Take This Heart Explained

Take This Heart
Cover:Take This Heart Richard Marx cassette.jpg
Caption:US cassette single artwork
Type:single
Artist:Richard Marx
Album:Rush Street
B-Side:I Get No Sleep
Released:1992
Length:4:10
Label:Capitol
Producer:Richard Marx
Prev Title:Hazard
Prev Year:1992
Next Title:Chains Around My Heart
Next Year:1992

"Take This Heart" is a song by American singer Richard Marx, released as the third single from his third studio album, Rush Street (1991). It peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 while reaching number four on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The song additionally reached the top 20 in Australia and the United Kingdom and peaked at number four in Canada.

Music video

In the video, Richard Marx is seen playing for the Chicago Cubs against the Oakland A's, in the seventh game of the World Series (Marx was born in Chicago and is a noted Cubs fan). In the classic baseball clutch situation, ninth inning with two outs, he is called in to pinch-hit against A's star relief pitcher Dennis Eckersley (a close friend of Marx and former Cubs pitcher). The baseball scenes, with commentary by announcer Bob Uecker, are intercut with footage of Marx and his band playing the song on the field of the A's ballpark, the Oakland Coliseum.

With two strikes against him, Marx hits a home run to win the game for Chicago, to the dismay of Oakland players Rickey Henderson and Jose Canseco. The scene then cuts to a dozing Marx being shaken awake backstage just before a concert, having dreamed the championship game. As he prepares to start the show, Uecker's cry of "The Cubs have won the World Series!" echoes in his head.

Since the game was played in Oakland, the A's (as the home team) would still bat in the bottom of the ninth, so Marx' homer could not have guaranteed a win for the Cubs. In addition, both teams are wearing their home uniforms. Eckersley, Henderson, Canseco, and Uecker appear as themselves, as does Cubs manager Jim Lefebvre and A's manager Tony LaRussa.

Track listings

US and Australian cassette single[1] [2]

  1. "Take This Heart" – 4:10
  2. "I Get No Sleep" – 3:44

European CD single[3]

  1. "Take This Heart" – 4:10
  2. "I Get No Sleep" – 3:44
  3. "Right Here Waiting" (live) – 4:56

UK 7-inch single[4]

A. "Take This Heart"

B. "Hazard"UK CD1[5]

  1. "Take This Heart"
  2. "Take It to the Limit" (live)
  3. "That Was Lulu" (live)
  4. "Rhythm of Life" (live)

UK CD2[6]

  1. "Take This Heart"
  2. "Hazard"
  3. "Love Unemotional"
  4. "Ride with the Idol"

Personnel

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)Position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 81
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] 36
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[10] 20
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 81
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[12] 15

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United States1992CassetteCapitol
JapanJune 17, 1992Mini-CD[13]
United KingdomAugust 17, 1992[14]

Notes and References

  1. Take This Heart. Richard Marx. 1992. US cassette single sleeve. Capitol Records. 4KM-44782.
  2. Take This Heart. Richard Marx. 1992. Australian cassette single sleeve. Capitol Records. 2047314.
  3. Take This Heart. Richard Marx. 1992. European CD single liner notes. Capitol Records. 2047312.
  4. Take This Heart. Richard Marx. 1992. UK 7-inch single sleeve. Capitol Records. CL 667, 72438 8 0171 7 6.
  5. Take This Heart. Richard Marx. 1992. UK CD1 liner notes. Capitol Records. CDCLS 667, 7243 8 80172 2 0.
  6. Take This Heart. Richard Marx. 1992. UK CD2 liner notes. Capitol Records. CDCL 667, 7243 8 80171 2 0.
  7. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 9. 38. 21. September 19, 1992. January 15, 2021.
  8. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia. pdf. 178.
  9. The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992. RPM. 56. 25. 8. December 19, 1992. April 27, 2019.
  10. The RPM Top 100 Hit tracks of 1992. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. April 27, 2019.
  11. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1992. July 30, 2010.
  12. 1992 The Year in Music. Billboard. 104. 52. YE-38. December 26, 1992. August 13, 2021.
  13. Web site: テイク・ジス・ハート リチャード・マークス. Take This Heart Richard Marx. Oricon. ja. September 11, 2023.
  14. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 21. August 15, 1992.