In 1982, Hartman produced Average White Band's album "Cupid's in Fashion". The album was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in New York with additional recordings done at "The Schoolhouse". In a 2016 interview, Hartman's close friend Blanche Napoleon—who provided backing vocals for "Instant Replay" and his other early albums—revealed that he created music for Gillette commercials around 1982 (she even provided background harmonies for one of the commercials). She worked with him on some of his other commercial work. In 1983, Hartman played bass on the song "Speechless" featured on Ian Hunter's album "All of the Good Ones Are Taken". Hartman co-wrote the song "Heart Skip Too Many Beats" with Janis Ian and it was featured on her 1984 album "Uncle Wonderful" (Hartman performed with Ian on the track)"." Around 1984, Hartman also worked as a lyricist and producer for Rugsted & Kreutzfeldt's album "Sold Out" (also referred to as "R'n'K Band").