Ten years on from the career-defining Whispering Jack, Romeo’s Heart maintained the remarkable commercial run kick-started by that landmark 1986 record. In keeping with the successful formula, John Farnham’s 16th studio album features songs written by a wide array of acclaimed songwriters: Sheryl Crow co-wrote “All Kinds of People,” Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers drummer Stan Lynch co-penned “Hearts on Fire,” and Céline Dion composers Russ DeSalvo and Arnie Roman authored “Have a Little Faith (In Us),” among others. Farnham’s sole songwriting contribution was funk-pop closer “Second Skin,” a song he wrote in a single day with producer Ross Fraser and Chong Lim, and which was, at one point, considered for the album’s title. Prior to Romeo’s Heart Farnham had taken some time away from the spotlight, having felt he was overexposed following his starring role in the 1992 touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and the release of 1993’s Then Again … album. Though the musical landscape had shifted wildly by 1996, with artists such as Oasis, Alanis Morissette, and Spice Girls ruling the charts, Romeo’s Heart successfully played to Farnham’s anthemic pop-rock strengths, while adding a dose of R&B to “Little Piece of My Heart,” and even a country flavor to the title track.