The Heart of the Matter is the seventeenth studio album by American singer Kenny Rogers, released by RCA Records in 1985. It was Rogers' eleventh album to reach #1 on Billboard's Country albums chart and certified Gold by the RIAA. It peaked at #51 on the US Billboard 200 and was produced by George Martin.
Two singles came from this album. "Morning Desire" reached the top of the country charts, as well as #8 on the adult contemporary chart and #72 on the pop charts. His next single, "Goodbye Marie", came from the Short Stories album (also released after Rogers signed to RCA) and charted. The final single from this album followed, "Tomb of the Unknown Love", was a #1 hit in the country charts.
- Kenny Rogers – lead vocals
- Anne Dudley – keyboards (1, 2, 4, 7)
- John Hobbs – keyboards (1, 3, 5, 8-10)
- Randy Waldman – keyboards (5, 8, 10)
- David Foster – acoustic piano (6), synthesizers (6), Moog bass (6), LinnDrum (6)
- Jeremy Lubbock – additional keyboards (6)
- Jimmy Cox – keyboards (9)
- Ian Bairnson – guitar (1, 2, 4, 7)
- Billy Joe Walker Jr. – guitar (1, 2, 4, 7)
- Michael Landau – guitar (3, 9)
- Steve Lukather – guitar (3)
- Stanley Jordan – guitar solo (4)
- Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar (5, 8, 10)
- Fred Tackett – guitar (5, 8, 10)
- Mo Foster – bass (1, 2, 4, 7)
- Joe Chemay – bass (3), backing vocals (3, 8)
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass (5, 8, 10)
- Nathan East – bass (9), backing vocals (9)
- Stuart Elliott – drums (1, 2, 4, 7)
- Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums (9), percussion (9)
- Steve Leach – percussion (1)
- Richard Marx – percussion (1), backing vocals (1)
- Kin Vassy – percussion (1), backing vocals (3, 4, 7-10)
- Terry Williams – percussion (1), backing vocals (1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10)
- John Robinson – percussion (2), drums (3, 5, 8, 10)
- Gary Herbig – saxophone (1, 3)
- Larry Williams – saxophone (1)
- Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone (1)
- Gary Grant – trumpet (1, 9)
- Jerry Hey – trumpet (1, 9), horn arrangements (9)
- Donnie Sanders – saxello (2)
- James Galway – flute (6)
- James Thatcher – French horn (6)
- Richard Todd – French horn (6)
- Gayle Levant – harp (4)
- George Martin – arrangements (1, 3, 8)
- Kenny Rogers II – backing vocals (3, 9)
- Herb Pedersen – backing vocals (7, 9, 10)
- David Morgan – backing vocals (9)
Strings (Tracks 2, 4-6, 8, 10)
- George Martin – string arrangements (2, 4)
- Jeremy Lubbock – string arrangements and conductor (5, 6, 8, 10)
- Jules Chaikin – string contractor
- Israel Baker, Arnold Belnick, Denyse Buffum, Stuart Canin, Isabelle Daskoff, Assa Drori, Bruce Dukov, Ronald Folsom, Reginald Hill, Bill Hybel, William Hymanson, Dennis Karmazyn, Ray Kelley, Kathleen Lenski, Gordan Marron, Buell Neidlinger, Bill Nuttycombe, Garry Nuttycombe, Don Palmer, Jay Rosen, Sheldon Sanov, David Schwartz, Fred Seykoura, Marshall Sosson, Robert Sushel, Mari Tsumari-Botnick and Shari Zippert – string players
- Producer – George Martin
- Engineers – Terry Christian and Jon Kelley
- Second engineers – Bino Espinoza, Laura Livingston and Stephen Shelton
- Strings recorded by John Richards
- Second Engineer (strings) – Olivier de Bosson
- Recorded at Sunset Sound (Hollywood), Lion Share Recording (Los Angeles), Soundcastle (Santa Monica), Evergreen Studios (Burbank) and Studio Marcadet (Paris, France)
- Mixed by Jon Kelley at Soundcastle and Hollywood Sound Recorders (Hollywood)
- Mix assistants – Bino Espinoza and Mike Wuellner
- Mastered by Wally Traugott at Capitol Mastering (Hollywood)
- Product manager – Antony Amos
- Art direction – Becky Stewart
- Design – John Coulter Design
- Photography – Matthew Rolston
- Liner notes – Peter Doggett
- Management – Dreamcatcher Artist Management
| Chart (1985)
|
Peak position
|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums
|
1
|
| U.S. Billboard 200
|
51
|
| Australian (Kent Music Report) Albums
|
69[1]
|
| Canadian RPM Top Albums
|
57
|
