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. The album featured the single "I Honestly Love You", a re-recording of her 1974 number-one hit, now featuring vocals by Babyface. The song was released in two versions; the album version for Pop and Adult Contemporary radio, and a remix for Country radio. The title track was issued as a vinyl 45 RPM single in the United States. "Love Is a Gift" won a 1999 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song after appearing on As the World Turns. "Precious Love" was also a single from the album, with the accompanying music video getting airplay on Country Music Television.

1. "Precious Love" (Newton-John, Anne Roboff) – 3:24
2. "Closer to Me" (John Farrar) – 4:17
3. "Fight for Our Love" (Newton-John, Victoria Shaw) – 3:51
4. "Spinning His Wheels" (Newton-John, Gary Burr) – 3:30
5. "Under My Skin" (Farrar) – 3:32
6. "Love Is a Gift" (Newton-John, Shaw, Earl Rose) – 4:18
7. "I Don't Wanna Say Goodnight" (Al Anderson, Robert Ellis Orrall) – 3:59
8. "Don't Say That" (Newton-John, Chris Farren) – 5:11
9. "Attention" (Newton-John, Roboff, Steve Seskin) – 3:33
10. "Back with a Heart" (Newton-John, Burr) – 2:59
11. "I Honestly Love You" (feat. Babyface) (Peter Allen, Jeff Barry) – 4:04
12. "What's Forever For" (Rafe Van Hoy) – 4:07 (bonus track on Japanese release)

• Olivia Newton-John – lead vocals, backing vocals (6, 8, 9, 10)
• Steve Nathan – keyboards (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9), Hammond B3 organ (3)
• Dennis Burnside – acoustic piano (1, 3, 7)
• Sean Callery – Synclavier (2)
• Barry Walsh – synthesizers (4), acoustic piano (10)
• John Hobbs – acoustic piano (8)
• David Foster – keyboards (11), arrangements (11)
• Felipe Elgueta – synthesizer programming (11)
• Mark Casstevens – acoustic guitar (1, 3, 7)
• Brent Mason – electric guitar (1, 3, 7), lead electric guitar (10)
• Bruce Bouton – pedal steel guitar (1, 3, 7), lap steel (4), slide guitar (10)
• Larry Byrom – electric guitar (2, 5, 6, 9)
• Steve Gibson – acoustic guitar (2, 9), electric guitar (5, 6)
• John Farrar – electric guitar (2, 5), backing vocals (5)
• Paul Franklin – steel guitar (2, 5, 8)
• Gary Burr – acoustic guitar (4), backing vocals (4)
• B. James Lowry – acoustic guitar (4, 10)
• Dan Dugmore – electric guitar (6), steel guitar (9)
• Chris Farren – acoustic guitar (8), mandolin (8), backing vocals (8)
• Darrell Scott – acoustic guitar (8)
• Brent Rowan – electric guitar (8)
• Cary Park – electric guitar solo (8)
• Chris Leuzinger – electric guitar (10)
• Dean Parks – guitar (11)
• Michael Thompson – guitar (11)
• Michael Rhodes – bass guitar (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9)
• Duncan Mullins – bass guitar (4, 10)
• Joe Chemay – bass guitar (8)
• Eddie Bayers – drums (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10)
• Paul Leim – drums (6, 8, 9), percussion (9)
• Terry McMillan – percussion (4, 10)
• Mark Leggett – percussion (8), programming (8)
• Rob Hajacos – fiddle (4, 10)
• Larry Franklin – fiddle (8)
• Ronn Huff – string arrangements and conductor (8)
• The Nashville String Machine – strings (8)
• Wes Hightower – backing vocals (1, 3, 7)
• Liana Manis – backing vocals (1, 3, 7)
• Dennis Wilson – backing vocals (1, 3, 7)
• Christina Nichols – backing vocals (2)
• Tabitha Fair – backing vocals (6, 9)
• Kim Fleming – backing vocals (6, 9)
• Chris Rodriguez – backing vocals (6, 9)
• Babyface – backing vocals (11)

• Producers – Don Cook (Tracks 1, 3 & 7); John Farrar (Tracks 2 & 5); Gary Burr (Tracks 4 & 10); Tony Brown (Tracks 6 & 9); Chris Farren (Track 8); David Foster (Track 11).
• Production Assistance on Tracks 1, 3 & 7 – Scott Johnson
• Project Coordinators – Patty Nichols (Tracks 2 & 5); Jessie Noble (Tracks 2, 5, 6 & 9); Bill Nemuth (Tracks 4 & 10); Kelly Giedt (Track 8); Felipe Elgueta (Track 11).
• Executive Producers – Rory S. Kaplan and Bill Neighbors
• Recording – Mike Bradley (Tracks 1, 3 & 7); Chuck Ainlay (Tracks 2, 5, 6 & 9); Greg Kane (Tracks 4 & 10); Steve Marcantonio (Track 8); Felipe Elgueta (Track 11).
• Assistant Recording – Mark Capps (Tracks 1, 3 & 7); Tim Roberts (Tracks 1, 3 & 7); Aaron Swihart (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 & 9); Mark Ralston (Tracks 2, 5, 6 & 9); King Williams (Tracks 4 & 10); John Saylor (Track 8); Chris Davie (Track 8);
• Additional Recording – Mike Bradley (Tracks 1, 3 & 7); Mark Capps (Tracks 1, 3 & 7); Tim Roberts (Tracks 1, 3 & 7); Pat McMakin (Tracks 1, 3 & 7); Al Grassmick (Tracks 4 & 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 & 5); Al Grassmick and Steve Marcantonio (Tracks 6 & 9).
• Additional overdub recording on Tracks 6 & 9 – Tony Green and Russ Martin
• Mixed by Chuck Ainlay at Masterfonics (Tracks 1, 3 & 6–11) and Moonee Pond Studios (Tracks 2 & 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
• Management – Larry Fitzgerald and Mark Hartley for The Fitzgerald Hartley Co.