Heartbeat

Taana Gardner recorded Heartbeat for West End Records with songwriter and producer Kenton Nix, who arranged the single with Dennis Weeden. Larry Levan created the club mix that became the definitive version in New York dance culture. Heartbeat was released in 1981 and became Taana Gardner's signature single. It reached number 10 on Billboard's R&B chart and number 6 on Billboard's dance chart, establishing it as one of West End Records' defining early-1980s releases. Heartbeat became a foundational New York club record and a major source for later hip-hop, R&B, and house sampling. Its bassline, pulse, and vocal hook gave it lasting influence well beyond its original chart run.