Bonnie Tyler -

Bonnie Tyler (June 8, 1951 – July 8, 2026) was a Welsh soul-pop singer who emerged with the 1977 album The World Starts Tonight, which spawned the UK hit “Lost in France.” She scored a transatlantic hit with “It’s a Heartache” from her 1978 second album, Natural Force.

In 1983, Tyler teamed with Meat Loaf partner Jim Steinman on the operatic-pop opus “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” The song became a global hit and a year-end top single on both sides of the Atlantic. The pairing also generated “Holding Out for a Hero” for the 1984 musical drama Footloose.

Background

Bonnie Tyler was born Gaynor Hopkins on June 8, 1951, in Skewen, Neath, Wales. She sang on the South Wales club circuit during the late Sixties and early Seventies, first with Bobby Wayne and the Dixies, then with her own group Imagination. Talent scout Roger Bell heard her with Imagination in 1975 and sent her to London for demos of “My! My! Honeycomb” and “Lost in France.” RCA issued “My! My! Honeycomb” as her first Bonnie Tyler single in April 1976.

RCA followed in September 1976 with “Lost in France” (b/w “Baby I Remember You”). The single reached No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart and established the Scott–Wolfe writing and production partnership that carried Tyler’s first RCA albums.

The World Starts Tonight

Bonnie Tyler released her debut album, The World Starts Tonight, in February 1977 on RCA Victor.

The album contains eight Scott–Wolfe titles, Jerry Chesnut’s “Love of a Rolling Stone,” and the Berns–Ragovoy song “Piece of My Heart.” David Mackay produced with Scott and Wolfe and arranged the album. The session field places Tyler against a London studio band with guitarists Terry Britten, Dave Christopher, Alan Tarney, and Wolfe, bassist Mo Foster, drummer Simon Phillips, and percussionist Barry Guard.

“Lost in France” glides with the smoother early Tyler lead and a soft country-soul sway. “More Than a Lover” thickens the debut setting with a meatier belt and a firmer dramatic sweep. “Love of a Rolling Stone” steadies a cover vehicle around plainspoken ache. “Piece of My Heart” burns through a familiar lament with a grainier shout in the lead.

A1. “Got So Used to Loving You” (3:17) – Scott–Wolfe
A2. “Love of a Rolling Stone” (3:30) – Chesnut
A3. “Lost in France” (3:59) – Scott–Wolfe
A4. “Piece of My Heart” (3:52) – Berns–Ragovoy
A5. “More Than a Lover” (3:52) – Scott–Wolfe

B1. “Give Me Your Love” (3:15) – Scott–Wolfe
B2. “The World Starts Tonight” (3:36) – Scott–Wolfe
B3. “Here’s Monday” (3:46) – Scott–Wolfe
B4. “Love Tangle” (3:16) – Scott–Wolfe
B5. “Let the Show Begin” (4:15) – Scott–Wolfe

Tyler recorded The World Starts Tonight during 1975 and 1976 at Morgan Studios and Roundhouse Recording Studios in London. Mackay, Scott, and Wolfe produced the sessions. Mackay, Ashley Howe, and George Nicholson held engineering credits. Graves/Aslett Associates handled the sleeve photography and design.

RCA issued “Lost in France” in September 1976 (b/w “Baby I Remember You”), and the single reached No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart. “More Than a Lover” followed in January 1977 (b/w “Love Tangle”), and reached No. 27 in Britain.

The World Starts Tonight reached No. 2 on the Swedish albums chart.

Castle Classics issued The World Starts Tonight on CD in 1991. 7T’s reissued the album in the United Kingdom in 2009, and Rdeg issued a United States digital edition in 2012.

Natural Force

Bonnie Tyler released her second album, Natural Force, in May 1978 on RCA Victor.

The album appeared in the United States as It’s a Heartache. Scott and Wolfe remained the main writing team, while the album added songs by Stevie Wonder, Brian Cadd, Goffin–King–Wexler, and Mike Heron. Taff Williams joined the guitar and backing-vocal field beside Wolfe, with bassist Kevin Dunn, keyboardist Roger Bara, drummer Mike Gibbins, and backing vocalist Peter King.

“It’s a Heartache” aches over a steady rhythm, with Tyler’s rasp shaping short, clenched lines. “Blame Me” simmers around a reserved guitar solo and leaves the lead exposed. “Living for the City” strides on a firmer rhythm and drawn-out notes. “Heaven” brightens with an upbeat, toe-tap pace. “Yesterday Dreams” charges as a compact uptempo belt piece. “Hey Love (It’s a Feelin’)” lingers in balladeer mode. “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” broadens the lead with rougher emphasis. “Baby Goodnight” slows into a delicate late-night ballad.

A1. “It’s a Heartache” (3:31) – Scott–Wolfe
A2. “Blame Me” (4:02) – Scott–Wolfe
A3. “Living for the City” (4:45) – Wonder
A4. “If I Sing You a Love Song” (4:45) – Scott–Wolfe
A5. “Heaven” (3:04) – Scott–Wolfe

B1. “Yesterday Dreams” (4:08) – Cadd
B2. “Hey Love (It’s a Feelin’)” (3:55) – Scott–Wolfe
B3. “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” (3:02) – Goffin–King–Wexler
B4. “Here Am I” (3:47) – Scott–Wolfe
B5. “Baby Goodnight” (4:15) – Heron

Sessions occurred during 1977 at The Factory in Woldingham, with additional work at Morgan Studios and IBC Studios in London. Mackay produced the album with Scott and Wolfe and served as engineer. The UK sleeve carried design by Cream, cover photography by David Finch, and inner photography by Chris Hopper.

RCA issued “Heaven” in July 1977 (b/w “Here’s Monday”), and the single reached No. 24 in Germany. “It’s a Heartache” followed in November 1977 (b/w “Got So Used to Loving You”), and reached No. 4 in Britain and No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Here Am I” appeared in April 1978 (b/w “Don’t Stop the Music”). RCA issued “If I Sing You a Love Song” in August 1978, and the single reached No. 103 on the Billboard Bubbling Under chart.

Natural Force reached No. 16 on the Billboard 200 chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.

Castle Classics issued Natural Force on CD in 1991. 7T’s reissued the album in the United Kingdom in 2009, and Rdeg issued a United States digital edition in 2012.

Diamond Cut

Bonnie Tyler released her third album, Diamond Cut, in February 1979 on RCA Victor.

The album places eight Scott–Wolfe titles beside Alan Tarney’s “Bye Bye Now My Sweet Love” and Tom Petty’s “Louisiana Rain.” Robin Geoffrey Cable joined Scott and Wolfe in the production field and engineered the album at RAK Studios. The session credits add a larger guitar pool with Martin Jenner, Ed Hamilton, Gary Waghorn, Hugh Burns, Tarney, and Wolfe.

“If You Ever Need Me Again” steps into the album’s raspy belt lane with a broad, midtempo gait. “Words Can Change Your Life” lingers as a soul-shaded ballad vehicle. “Too Good to Last” rallies around a singalong refrain and sentimental lift. “My Guns Are Loaded” struts through a saucy anthem setting and a declarative lead. “Baby I Just Love You” plods through a slow love-song gait.

A1. “If You Ever Need Me Again” (3:32) – Scott–Wolfe
A2. “Too Good to Last” (3:46) – Scott–Wolfe
A3. “What a Way to Treat My Heart” (3:34) – Scott–Wolfe
A4. “The Eyes of a Fool” (3:18) – Scott–Wolfe
A5. “Bye Bye Now My Sweet Love” (3:01) – Tarney

B1. “Louisiana Rain” (4:29) – Petty
B2. “Baby I Just Love You” (3:01) – Scott–Wolfe
B3. “Words Can Change Your Life” (3:45) – Scott–Wolfe
B4. “My Guns Are Loaded” (3:45) – Scott–Wolfe
B5. “I’m a Fool” (3:21) – Scott–Wolfe

Sessions occurred during 1978 at RAK Studios in London with producers Cable, Scott, and Wolfe. Cable engineered the album. The credited players include bassists Kevin Dunne and Dave Markee, keyboardists Tony Lambert and Pete Wingfield, drummer Henry Spinetti, harmonica player Graham Smith, and tenor saxophonist Chris Mercer. Mike McNaught arranged strings, oboe, and French horn for selected titles. Graves/Aslett handled art direction and sleeve design.

RCA issued “Louisiana Rain” in December 1978 (b/w “The Eyes of a Fool”). “My Guns Are Loaded” followed in March 1979 (b/w “Baby I Just Love You”), and reached No. 10 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart. “What a Way to Treat My Heart” and “Too Good to Last” also appeared as singles during the album cycle.

Diamond Cut reached No. 145 on the Billboard 200 chart, No. 42 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, and No. 14 on the Swedish albums chart.

7T’s reissued Diamond Cut on CD in the United Kingdom in 2010.

RCA issued “Married Men” in May 1979 (b/w “If You Ever Need Me Again”). The song appeared in the film The World Is Full of Married Men and reached No. 35 on the UK Singles Chart. Tyler then performed “Sitting on the Edge of the Ocean” at the World Popular Song Festival in Japan, where the song won the Grand Prix International award.

Goodbye to the Island

Bonnie Tyler released her fourth album, Goodbye to the Island, in January 1981 on RCA Victor.

The album closed Tyler’s RCA studio run with five Scott–Wolfe titles and five outside songs, including “Wild Love,” “The Closer You Get,” “Sometimes When We Touch,” “Wild Side of Life,” and “A Whiter Shade of Pale.” Hugh Murphy produced “I’m Just a Woman” and “We Danced on the Ceiling” alone, then shared the remaining production with Scott and Wolfe. The credited arrangements came from Betsy Cook, John Cameron, Mike McNaught, and Wil Malone.

“I’m Just A Woman” smolders through a slow, sultry descent and saves Tyler’s bigger belt for the late rise. “We Danced on the Ceiling” softens the pace with tender phrasing and a wandering sax break. “Wild Love” opens on acoustic restraint, then swells toward a fuller Tyler belt. “The Closer You Get” chugs through a blues-shaded run and turns the sax into a growling solo. “Sometimes When We Touch” glows from a soft electric-piano start into a slow, warm rise.

“Goodbye to the Island” pleads over a gentle bed and lets the backing choir answer the rawer lead. “Wild Side of Life” chugs from a guitar intro into a firmer drive. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” starts at the piano and rises as the beat enters the main lift. “Sitting on the Edge of the Ocean” steadies a plodding pace around a rounded bass figure and backing-singer lift. “I Believe in Your Sweet Love” flows through a raspy Tyler lead and a country-shaded choir response.

A1. “I’m Just a Woman” (5:08) – Scott–Wolfe
A2. “We Danced on the Ceiling” (4:58) – Scott–Wolfe
A3. “Wild Love” (3:51) – Sutherland
A4. “The Closer You Get” (3:51) – Rea
A5. “Sometimes When We Touch” (4:19) – Hill–Mann

B1. “Goodbye to the Island” (3:13) – Scott–Wolfe
B2. “Wild Side of Life” (3:46) – Carter–Warren
B3. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” (4:29) – Brooker–Reid
B4. “Sitting on the Edge of the Ocean” (3:19) – Scott–Wolfe
B5. “I Believe in Your Sweet Love” (4:22) – Scott–Wolfe

Sessions occurred across 1979 and 1980 with Rak Mobile and Startling Studios in Ascot, Berkshire. Douglas Hopkins, Gregg Jackman, and Steve Lipson held engineering credits. The credited instrumental field includes guitarists Garth Watt-Roy, Gary Taylor, Robert Ahwai, and Lipson, bassists Felix Krish and Kevin Dunne, keyboardists Cook and McNaught, drummers Jeff Allen and Liam Genockey, and saxophonist Raphael Ravenscroft. Andrew Christian handled art direction, and Chris Thomson supplied the cover photography.

RCA issued “I Believe in Your Sweet Love” in November 1979 (b/w “Come On, Give Me Loving”), and the single reached No. 27 on the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary chart. “I’m Just a Woman” followed in October 1980 (b/w “Sitting on the Edge of the Ocean”). RCA issued “Goodbye to the Island” in January 1981 (b/w “Get Out of My Head”), and the single reached No. 54 on the UK airplay chart.

Goodbye to the Island reached No. 38 on the Norwegian albums chart.

Castle Classics issued Goodbye to the Island on CD in 1991. 7T’s reissued the album in the United Kingdom in 2010, and later digital editions followed through Rdeg and Soundbarrier.

Faster Than the Speed of Night

Bonnie Tyler released her fifth album, Faster Than the Speed of Night, in April 1983 on CBS/Columbia.

The album opened Tyler’s CBS/Columbia period after four RCA studio albums. Jim Steinman produced the album with John Jansen and wrote “Faster Than the Speed of Night” and “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” The remaining songs came from John Fogerty, Alan Gruner, Dennis Polen with Paul Pilger and William Moloney, Ian Hunter with Eric Bloom, Frankie Miller, Billy Cross, and Bryan Adams with Eric Kagna.

“Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” surges from a fast piano figure into a dramatic beat and a rasped shout after the first lift. “Faster Than the Speed of Night” barrels through quick piano runs, metallic soloing, and a theatrical sweep. “Getting So Excited” clenches Tyler’s choppy phrasing against a stark setting. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” erupts from a quiet piano-led opening into a huge choir-laden rise.

“It’s a Jungle Out There” skips through an offbeat lilt and leaves Tyler’s grain against a lighter rhythmic spring. “Goin’ Through the Motions” chants through children’s voices at the entry and return, then roughens the cover into a rawer belt piece. “Tears” pairs Tyler and Frankie Miller in a gruff duet with compact drama. “Take Me Back” rises through backing-singer replies and a drawn-out final lift. “Straight From the Heart” sweeps the Bryan Adams song into a wall-style remake.

A1. “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” (4:08) – Fogerty
A2. “Faster Than the Speed of Night” (6:44) – Steinman
A3. “Getting So Excited” (3:33) – Gruner
A4. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (6:57) – Steinman

B1. “It’s a Jungle Out There” (4:39) – Polen–Pilger–Moloney
B2. “Goin’ Through the Motions” (4:09) – Hunter–Bloom
B3. “Tears” (3:51) – Miller
B4. “Take Me Back” (5:24) – Cross
B5. “Straight from the Heart” (3:42) – Adams–Kagna

Sessions occurred during 1982 at the Power Station, Greene Street, and Right Track Studios in New York. Steinman produced and directed the album, with Jansen as producer and chief engineer. Neil Dorfsman recorded basic tracks with Rod Hui. Frank Filipetti and Scott Litt handled additional recording, and Greg Calbi mastered the album at Sterling Sound.

The credited New York session field includes pianist and organist Roy Bittan, synthesist Larry Fast, guitarist Rick Derringer, bassist Steve Buslowe, drummer Max Weinberg, percussionist Jimmy Maelen, and backing vocalists Rory Dodd, Holly Sherwood, and Eric Troyer. Frankie Miller shares the vocal on “Tears.”

CBS issued “Total Eclipse of the Heart” on February 11, 1983 (b/w “Take Me Back”); Columbia backed US copies with “Straight from the Heart.” Russell Mulcahy directed the video at Holloway Sanatorium in Surrey, where Tyler appears in white inside a gothic boys’ school setting. The clip moves through corridors, choir rows, fencers, gymnasts, masked figures, wind-blown drapery, candlelit rooms, and glowing student eyes.

On the UK chart dated March 6, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” reached No. 1, where it ousted “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson. The single held the top for two weeks before Duran Duran entered at No. 1 with “Is There Something I Should Know?” on the chart dated March 20.

“Faster Than the Speed of Night” followed in April 1983 (b/w “Gonna Get Better”), and reached No. 43 in Britain. “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” appeared in June 1983 (b/w “Time”), and reached No. 47 in Britain. “Getting So Excited” followed in 1984 (b/w “Goin’ Through the Motions”), and reached No. 85 on the UK Singles Chart.

On the US Billboard Hot 100, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” reached No. 1 on the week of October 1, 1983, where it displaced “Tell Her About It” by Billy Joe. Tyler held the summit for four weeks and blocked the Air Supply ballad “Making Love Out of Nothing at All,” another Steinman production. She bowed on October 29 to “Islands in the Stream” by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.

Faster Than the Speed of Night reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Sony issued a 40th-anniversary red-vinyl edition of Faster Than the Speed of Night in 2023.

Tyler joined Shakin’ Stevens on “A Rockin’ Good Way (to Mess Around and Fall in Love),” which reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart in 1984. “Holding Out for a Hero” first appeared from Footloose in 1984 and reached No. 96 in Britain; its 1985 reissue reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. Giorgio Moroder and Peter Bellotte’s “Here She Comes,” tied to the 1984 Metropolis restoration, reached No. 98 in Britain.

Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire

Bonnie Tyler released her sixth album, Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire, in April 1986 on CBS/Columbia.

The album returned Tyler to Steinman’s production orbit. Steinman served as executive producer and supplied “Ravishing,” “Loving You’s a Dirty Job but Somebody’s Gotta Do It,” “Rebel Without a Clue,” and “Holding Out for a Hero.” Desmond Child supplied “If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)” and “Lovers Again.” Todd Rundgren shares the vocal on “Loving You’s a Dirty Job but Somebody’s Gotta Do It.”

“Ravishing” billows through an echo-laden lead and an oversized Baroque sweep. “Loving You’s a Dirty Job but Somebody’s Gotta Do It” stages Tyler and Todd Rundgren as mismatched duet voices inside a theatrical set piece.

“Band of Gold” races through the familiar song with a heavy overlay around the main lift. “Lovers Again” lingers as a slight-score ballad with little extra motion. “Rebel Without a Clue” crashes through machine-beat propulsion, piano cascades, choir replies, a multi-part bridge, and a long outro. “Before This Night Is Through” quickens the ballad pace without leaving Tyler’s belt setting. “Holding Out for a Hero” races on piano riff, programmed beat, and late horn entry while Tyler belts the rescue-fantasy text at full scale.

A1. “Ravishing” (6:20) – Steinman
A2. “If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)” (4:46) – Child
A3. “Loving You’s a Dirty Job but Somebody’s Gotta Do It” (7:28) – Steinman
A4. “No Way to Treat a Lady” (4:23) – Adams–Vallance

B1. “Band of Gold” (5:40) – Wayne–Dunbar
B2. “Rebel Without a Clue” (8:30) – Steinman
B3. “Lovers Again” (4:13) – Child
B4. “Holding Out for a Hero” (4:50) – Steinman–Pitchford

Sessions spanned 1983 through 1986 with associate producers Bittan, Fast, Jansen, and John Rollo under Steinman’s executive direction. Steve Rinkoff and Rollo engineered the album. Larry Alexander, Neil Dorfsman, Greg Edward, and Sir Arthur Payson handled mixes.

The credited instrumental cast includes Bittan, Fast, bassist Buslowe, guitarists Hiram Bullock and Eddie Martinez, drummer Weinberg, keyboardist Sterling Smith, saxophonists Michael Brecker and Lenny Pickett, and horn players Tom Malone, Alan Rubin, Lew Soloff, and David Taylor. Bob Carlos Clarke conceived and photographed the sleeve, and Roslav Szaybo designed the package.

Columbia issued “Loving You’s a Dirty Job but Somebody’s Gotta Do It” in November 1985 (b/w “Under Suspicion”), and the single reached No. 73 in Britain. “If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)” followed in March 1986 (b/w “Under Suspicion”), and reached No. 78 in Britain. “Band of Gold” appeared in May 1986 (b/w “It’s Not Enough”), and reached No. 81 in Britain. “Rebel Without a Clue” followed in October 1986 (b/w “I Do It for You”). “Lovers Again” appeared in January 1987 (b/w “I Do It for You”).

Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire reached No. 24 on the UK Albums Chart, No. 106 on the Billboard 200 chart, and No. 1 on the Norwegian albums chart.

CBS issued “Sem Limites pra Sonhar (Reaching for the Infinite Heart),” Tyler’s bilingual duet with Fábio Jr., in 1986. The pair recorded the song in London, and the single reached No. 1 on a Brazilian chart in 1987. Mike Oldfield then featured Tyler on “Islands,” a 1987 Virgin single from his album Islands.

Hide Your Heart / Notes From America

Bonnie Tyler released her seventh album, Hide Your Heart, in May 1988 on CBS.

Columbia issued the album in North and South America as Notes From America. Desmond Child produced the album after his two-song role on Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire. The album draws on Child co-writes with Paul Stanley, Holly Knight, Diane Warren, Michael Bolton, and Robbie Seidman, and adds Bee Gees and Janis Joplin titles to the sequence.

“Notes From America” rallies around a large choir and an anthemic lift. “Don’t Turn Around” crowds its central ache when the choir enters the arrangement. “The Best” steadies a simple four-chord vamp and leaves Tyler’s grit to carry the plainspoken pledge. “Turtle Blues” testifies through a late-night jam feel, jazzy rasp, and an overdubbed solo that keeps the track loose.

A1. “Notes from America” (4:54) – Child–Seidman
A2. “Hide Your Heart” (4:25) – Stanley–Child–Knight
A3. “Don’t Turn Around” (4:18) – Warren–Hammond
A4. “Save Up All Your Tears” (4:24) – Child–Warren
A5. “To Love Somebody” (5:49) – Gibb–Gibb

B1. “Take Another Look at Your Heart” (3:47) – Bolton–Child
B2. “The Best” (4:16) – Chapman–Knight
B3. “Shy with You” (3:40) – Seidman
B4. “Streets of Little Italy” (4:37) – Seidman
B5. “Turtle Blues” (4:12) – Joplin

Sessions occurred during 1987 and 1988 at Bearsville Studios in Bearsville, New York, with additional work at the Hit Factory and Right Track Studios in New York City. Child produced the album, and Sir Arthur Payson recorded the sessions. David Thoener mixed nine tracks, Bob Rock mixed “Hide Your Heart,” and George Marino mastered the album at Sterling Sound.

The credited players include guitarist John McCurry, bassists Tony Levin and John Regan, keyboardists Chuck Kentis, Gregg Mangiafico, Holly Knight, and Bette Sussman, drummer and percussionist Jerry Marotta, and a horn section with Ronnie Cuber, Louis Cortelezzi, Lawrence Feldman, Keith O’Quinn, and Joe Shepley. Bill Smith Studio designed the sleeve, Audrey Bernstein supplied illustrations, and John Swannell supplied photography.

CBS issued “The Best” in January 1988 (b/w “The Fire Below”), and the single reached No. 95 in Britain. “Hide Your Heart” followed in April 1988 (b/w “I’m Not Foolin’”). “Save Up All Your Tears” appeared in August 1988 (b/w “It’s Not Enough”). “Notes from America” became the January 1989 single tied to the North American title (b/w “It’s Not Enough”).

Hide Your Heart reached No. 78 on the UK Albums Chart, No. 2 on the Norwegian albums chart, and No. 13 on the Swiss albums chart.

Discography: