The song was originally released as a single in early 1980 by Seafood Mama, Quarterflash's predecessor band.

The song's video features theatrics in and around an office trailer with dark corridors and swinging Metal Halide light bulbs from the ceiling before it was bulldozed and torched.

After changing their name to Quarterflash and getting signed to Geffen, they re-recorded the song at the Record Plant in Los Angeles.

[3] After changing their name, Quarterflash released their self-titled debut album in 1981 that contains the new version of "Harden My Heart".

[5][6][7] Worldwide, the song charted in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and German-speaking Europe.