Heartaches (song)
Encyclopedia
"Heartaches" is a popular
song
with music by Al Hoffman
and lyrics by John Klenner. The song was published in 1931
.
Orchestra, with Elmo Tanner
whistling. The recording was made in 1933
but subsequently revived (not in a new recording, but in the original 1933 recorded version) fourteen years later
.
In early 1947, Kurt Webster, a disc jockey on WBT, the 50,000 watt station in Charlotte, North Carolina, had a program, "Midnight Dancing Party," which was heard along the East Coast from Bangor, Maine to Boot Key, Florida. One night, he apparently picked up the old Weems version of "Heartaches" and played it. Possibly it was one of those "I wonder where he is today" situations, because Weems had dissolved his band in early 1942 after he and many musicians went off to fight in World War II. Webster liked the tune so much that he continued to play it, almost nightly. Listeners also began to request it and the song attracted national attention. Single-handedly Webster launched "Heartaches" to its revived national success. Because of that one tune and recording, Weems revived his band briefly to capitalize on "Heartaches."
This recording was jointly released by Decca Records
as catalog number
25017 and by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-2175. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on February 21, 1947 and lasted 16 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1.
was released by Columbia Records
as catalog number 37305. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on April 18, 1947 and lasted 3 weeks on the chart, peaking at #8. This was his last charting hit.
was released as a followup to their U.S. hit "Blue Moon
". Although the Marcels' "Heartaches" single failed to match the #1 position
on the U.S. singles charts achieved by "Blue Moon", "Heartaches" reached the Top 10 (peaking at #7) and eventually sold over one million copies worldwide. In addition to a vocal hook similar to that of "Blue Moon", the Marcels added to the introduction of the recording of "Heartaches" the group saying, then singing, "Watch out! Here we go again..."
produced a parody version titled "Headaches," a commentary on television aspirin
commercials. In the middle of the whistled part, a kid named Tom Greenleigh shrieks, "Mommy, can't you keep Daddy's car out of the driveway?!"
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
with music by Al Hoffman
Al Hoffman
Al Hoffman , a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame since 1984, was a hit songwriter active in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, usually co-writing with others and responsible for number one hits through each decade, many of which are still sung and recorded today...
and lyrics by John Klenner. The song was published in 1931
1931 in music
-Events:*May 21 - RCA Victor's first commercially issued 33⅓ rpm record, "Salon Suite, No. 1" by The Victor Salon Orchestra, directed by Nathaniel Shilkret, was recorded*Roy Rogers' musical career begins*Mary Garden retires from the Chicago Opera...
.
Ted Weems cover
The biggest recorded version of the song was by the Ted WeemsTed Weems
Wilfred Theodore Weems was an American bandleader and musician. Weems' work in music was recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.- Biography :...
Orchestra, with Elmo Tanner
Elmo Tanner
William Elmo Tanner, known as Elmo Tanner was an American singer, whistler, bandleader and disc jockey, best known for his whistling on the chart-topping song “Heartaches” with the Ted Weems orchestra...
whistling. The recording was made in 1933
1933 in music
-Events:*January 23 – Béla Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 2 is premiered in Frankfurt*National Association for American Composers and Conductors is founded by Henry Hadley.*Billie Holiday is "discovered" singing at Monette's club....
but subsequently revived (not in a new recording, but in the original 1933 recorded version) fourteen years later
1947 in music
-Events:*August 7 – Carlo Bergonzi makes his professional debut as Schaunard in La Bohème at the Arena Argentina in Catania.*October – Enrico De Angelis leaves Quartetto Cetra to join the army...
.
In early 1947, Kurt Webster, a disc jockey on WBT, the 50,000 watt station in Charlotte, North Carolina, had a program, "Midnight Dancing Party," which was heard along the East Coast from Bangor, Maine to Boot Key, Florida. One night, he apparently picked up the old Weems version of "Heartaches" and played it. Possibly it was one of those "I wonder where he is today" situations, because Weems had dissolved his band in early 1942 after he and many musicians went off to fight in World War II. Webster liked the tune so much that he continued to play it, almost nightly. Listeners also began to request it and the song attracted national attention. Single-handedly Webster launched "Heartaches" to its revived national success. Because of that one tune and recording, Weems revived his band briefly to capitalize on "Heartaches."
This recording was jointly released by Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
as catalog number
Catalog numbering systems for single records
This article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
25017 and by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-2175. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on February 21, 1947 and lasted 16 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1.
Harry James cover
The recording by Harry JamesHarry James
Henry Haag “Harry” James was a trumpeter who led a jazz swing band during the Big Band Era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was especially known among musicians for his astonishing technical proficiency as well as his superior tone.-Biography:He was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a...
was released by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
as catalog number 37305. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on April 18, 1947 and lasted 3 weeks on the chart, peaking at #8. This was his last charting hit.
The Marcels cover
A radically altered arrangement of "Heartaches" also became popular in 1961 as a version by The MarcelsThe Marcels
The Marcels were a doo-wop group known for turning American classical pop songs into rock and roll. The group formed in 1959 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and signed to Colpix Records, with lead Cornelius Harp, bass Fred Johnson, Gene Bricker, Ron Mundy, and Richard Knauss...
was released as a followup to their U.S. hit "Blue Moon
Blue Moon (song)
"Blue Moon"'s first crossover recording to rock and roll came from Elvis Presley in 1956. His cover version of the song was included on his self-titled debut album Elvis Presley....
". Although the Marcels' "Heartaches" single failed to match the #1 position
Hot 100 number-one hits of 1961 (USA)
These are the Billboard magazine Hot 100 number one hits of 1961....
on the U.S. singles charts achieved by "Blue Moon", "Heartaches" reached the Top 10 (peaking at #7) and eventually sold over one million copies worldwide. In addition to a vocal hook similar to that of "Blue Moon", the Marcels added to the introduction of the recording of "Heartaches" the group saying, then singing, "Watch out! Here we go again..."
Allan Sherman parody
In 1963, Allan ShermanAllan Sherman
Allan Sherman was an American comedy writer and television producer who became famous as a song parodist in the early 1960s. His first album, My Son, the Folk Singer , became the fastest-selling record album up to that time...
produced a parody version titled "Headaches," a commentary on television aspirin
Aspirin
Aspirin , also known as acetylsalicylic acid , is a salicylate drug, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, as an antipyretic to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication. It was discovered by Arthur Eichengrun, a chemist with the German company Bayer...
commercials. In the middle of the whistled part, a kid named Tom Greenleigh shrieks, "Mommy, can't you keep Daddy's car out of the driveway?!"
Other recorded versions
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