"Heartbeat Like Thunder" is a song by the British singer-songwriter Steve Harley, released as a non-album single in 1986. It was Harley's second of three singles for RAK. Produced by Mickie Most, the song was written by Harley and ex-Cockney Rebel keyboardist Duncan Mackay.

In 1984, Harley signed a five album deal with Mickie Most's label RAK. In May 1985, his RAK debut "Irresistible" scored him a minor hit on the UK Singles Chart. Towards the end of the year, Harley became involved with Andrew Lloyd-Webber's upcoming musical The Phantom of the Opera. In February 1986, Harley found himself back in the UK Top 10 when the "The Phantom of the Opera" single, recorded by Harley as a duet with Sarah Brightman, went to No. 7 in the UK charts. He soon found himself set to star as the Phantom in the upcoming musical.

Despite his new commitments to the musical, Harley continued working on his own solo material for RAK. As a follow-up to the "Phantom of the Opera" single, Harley released "Heartbeat Like Thunder" in April 1986, which was his second release for the RAK label. Most was particularly interested in releasing the song as a single. Harley later recalled in 2015: "Mickie loved the song and produced it with great sympathy, I think."

Like "Irresistible", which preceded it, the song featured a dominant use of synthesisers. "Heartbeat Like Thunder" in particular was entirely synthesiser and emulator-based. The song was recorded with Duncan Mackay on keyboards and Big Country drummer Mark Brzezicki on drums. It was mastered at the Penthouse, Abbey Road Studios.

Despite the Top 10 success of "The Phantom of the Opera", "Heartbeat Like Thunder" failed to make an appearance on the UK Singles Chart. Regardless, Harley and Most continued to record together, working on Harley's upcoming solo album El Gran Senor. The album had been set for release in 1986, however after a remixed version of "Irresistible" was released as Harley's third RAK single release, the label folded and the album was shelved. Some of the songs due to be released on the album later appeared on the 1992 album Yes You Can, however "Heartbeat Like Thunder" was not included.

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