Back with a Heart

Back with a Heart was recorded in Nashville and marked Newton-John's return to the US Country chart after an absence of almost twenty years.

Back with a Heart was preceded by the single "I Honestly Love You", a re-recording of Newton-John's 1974 number-one hit. MCA Nashville initially intended to release "Precious Love" as the album's lead single to country radio but eventually settled on the updated version of "I Honestly Love You".[1] Selected by Newton-John, David Foster agreed to produce the remake, who in turn asked Babyface to contribute backing vocals to the song.[1] "I Honestly Love You" was released in two versions; the album version for pop and adult contemporary radio, and a remix for country radio. "Precious Love" was eventually released as the album's second single, while title track "Back with a Heart" was issued as a vinyl 45 RPM single in the United States. Album cut "Love Is a Gift" won a 1999 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song after appearing on the American television soap opera As the World Turns.[2]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine rated the album three stars out of five and found that Newton-John "put a great deal of effort into the making of Back with a Heart – the record is her best in years. It's much slicker than even her polished country-pop from the '70s, but a team of producers [...] have created an appealingly smooth sound that gives her a platform to showcase her mature craftsmanship. None of the songs immediately stand out, but the album has a consistent quality that is thoroughly winning."[3]

Performers and musicians

Technical

• Producers – Don Cook (Tracks 1, 3 and 7); John Farrar (Tracks 2 and 5); Gary Burr (Tracks 4 and 10); Tony Brown (Tracks 6 and 9); Chris Farren (Track 8); David Foster (Track 11)
• Production assistance on Tracks 1, 3 and 7 – Scott Johnson
• Project coordinators – Patty Nichols (Tracks 2 and 5); Jessie Noble (Tracks 2, 5, 6 and 9); Bill Nemuth (Tracks 4 and 10); Kelly Giedt (Track 8); Felipe Elgueta (Track 11)
• Executive producers – Rory S. Kaplan and Bill Neighbors
• Recording – Mike Bradley (Tracks 1, 3 and 7); Chuck Ainlay (Tracks 2, 5, 6 and 9); Greg Kane (Tracks 4 and 10); Steve Marcantonio (Track 8); Felipe Elgueta (Track 11)
• Assistant recording – Mark Capps (Tracks 1, 3 and 7); Tim Roberts (Tracks 1, 3 and 7); Aaron Swihart (Tracks 1–3, 5–7 and 9); Mark Ralston (Tracks 2, 5, 6 and 9); King Williams (Tracks 4 and 10); John Saylor (Track 8); Chris Davie (Track 8);
• Additional recording – Mike Bradley (Tracks 1, 3 and 7); Mark Capps (Tracks 1, 3 and 7); Tim Roberts (Tracks 1, 3 and 7); Pat McMakin (Tracks 1, 3 and 7); Al Grassmick (Tracks 4 and 10); John Saylor (Track 8); Shawn Allan (Track 8); Steve Marcantonio (Track 8); Tom Harding (Track 8); Alejandro Rodriguez (Track 8); Dan Shike (Track 10)
• Overdub tracking – Steve McMillan (Tracks 2 and 5); Al Grassmick and Steve Marcantonio (Tracks 6 and 9)
• Additional overdub recording on Tracks 6 and 9 – Tony Green and Russ Martin
• Mixed by Chuck Ainlay at Masterfonics (Tracks 1, 3 and 6–11) and Moonee Pond Studios (Tracks 2 and 5), assisted by Mark Ralston
• Editing – Don Cobb
• Encoding by Jeff Levinson and Ric Wilson
• Technical support – H.G. Hollans and John Saylor
• Mastered by Denny Purcell at Georgetown Masters (Nashville, TN), assisted by Jonathan Russell
• Art direction – Gabrielle Raumberger
• Design – Joseph Kiely
• Photography – Michelle Day, Caroline Greyshock and Patrick McDermott
• Stylist – Mini DeBlasio