I'm Gonna Be Strong
Encyclopedia
"I'm Gonna Be Strong" is a song written by the famed songwriting duo Barry Mann
and Cynthia Weil
. It was first recorded by Frankie Laine
in 1963
and released as a single on Columbia Records
. However, the song did not become a major hit until 1964
, when Gene Pitney
released his version as a single. It was also a single released by the 1980 band Blue Angel
, with lead vocals provided by future star Cyndi Lauper
. This release was prior to Lauper's solo career; however, Lauper re-recorded the track and released it as a single in 1994. The song was also featured on 1982's Quiet Lies
album by Grammy-winner Juice Newton
. Though Newton never released the song as a single, her remake was later added as a bonus track to her first Greatest Hits collection.
and the UK Singles Chart
. The song is Pitney's biggest UK solo hit, with only his duet version of "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart
" with Marc Almond
peaking higher.
from their album also called Blue Angel. The vocals were provided by Cyndi Lauper
. Like the album, the only country the single charted in was the Netherlands
where it reached #37 on the charts.
The artwork and track listing for the single varied depending on the country of origin. An Italian promotional 7" vinyl single with the same catalogue number and track listing as the German version was released with alternate artwork. The original 1980 Dutch release was re-released with identical packaging in 1984 after Lauper's solo success.
02 - I had a love 2:48
03 – Fade 2:45
04 - Anna blue 3:55
05 - Can't blame me 2:37
06 – Late 2:47
07 - Cut out 2:17
08 - Take a chance 2:37
09 - Just the other day 2:43
10 - I'm gonna be strong 2:52
11 – Lorraine 3:48
12 - Everybody's got an angel 2:26
, and subsequently a new single was released in 1994. The song shows off Lauper's singing ability more than ever with the song's challenging notes and arrangement. It peaked in the top 40 on the UK chart. This single was not commercially released in the US where it was only released as a promo.
covered the song on her 1965 album "This is Jackie DeShannon."
Del Shannon
covered this song on his 1965 album 1661 Seconds and Juice Newton
included the song on her albums Quiet Lies
(1982) and Greatest Hits (1987).
Dutch singer Glennis Grace
covered the song in 1994, topping at 13 in the Dutch Top 40
.
Barry Mann
Barry Mann is an American songwriter, and part of a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Cynthia Weil.-Career:...
and Cynthia Weil
Cynthia Weil
Cynthia Weil is a prominent American songwriter. She is famous for having written many songs together with her husband Barry Mann....
. It was first recorded by Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio , was a successful American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005...
in 1963
1963 in music
-Events:*January 1 – The Beatles start a 5-day tour in Scotland to support the release of their new single, "Love Me Do".*January 4 – At Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy, Dalida receives a Juke Box Global Oscar for the year's most-played artist on juke boxes....
and released as a single on 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...
. However, the song did not become a major hit until 1964
1964 in music
-Events:*January 1 – Top of the Pops is broadcast for the first time, on BBC television.*January 3 – Footage of the Beatles performing a concert in Bournemouth, England is shown on The Jack Paar Show....
, when Gene Pitney
Gene Pitney
Eugene Francis Alan Pitney, known as Gene Pitney , was an American singer-songwriter, musician and sound engineer. Through the mid-1960s, he enjoyed success as a recording artist on both sides of the Atlantic and was among the group of early 1960s American acts who continued to enjoy hits after the...
released his version as a single. It was also a single released by the 1980 band Blue Angel
Blue Angel (band)
Blue Angel was a retro-rockabilly band that featured Cyndi Lauper before her rise to fame as a solo singer. The lineup also included John Turi on keyboard instrument and saxophone, Arthur "Rockin' A" Neilson , Lee Brovitz and Johnny Morelli...
, with lead vocals provided by future star Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
. This release was prior to Lauper's solo career; however, Lauper re-recorded the track and released it as a single in 1994. The song was also featured on 1982's Quiet Lies
Quiet Lies
Quiet Lies is a 1982 album by American pop-country star Juice Newton. It reached #20 on the Billboard pop chart and includes three major hits, "Love's Been a Little Bit Hard on Me", "Break It to Me Gently" and "Heart of the Night." Quiet Lies sold more than 900,000 copies in the U.S...
album by Grammy-winner Juice Newton
Juice Newton
Judith Kay "Juice" Newton is an American Pop music and Country singer, songwriter and guitarist...
. Though Newton never released the song as a single, her remake was later added as a bonus track to her first Greatest Hits collection.
Gene Pitney version
This version became a top ten hit on both the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The song is Pitney's biggest UK solo hit, with only his duet version of "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart
Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart
"Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" is a popular song written by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook.Originally recorded by David and Jonathan, and then Gene Pitney in 1967, the song reached #5 on the UK singles chart but failed to chart in the USA...
" with Marc Almond
Marc Almond
Marc Almond is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell...
peaking higher.
Chart performance
| Country | Peak position |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
2 |
| United States Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
9 |
Blue Angel version
It was also the most successful single released by the 1980 band Blue AngelBlue Angel (band)
Blue Angel was a retro-rockabilly band that featured Cyndi Lauper before her rise to fame as a solo singer. The lineup also included John Turi on keyboard instrument and saxophone, Arthur "Rockin' A" Neilson , Lee Brovitz and Johnny Morelli...
from their album also called Blue Angel. The vocals were provided by Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
. Like the album, the only country the single charted in was the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
where it reached #37 on the charts.
The artwork and track listing for the single varied depending on the country of origin. An Italian promotional 7" vinyl single with the same catalogue number and track listing as the German version was released with alternate artwork. The original 1980 Dutch release was re-released with identical packaging in 1984 after Lauper's solo success.
Track listing
01 - Maybe he'll known 3:5102 - I had a love 2:48
03 – Fade 2:45
04 - Anna blue 3:55
05 - Can't blame me 2:37
06 – Late 2:47
07 - Cut out 2:17
08 - Take a chance 2:37
09 - Just the other day 2:43
10 - I'm gonna be strong 2:52
11 – Lorraine 3:48
12 - Everybody's got an angel 2:26
7" Vinyl (Netherlands)
Length: 5:32- "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:50
- "Just the Other Day" (Cyndi Lauper and John Turi) – 2:42
7" Vinyl (Germany)/Italian Promo 7" Vinyl
Length: 6:44- "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:50
- "Maybe He'll Know" (Cyndi Lauper and John Turi) – 3:54
7" Vinyl (Australia and UK)
Length: 6:47- "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:50
- "Anna Blue" (Cyndi Lauper and John Turi) – 3:57
Cyndi Lauper version
Because "I'm Gonna Be Strong" was the most successful single of Lauper's early band Blue Angel, she went on to re-record the track for her greatest hits album Twelve Deadly Cyns...and Then SomeTwelve Deadly Cyns...and Then Some
Twelve Deadly Cyns...and Then Some is musician Cyndi Lauper's greatest hits CD, released in 1994. The album sold over 6 million copies worldwide.-Album information:In the United States the album has 14 tracks...
, and subsequently a new single was released in 1994. The song shows off Lauper's singing ability more than ever with the song's challenging notes and arrangement. It peaked in the top 40 on the UK chart. This single was not commercially released in the US where it was only released as a promo.
Chart Performance
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
37 |
Other versions
Jackie DeShannonJackie DeShannon
Jackie DeShannon is an American singer-songwriter with a string of hit song credits from the 1960s onwards. She was one of the first female singer-songwriters of the rock 'n' roll period.- Life and early career :...
covered the song on her 1965 album "This is Jackie DeShannon."
Del Shannon
Del Shannon
Del Shannon was an American rock and roll singer-songwriter who had a No. 1 hit, "Runaway", in 1961.- Biography :...
covered this song on his 1965 album 1661 Seconds and Juice Newton
Juice Newton
Judith Kay "Juice" Newton is an American Pop music and Country singer, songwriter and guitarist...
included the song on her albums Quiet Lies
Quiet Lies
Quiet Lies is a 1982 album by American pop-country star Juice Newton. It reached #20 on the Billboard pop chart and includes three major hits, "Love's Been a Little Bit Hard on Me", "Break It to Me Gently" and "Heart of the Night." Quiet Lies sold more than 900,000 copies in the U.S...
(1982) and Greatest Hits (1987).
Dutch singer Glennis Grace
Glennis Grace
Glennis Grace is a singer from the Netherlands who in 2005 won the national selection in the Netherlands for the Eurovision song contest 2005 for the nation. Grace's song was the ballad My Impossible Dream, but she did not advance the semifinal...
covered the song in 1994, topping at 13 in the Dutch Top 40
Dutch Top 40
The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting...
.