Johnny Hates Jazz was formed in 1986 after Rak A&R man Calvin Hayes and engineer Mike Nocito began working on their own track which became "Me and My Foolish Heart".

"[4][2] As the backing track approached completion, Thornalley came to write the lyrics for the song after finishing his own production session in the adjacent studio.

"[3] Thornalley provided the song's original lead vocals but owing to upcoming production commitments to Robbie Nevil, he informed the pair that he was too busy to pursue further activities with them.

Datchler was a former member of the band Hot Club alongside Hayes, and he later worked with Nocito on some of his own recordings after signing to Rak as a solo artist.

[2] Hayes told the Los Angeles Times, "When we finished [the song] we went to the RAK people and, before they heard it, I said, 'I've found this group called Johnny Hates Jazz that made this single.'

Gallup became suspicious after sales data showed that someone was purchasing a half-dozen copies of the single in one transaction from various music stores.

After a showcase gig at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho, the band signed to Virgin Records at the end of 1986 and scored an international hit with their next single "Shattered Dreams" in 1987.

[8][2][3] Upon its release, Jerry Smith of Music Week described "Me and My Foolish Heart" as a "polished pop tune" which "drives along, helped by a dynamic production and a strong vocal that is well underpinned by dramatic piano".

"[10] Dave Morgan of the Reading Evening Post described the song as "chugging synth stuff that never rises much above the standard required to appear on Wogan".

[11] John Lee of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner considered it to be "a bit wishy-washy, relying for its impact on a few echoey notes on the piano".