Heart of Mine
The story of the song
The Story of the Song
Through the 1980s, Bobby Caldwell wrote some of his best-known songs for other singers. “Heart of Mine,” written with Dennis Matkosky and Jason Scheff, became a Top 40 hit for Boz Scaggs in 1988. Bobby then sang it himself as the opening and title song of his own album.
Quick facts
| Written by | Bobby Caldwell, Dennis Matkosky and Jason Scheff |
|---|---|
| First hit | Boz Scaggs, Other Roads (Columbia, 1988) |
| Peak | No. 35, Billboard Hot 100; No. 3, Adult Contemporary |
| Bobby’s version | Heart of Mine (1989), track 1 |
Written for Boz
“I wrote ‘Heart of Mine’ for Boz Scaggs, and it was a hit,” Bobby said in a 2011 interview with the Danish site Blue Desert. He wrote it with two trusted collaborators: Dennis Matkosky, who also co-wrote “All or Nothing at All” with him, and Jason Scheff, then the bassist and singer in Chicago. The published sheet music credits the three of them; Scaggs’s album credits also list Scaggs.
Boz Scaggs’s hit
Scaggs chose “Heart of Mine” as the lead single from Other Roads, his first album in eight years. Produced by Stewart Levine, with James Ingram and Phil Perry among the background singers, it reached No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart, Scaggs’s last Top 40 hit.
Bobby’s own version
Bobby recorded the song for his album Heart of Mine, which he produced himself and released on his own Sin-Drome label. The album brought home the songs he had written for others, including “The Next Time I Fall” and “All or Nothing at All”, and it remains a favorite in Japan, where Victor reissued it on vinyl in 2023.
Keep listening
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1978
What You Won’t Do for Love
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The song Common built “The Light” on.Read the story1982Jamaica
Bobby’s tribute to his friend Bob Marley.Read the story1986The Next Time I Fall
Written with Paul Gordon, a No. 1 for Peter Cetera and Amy Grant.Read the story1988All or Nothing at All
An original written with Dennis Matkosky for Al Jarreau.Read the story1991Stuck on You
The orchestral title song of his 1991 album.Read the storyListen
Dive into the timeless sounds of Bobby Caldwell, the legendary singer and songwriter behind the classic hit “What You Won’t Do For Love.” Experience his soulful voice and smooth jazz melodies that have captivated audiences for decades. You can enjoy Bobby Caldwell’s extensive catalog on Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, and other major streaming platforms. Discover why his music continues to inspire and resonate with fans around the world.
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