Unveiling the Tale Behind Don Williams’s Chart-Topping Hit: “Heartbeat In The Darkness”
In the realm of country music, Don Williams possessed an uncanny knack for picking out hidden gems in the music world. One such treasure was the Amazing Rhythm Aces, a country-rock band that left a lasting impact on his career. Williams had a history of collaborating with former Aces members, such as guitarist Barry “Byrd” Burton, who lent his talent to hits like “Good Ole Boys Like Me” and “It Must Be Love.” However, it was the partnership with former Aces lead vocalist Russell Smith that gave birth to the unforgettable “Heartbeat In The Darkness,” a song co-penned by Smith and Dave Loggins.
Smith, with his distinctive musical style, often referred to his music as “rhythm and bluegrass.” When people inquired about the genre he played, they often found themselves puzzled by his response. But for Smith, it encapsulated the essence of his sound—a fusion of a deep-rooted backbeat, a love for blues, and a voice that naturally embraced a country twang. “Rhythm and bluegrass” was the closest he could come to describing his unique musical blend.
Growing up in Middle Tennessee, Russell Smith was exposed to an eclectic mix of music, thanks to his radio’s ability to capture both the Grand Ole Opry on WSM and the latest R&B hits on WLAC. These diverse influences ultimately converged when the Amazing Rhythm Aces formed in 1972, although they didn’t settle on their iconic name until a couple of years later.
The band catapulted to fame in 1975 with Smith’s composition “Third Rate Romance” and continued their winning streak with hits like “Amazing Grace (Used To Be Her Favorite Song)” and the Grammy-winning “The End Is Not In Sight (The Cowboy Tune).”
However, the band’s journey took an unexpected turn in 1981 when skyrocketing oil prices rendered their road shows economically unviable, leading to their disbandment. Russell Smith embarked on a solo career, but it was his prowess as a songwriter that truly shone. He penned hit after hit, including John Conlee’s “Old School,” T. Graham Brown’s “Don’t Go To Strangers,” Highway 101’s “Honky Tonk Heart,” and, of course, Don Williams’s “Heartbeat In The Darkness.”
The serendipity of this hit is a testament to the unpredictable nature of the music industry. Don Williams‘s producer, Garth Fundis, happened to make a fortuitous visit to the publishing company while Smith and Dave Loggins were in the midst of crafting “Heartbeat In The Darkness.” Fundis, seizing the moment, ventured into the composing room to greet the songwriters. As fate would have it, they shared their work in progress with Fundis, who had a simple request: consider Don Williams for the song once it was complete.
Initially, Smith and Loggins were uncertain whether the song would be a perfect fit for Williams’s style. Yet, just two days later, they returned to Garth Fundis with their “rhythm and bluegrass” creation. Little did they know that this would mark the birth of a Billboard number one single, propelling Don Williams to the pinnacle of success on August 30, 1986. “Heartbeat In The Darkness” would become Williams’s final addition to his impressive collection of 17 chart-topping hits, forever etching this collaboration into the annals of country music history.
Released: 1986
Artist: Don Williams
Album: New Moves
Genre: Country
Lyrics
Cadillac smiles in the ladies’ styles in this world
They ain’t no part of me
A hundred dollar bill can cure your ills in this world
But it ain’t no good to me
You see money and clothes are easily burned
People and cars are easily turned around
I’m looking for something that’ll last me all of my life
I’m listening for the sound
I wanna hear her heartbeat
In the darkness
Every night of my life
I wanna hear a heartbeat
In the darkness
Next to mine
A woman trying to find a diamond mine
Ain’t my kind, she ain’t no use to me
A big estate with a wrought-iron gate
A mansion on the hill, ain’t where I wanna be
You see without love a house ain’t a home
A diamond ain’t no more than a stone in the ground
I’d give every material thing I own in this life
If I could just hear the sound
I wanna hear her heartbeat
In the darkness
Every night of my life
I wanna hear a heartbeat
In the darkness
Next to mine
I wanna hear her heartbeat
In the darkness
Every night of my life
I wanna hear a heartbeat
In the darkness
Next to mine
I wanna hear a heartbeat
I wanna hear a heartbeat
