Loving You's a Dirty Job but Somebody's Gotta Do It explained

Loving You's A Dirty Job but Somebody's Gotta Do It
Cover:Loving_you's_is_a_dirty_job.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Bonnie Tyler and Todd Rundgren
Album:Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire
B-Side:
  • "Under Suspicion"
  • "It's a Jungle Out There"
Released:[1]
Length:
  • 7:48
  • 5:40 (7-inch)
Label:CBS
Producer:Jim Steinman
Chronology:Bonnie Tyler
Prev Title:Holding Out for a Hero
Prev Year:1984
Next Title:If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)
Next Year:1986

"Loving You's a Dirty Job but Somebody's Gotta Do It" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler and American singer Todd Rundgren. Written and produced by Jim Steinman, the track was released as the lead single from Tyler's sixth studio album, Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire (1986), in November 1985.

The single artwork featured paintings by the British artist Edward Burne-Jones. 12-inch editions feature the cover painting The Beguiling of Merlin, while 7-inch editions feature Phyllis and Demophoon. Some territories feature a photograph of Tyler.

Music video

The official music video of the song was directed by Tim Pope. Todd Rundgren was unable to appear in the video, and Tyler was frustrated that most directors wanted him to feature as a silhouette. Tyler stated that Pope was the only director who suggested using a stand-in actor. Rundren's lines were subsequently mimed by Welsh actor Hywel Bennett.

After the single was released, Tyler and Pope appeared on an episode of Saturday Superstore, where they hosted a giveaway for the original canvas painting of Tyler and Hywel Bennett, which features in the music video.[2]

Credits and personnel

Track listings

  1. "Loving You's a Dirty Job but Somebody's Gotta Do It" (Jim Steinman) — 5:40
  2. "Under Suspicion" (B. Tyler, P. Hopkins, P. Oxendale) — 4:24
  1. "Loving You's a Dirty Job but Somebody's Gotta Do It" (long version) (Jim Steinman) — 7:48
  2. "Under Suspicion" (B. Tyler, P. Hopkins, P. Oxendale) — 4:24
  3. "It's a Jungle Out There" (Dennis Polen, Paul Pilger, William Moloney) — 3:57

Charts

Chart (1985–1986)Peak
position
European Hot 100 Singles (Music & Media)[3] 96
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[4] 28
Portugal (AFP)[5] 3
US Cash Box Top 100[6] 82

Meat Loaf version

Loving You Is a Dirty Job (But Somebody's Gotta Do It)
Type:song
Artist:Meat Loaf
Album:Braver Than We Are
Released:9 September 2016
Length:6:09
Label:
Producer:Paul Crook

The song was re-recorded by Meat Loaf on his 2016 album Braver Than We Are, as a duet with Stacy Michelle, under the slightly modified title of "Loving You Is a Dirty Job (But Somebody's Gotta Do It)".[7] This version has the male and female vocals reversed, with the male vocal being the lead. The song was not issued as a single.

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. New Singles. Music Week. 20. 9 November 1985.
  2. Episode 10. Saturday Superstore. Saturday Superstore. BBC1. 30 November 1985. 4. 10.
  3. Eurocharts Hot 100 Singles. Eurotipsheet. 3. 13. 13. 5 April 1986. 1 October 2019. World Radio History.
  4. 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.
  5. Top 3 in Europe. Music & Media. 3. 16. 16. 26 April 1986. 17 October 2017. World Radio History.
  6. Web site: Cash Box Pop Singles. 19 September 2017.
  7. Web site: Braver Than We Are. 12 October 2016.