 songs 1988 singles Virgin Records singles Johnny Hates Jazz songs Songs written by Clark Datchler Songs about prostitutes