The Heart of the Matter is the seventeenth studio album by Kenny Rogers, released by RCA Nashville. It was Kenny's eleventh disc to hit #1 on Billboard's Country albums chart.
Overview
This album is to date Rogers' final to reach #1 on the country charts, and peaked at #51 on the Billboard 200. It was produced by George Martin.
Singles
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 #79 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.
Personnel
- Ian Bairnson – guitar (1, 2, 4, 7)
- Israel Baker – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Arnold Belnick – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Denyse Buffum – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Stuart Canin – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Jules Chakin – strings contractor (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums (9), percussion (9)
- Joe Chemay – bass guitar (3), backing vocals (3, 8)
- Jimmy Cox – keyboards (9)
- Isabelle Daskoff – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Assa Drori – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Anne Dudley – keyboards (1, 2, 4, 7)
- Bruce Dukov – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Nathan East – bass guitar (9), backing vocals (9)
- Stuart Elliott – drums (1, 2, 4, 7)
- Ronald Folsom – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- David Foster – LinnDrum (6), Moog bass (6), piano (6), synthesizer (6)
- Mo Foster – bass guitar (1, 2, 4, 7)
- James Galway – flute (6)
- Gary Grant – trumpet (1, 9)
- Gary Herbig – saxophone (1, 3)
- Jerry Hey – trumpet (1, 9), horn arrangements (9)
- Reginald Hill – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- John Hobbs – keyboards (1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10)
- Bill Hybel – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- William Hymanson – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar (5, 8, 10)
- Stanley Jordan – guitar solo (4)
- Dennis Karmazyn – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Ray Kelley – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Michael Landau – guitar (3, 9)
- Steve Leach – percussion (1)
- Kathleen Lenski – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Gayle Levant – harp (4)
- Jeremy Lubbock – string arrangements (5, 6, 8, 10), additional keyboards (6)
- Steve Lukather – guitar (3)
- Gordan Marron – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- George Martin – arrangements (1, 3, 8), string arrangements (2, 4)
- Richard Marx – percussion (1), backing vocals (1)
- David Morgan – backing vocals (9)
- Buell Niedlinger – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Bill Nuttycombe – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Garry Nuttycombe – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Don Palmer – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Herb Pedersen – backing vocals (7, 9, 10)
- Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone (1)
- John "J.R." Robinson – percussion (2), drums (3, 5, 8, 10)
- Kenny Rogers – lead vocals, backing vocals (3, 9)
- Jay Rosen – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Donnie Sanders – saxello (2)
- Sheldon Sanov – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- David Schwartz – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Fred Seykoura – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Marshall Sosson – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass guitar (5, 8, 10)
- Robert Sushel – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Fred Tackett – guitar (5, 8, 10)
- James Thatcher – French horn (6)
- Richard Todd – French horn (6)
- Mari Tsumari-Botnick – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Kin Vassy – percussion (1), backing vocals (3, 4, 7-10)
- Randy Waldman – keyboards (5, 8, 10)
- Billy Joe Walker Jr. – guitar (1, 2, 4, 7)
- Larry Williams – saxophone (1)
- Terry Williams – percussion (1), backing vocals (1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10)
- Shari Zippert – strings (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
Production
- 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, CA), Lion Share Recording (Los Angeles, CA), Soundcastle (Santa Monica, CA), Evergreen Studios (Burbank, CA) and Studio Marcadet (Paris, France).
- Mixed by Jon Kelley at Soundcastle and Hollywood Sound Recorders (Hollywood, CA).
- Mix Assistants – Bino Espinoza and Mike Wuellner
- Mastered by Wally Traugott at Capitol Mastering (Hollywood, CA).
- Product Manager – Antony Amos
- Art Direction – Becky Stewart
- Design – John Coulter Design
- Photography – Matthew Rolston
- Liner Notes – Peter Doggett
- Management – Dreamcatcher Artist Management
Charts
| Chart (1985) |
Peak position |
|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 |
51 |
| Canadian RPM Top Albums |
57 |
External links
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| Studio albums | |
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| Collaboration albums | |
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| Christmas albums | |
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| Compilations | |
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| Notable singles | |
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| Guest singles | |
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| Related articles | |
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 Book:Kenny Rogers |
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