The Tattooed Heart

The album was produced by Steve Lindsey.[7] "Use Me" is a cover of the Bill Withers song.[8] Aaron's brothers Charles and Cyril sang on the song.[9] "For the Good Times" is a cover of the Kris Kristofferson song; it contains backing vocals by Kelly Willis.[10] "Crying in the Chapel" is a cover of the pop-gospel standard.[11] Steve Cropper played guitar on the album.[12]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[13]
The Indianapolis Star	[14]
Los Angeles Times	[15]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[16]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide	[17]

The Guardian wrote that the songs "are nothing special but Neville transcends their flaws."[18] Newsday opined that "Neville's new release purports to be classic pop soul with country and gospel elements, but what it really calls to mind is the kind of mid-'70s soft rock exemplified by Art Garfunkel's Breakaway and Boz Scaggs' Silk Degrees."[19] The Kingston Whig-Standard labeled The Tattooed Heart "a classic easy-listening soul album."[8] The Indianapolis Star concluded that "Neville conveys more commercial savvy than passion."[14]

The Hartford Courant called Neville's voice "a glider of an instrument, amazingly pure and angelically lilting."[20] The Hamilton Spectator deemed the album "a pleasant mixture of adult contemporary and country."[21] The Vancouver Sun determined that "Neville's airy wail sails free and clear of all snags and almost mesmerizes the listener into a restful half-sleep."[22] The Los Angeles Times considered the album to be a "seamless collection of stylishly rendered lite soul, pop and country."[15]