Don Johnson and I have one thing in common: Our first love is MUSIC!

Yes! You're asking Don Johnson of Miami Vice fame? You bet! Little did we all know, is that Don cowrote two songs for the Allman Brothers Band's Enlightened Rogues album in 1979. He cowrote two songs for the Heartbeat album.

When Don went into the studio for this album, he got a lot of help. Along with his four-piece band, he was helped with the likes of Dickey Betts, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Steve Ray Vaughan, Ron Wood, and Dweezil Zappa.

Of the ten songs on the album, these are the ones that stood out for me: The title track, "Heartbeat," (hey! it got a lot of radio airplay, and was a Top 10 hit!) "Voice On A Hotline" (a mellow number), "The Last Sound Love Makes" (a good rocker!) "Lost In Your Eyes," written by Tom Petty, features background vocals by Bonnie Raitt. It's a mellow tune, as it sets the mood.

"Coco Don't" and "Heartache Away" are two songs where you just can't help but sing along with the choruses. "Love Roulette" (cowritten by Don) and "Gotta Get Away" are okay numbers; "Star Tonight" (written by Bob Seger) is a duet with Don and Willie Nelson. This song, I hate to say, is the least one to listen to. (Don't get me wrong, I like Willie Nelson, this song just didn't do it for me.)

And lastly, "Can't Take Your Memory," cowritten by Don, is a beautiful tune as it features just the piano and Don's vocals. Don tells the tale of how memories just cannot be taken away. Whether good ones or bad, the title of this tune really says it all.

Don Johnson is one of many movie actors/actresses to take a crack in becoming a rock and roll singer. (Hey, if Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock can do it, why can't Don?) He's not the greatest singer in the world, but I was greatly impressed by his first effort. It definitely has that Eighties sound.

His second album was released in 1989, entitled Let It Roll. He hasn't recorded any new albums since then, although he did record a duet with his then-girlfriend Barbra Streisand in the early 90s.

Although I like this album, many people felt that he should go back to his "day" job; being an actor.

Rating: B+

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