Heart Don't Lie is the third album released by American singer-songwriter La Toya Jackson. Released in 1984 by Epic Records, this album is her most critically acclaimed and commercially successful album to date, peaking at #149 on the Billboard 200[1] and #65 on the Top Black Albums chart.[2]
| Heart Don't Lie | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1984 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 37:01 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer | Amir Bayyan | |||
| La Toya Jackson chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Heart Don't Lie | ||||
Album information
editThe album was produced by Amir Bayyan, brother of Khalis Bayyan and Robert Bell, and member of Kool & the Gang, who was hired after Joe Jackson, La Toya's father and then-manager, heard his tapes. Jackson recorded the album sporadically over a six-month period.[3] The album features a plethora of musical guests, including Shalamar's Howard Hewett and reggae-pop group Musical Youth on the title track, musicians from Kool & the Gang on several tracks throughout the album, and collaborations with her siblings, including Marlon, Janet, and Tito, who co-produced the track "Frustration".
Jackson and Bayyan originally wrote the song "Reggae Nights" for this album, but it ended up being a Grammy-nominated single for Jimmy Cliff. Said Jackson at the time, "A lot of people wanted to sing that tune and we were thinking about saving it for my album. But when Jimmy came along I said, 'Forget it. I hear a guy doing it.' So he got the tune."[3][4] She recorded the song herself for her 1991 album No Relations.
Heart Don't Lie was re-released by Funky Town Grooves on CD in February 2012. The expanded edition included 7 bonus tracks. As of January 2013, the album is once again out of print.[5]
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| Rolling Stone | [7] |
| Smash Hits | 7/10[8] |
In their review, Cashbox stated that "a prestigious solo debut is made by LaToya Jackson with her sultry new LP for Private I Records. “Heart Don’t Lie” is an album packed with top notch dance tunes, from the reggae tinged single “Heart Don’t Lie” to the partying trumpet funk of “Hot Potato.” Jackson’s singing has a satiny texture that gives these tunes a rich smoothness. Together with the instrumental excellence of a crack studio band, Jackson’s performance on this LP should win her the attention she deserves."[9]
The Afro-American described the opening "Think Twice" as a "rocker" and compared "Hot Potato" to an Evelyn King song.[10] The LP's A-side closes with a cover Prince's "Private Joy" with which Jackson, according to the Los Angeles Times "matches Prince's intensity with her own hard-edged snap, crackle and pop."[11] Dave Marsh of Rolling Stone described the album as "the one Jackson record you don't hear on the radio", which, "given the all-encompassing aura of the phenomenon [...] ought to give you a strong sense of the banality of what's stored in this set of grooves. La Toya can carry a tune but she can't really project her voice , much less sell a song."[7] Chris Albertson of Stereo Review said that "judging by [this album], producer Amir Bayyan is aware of her limitations—at least, that would account for his drowning her voice in some very strong, rhythmic arrangements. This is an eminently forgettable release."[12]
AllMusic commented that there are "a handful of guilty pleasures here that are, if not much else, very catchy, making this a wise investment for anyone curious about the music of the Jackson family 'outcast'."[6]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Think Twice" | Amir Bayyan, La Toya Jackson | Amir Bayyan | 4:41 |
| 2. | "Heart Don't Lie" | Amir Bayyan, Donna Johnson, La Toya Jackson | Amir Bayyan | 4:37 |
| 3. | "Bet'cha Gonna Need My Lovin'" | Amir Bayyan, Cynthia Huggins, Kelly Barreto | Amir Bayyan | 4:29 |
| 4. | "Private Joy" | Prince | Amir Bayyan | 4:51 |
| 5. | "Hot Potato" | Amir Bayyan, La Toya Jackson | Amir Bayyan | 4:41 |
| 6. | "I Like Everything You're Doin'" | Gregory Radford, Meekaaeel Muhammad | Amir Bayyan | 4:36 |
| 7. | "Frustration" | Chuck Gentry, Howard Hewett | Howard Hewett, Tito Jackson | 4:47 |
| 8. | "Without You" | Amir Bayyan, La Toya Jackson | Amir Bayyan | 4:10 |
| Total length: | 37:01 | |||
Expanded edition
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 9. | "Bet'cha Gonna Need My Lovin'" (Long Version) | 6:18 |
| 10. | "Bet'cha Gonna Need My Lovin'" (Instrumental) | 4:44 |
| 11. | "Heart Don't Lie" (Club Version) | 5:59 |
| 12. | "Heart Don't Lie" (Dub Version) | 4:37 |
| 13. | "Private Joy" (Extended Dance Mix) | 7:56 |
| 14. | "Hot Potato" (12" Version) | 6:27 |
| 15. | "Hot Potato" (Dub Version) | 5:59 |
Charts
edit| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard 200 | 149 |
| Billboard Top Black Albums | 65 |
| US Cash Box Black Contemporary Top 75 [13] | 51 |
References
edit- ^ "LaToya Jackson". Billboard.
- ^ "LaToya Jackson". Billboard.
- ^ a b Fee, Debi. "At Home With La Toya Jackson"[permanent dead link] Rock & Soul Magazine, 1984
- ^ "VH1 Bio". Archived from the original on 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
- ^ "La Toya Jackson Heart Don't Lie - Expanded". Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- ^ a b AllMusic review
- ^ a b Marsh, Dave. 'Victory Misses Mark' The Tuscaloosa News Aug 19, 1984
- ^ Anthony, Lisa (5–18 July 1984). "Albums: La Toya Jackson – Heart Don't Lie (Private I Records)". Smash Hits. Vol. 6, no. 14. Peterborough: EMAP National Publications, Ltd. p. 21. ISSN 0260-3004. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. No. 26 May 1984. p. 7. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ Matthews, Carl. 'La Toya Jackson' The Afro-American June 23, 1984
- ^ Johnson, Connie (13 January 1985). "Rock Stars Turn Out Their Versions Of Princely Songs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- ^ Albertson, Chris. "Popular Music", Stereo Review, October 1984.
- ^ "Cash Box Black Contemporary Top 75 Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 23. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
