It's a Heartache explained

It's a Heartache
Cover:BonnieTyler IAH single.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Bonnie Tyler
Album:Natural Force
B-Side:Got So Used to Lovin' You
Released:4 November 1977[1]
Length:3:31
Label:RCA Records
Producer:
Prev Title:Heaven
Prev Year:1977
Next Title:Here Am I
Next Year:1978

"'It's a Heartache'" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. Written by Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, and co-produced with David Mackay, the single was released in November 1977 by RCA Records. The song topped the charts in Australia, Canada, and numerous European countries, and reached No. 3 in the US and No. 4 in the UK. Worldwide, "It's a Heartache" sold around six million copies.[2]

In the United States, Tyler's version was released in 1978 around the same time as versions of it were released by Juice Newton and Ronnie Spector.

Background

"It's a Heartache" was recorded at The Factory Sound in Surrey, England, in 1977. Producer David Mackay finished the construction of his recording studio in mid-1977, and this song was cut during the very first session.[3]

"It's a Heartache" was one of the first recordings Tyler made following a surgical procedure to remove nodules from her vocal folds. The procedure left Tyler with an "unusually husky voice", which AllMusic journalist Marcy Donelson described as "an effective instrument".[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Music Week. 80.
  2. Bonnie Tyler . 45 . 24 . . 17 June 1996 . 2 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140504174404/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20141542,00.html . 4 May 2014 . live.
  3. The RCA Years . . 2019 . Liam . Brigg . 15 . booklet . . CRPOPBOX201 . London.
  4. News: Bonnie Tyler's Career Took Years to Build . 29 July 1978 . 17 December 2014 . Lynn . van Matre . .
  5. News: DISCritique . 1 June 1978 . 17 December 2014 . Carol . Wetzel . . .
  6. 25 March 1978 . Top Singles Picks . . 158 . New York City, USA . Lynne Segall .
  7. Web site: Cash Box - International Best Sellers. worldradiohistory.com. Cash Box. 26 August 1978. p. 45..
  8. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 316.
  9. Web site: Cash Box - International Best Sellers. worldradiohistory.com. Cash Box. 19 August 1978. p. 45..
  10. Web site: Volume 29, No. 15, 8 July 1978 . . . 5 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106012518/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4614a&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=u9874ano8k0c5b6bkp4r8qrbp3 . 6 November 2014 . dead .
  11. Web site: Adult Contemporary – Volume 29, No. 14, 1 July 1978 . . . 5 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106012531/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4609&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=u9874ano8k0c5b6bkp4r8qrbp3 . 6 November 2014 . dead .
  12. Web site: RPM Country Playlist - July 15, 1978.
  13. Web site: Europarade: 1978-05 . Hitnoteringen . 22 November 2021.
  14. Book: Pennanen, Timo. Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021. 2021. Bonnie Tyler. 267. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. Helsinki. 11 July 2022. fi.
  15. Web site: Cash Box - International Best Sellers. worldradiohistory.com. Cash Box. 17 June 1978. p. 45..
  16. Web site: South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (T) . Rock.co.za . John Samson . 5 November 2014.
  17. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st. September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
  18. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 7/08/78. www.tropicalglen.com. 21 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20150215060552/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19780708.html. 15 February 2015. dead.
  19. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 430.
  20. Web site: Image : RPM Weekly. Library and Archives. Canada. 17 July 2013. bac-lac.gc.ca. 21 April 2018.
  21. Web site: RPM Top 50 Country Singles - December 30, 1978.
  22. Web site: nztop40.co.nz - Top Selling Singles of 1978 . nztop40.co.nz . Recorded Music New Zealand . 30 August 2020.
  23. Web site: South African Rock Lists Website - Hits 1978 . Rock.co.za . John Samson . 4 February 2019.
  24. Web site: Swiss Year-End Charts 1978 - swisscharts.com. Steffen. Hung. swisscharts.com. 21 April 2018.
  25. Web site: Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978. www.musicoutfitters.com. 21 April 2018.
  26. Web site: Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1978. tropicalglen.com. 21 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180929211008/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1978YESP.html. 29 September 2018. dead.
  27. Web site: InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste . InfoDisc . Select "Bonnie Tyler" from the artist drop-down menu . 6 November 2014 . fr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050319102749/http://www.infodisc.fr/Bilan_T.php . 19 March 2005 .
  28. Web site: Belgium Wallonie Charts. . 21 April 2018.
  29. Web site: Les Charts. 21 April 2018.
  30. Web site: Pif Paf Airplay. https://web.archive.org/web/20071026111001/http://www.pifpaf.com.pl/airplay/lista_40_2004.html . 21 April 2018. 2007-10-26 .
  31. Web site: Swiss Charts. 21 April 2018.
  32. European Hot 100. . 21 April 2018.
  33. Web site: It's a Heartache (song). AllMusic. May 23, 2024.
  34. Web site: Morris . Edward . October 3, 2005 . Trick Pony Gallops in With Third Album . https://web.archive.org/web/20240524021958/https://www.cmt.com/news/sm00q8/trick-pony-gallop-in-with-third-album . dead . May 24, 2024 . May 23, 2024 . CMT.
  35. News: August 5, 2005 . Country Top 50 . April 21, 2024 . . 44 . 1618.
  36. Web site: CMT : Videos : Trick Pony : It's A Heartache . https://web.archive.org/web/20110715151711/http://www.cmt.com/videos/trick-pony/44614/its-a-heartache.jhtml . July 15, 2011 . CMT.
  37. News: April 29, 2005 . National Music Great American Country . April 21, 2024 . . 12 . 1604.
  38. News: December 9, 2005 . R&R Most Heard 2005 Country . April 21, 2024 . . 58 . 1636.
  39. News: January 28, 2005 . New Music Weekly For the Week of Jan. 31 . April 21, 2024 . . 16 . 13 . 4.
  40. Web site: Bonnie Tyler | Biography & History|website=AllMusic]|last=Donelson|first=Marcy|access-date=27 May 2020}}

    Release

    Producer David Mackay recalled that RCA was reluctant to release the single. The label was pre-occupied with reissuing Elvis Presley's back catalogue following his recent death. Mackay, Scott and Wolfe threatened to terminate their contract with RCA if they did not release the track immediately. "It's a Heartache" was released on 4 November 1977 in parts of Europe, including the United Kingdom, and March 1978 in the United States and Canada.

    Critical reception

    The release had music critics comparing Tyler's voice to Rod Stewart's.[4] Carol Wetzel from Spokane Daily Chronicle complimented Tyler's voice on "It's a Heartache", stating that her previous big hit, "Lost in France", is "no big deal, probably because it was made before her voice changed."[5]

    Other versions

    In 1978, Juice Newton released a cover through Capitol Records, produced by John Palladino. Newton reached No. 86 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 91 on the Canadian RPM Singles Chart. In the same year, Ronnie Spector issued a single through Alston Records. Tyler, Newton and Spector's versions were all released in the same week in the United States, with Billboard listing each one as "recommended" tracks.[6]

    Dave & Sugar's 1981 rendition of "It's a Heartache" reached No. 32 on the Billboard Country Singles Chart.

    Charts

    Weekly charts

    Chart (1977–1978)Peak
    position
    Argentina[7] 1
    Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 1
    Brazil BPRA[9] 1
    Canada 100 Singles (RPM)[10] 1
    Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[11] 1
    Canada Country Playlist (RPM)[12] 2
    Europe (Europarade Top 30)[13] 2
    Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[14] 2
    France Europe 1[15] 1
    South Africa (Springbok Radio)[16] 2
    Spain (AFYVE)[17] 1
    US Cash Box Top 100[18] 3

    Year-end charts

    Chart (1978)Peak
    position
    Australia (Kent Music Report)[19] 7
    Canada Top 200 Singles (RPM)[20] 21
    Canada Top 50 Country Singles (RPM)[21] 44
    New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 37
    South Africa (Springbok Radio)[23] 9
    Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 12
    US Billboard Hot 100[25] 24
    US Cash Box Pop Singles[26] 17

    Kareen Antonn and Bonnie Tyler

    In 2004, Tyler released a bi-lingual duet with French singer Kareen Antonn. Renamed "Si tout s'arrête", the single reached No. 7 on the Belgian Flanders chart, No. 12 in France and No. 25 in Switzerland.[27] In the following year, Tyler included a solo version of the song, sung entirely in English, on her album Wings.

    Chart (2004)Peak
    position
    Belgium Wallonie Ultratop[28] 7
    France Top Singles Snep[29] 12
    Poland Airplay Charts[30] 7
    Switzerland Singles Top 100[31] 25
    European Hot 100 Singles Billboard[32] 27

    Trick Pony version

    It's a Heartache
    Cover:Itsaheartachetrickpony.jpg
    Type:single
    Artist:Trick Pony
    Album:R.I.D.E.
    Released:January 31, 2005
    Genre:Neotraditional country[33]
    Length:3:27
    Label:Asylum-Curb
    Producer:Chuck Howard
    Prev Title:The Bride
    Prev Year:2004
    Next Title:Ain't Wastin' Good Whiskey on You
    Next Year:2005

    American country music group Trick Pony recorded a version of the song for their third studio album R.I.D.E. (2005). The group's record label, Asylum-Curb Records, released "It's a Heartache" as the second single from the album on 31 January 2005. Heidi Newfield sang the main vocals, and Chuck Howard produced. At the end of July 2005, the cover peaked at number 22 on the Hot Country Songs chart, while reaching number 18 on the Radio & Records version of the country chart.

    Commercial performance

    Trick Pony's cover of "It's a Heartache" debuted on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart the week of February 12, 2005 at number 49, becoming the second highest debut of the week. Slowly, the song barely missed the top twenty, peaking at number 22 on July 30, 2005 and becoming the most successful single from the album.[34] It was their highest peaking single since "On a Mission" peaked at number 19 in 2003 and their final top forty hit to date. On the Radio & Records version of the country chart, it performed even better by peaking at number 18.[35]

    Music video

    Jeffrey Phillips directed the music video.[36] The video features a couple going through a divorce, which includes cut-scenes of the members of Trick Pony. While the husband is buying wine, two robbers come in and hold the owner at gunpoint. The husband tries to stop them but is stabbed by one of the thieves. The police then break the news to the wife, who is devastated. The video ends with the wife going to her would-be ex-husband's grave.

    The video began airing in late April 2005 on the Great American Country channel.[37]

    Charts

    Year-end charts

    Release history

    Release dates and format(s) for "It's a Heartache" (Trick Pony version)!Region!Date!Format(s)!Label(s)!
    United StatesJanuary 31, 2005Country radioAsylum-Curb Records[39]

    External links

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