It's a Heartache
Encyclopedia
"It's a Heartache" is a country rock song that was recorded separately by Bonnie Tyler
and Juice Newton
in 1977. Tyler's version charted in the UK in November 1977 and both versions charted in the United States in 1978. The song was also recorded by Ronnie Spector
of the Ronettes in 1978, but it was not a hit. Authorship is credited to Ronnie Scott & Steve Wolfe, who became Tyler's managers, songwriters, and producers when they saw her in Wales in 1976.
Tyler's version of the song, which was produced by David Mackay
, proved to be the most successful (see chart positions below), peaking at #4 in the U.K. and #3 in the United States
(where it was also a Top Ten hit on the Country Music chart), and #1 in several European countries and Australia. Many re-recordings were produced by Tyler, with the 2004 version in French with French
singer Kareen Antonn
on Tyler's album Simply Believe
and the 2005 version on Tyler's album Wings. Although the 2005 version did not receive chart success as it was not released as a single, the 2004 version reached #12 in France
on the week of release.
Juice Newton's version of "It's A Heartache" was released on select foreign editions of her "Come to Me" album. When released as a single in Mexico in 1977, the song garnered a gold record. Newton's version was released in the United States the following year and peaked at #86.
of the New York Dolls
, "The David Johansen Group Live
." Country rock
group Dave & Sugar
released a cover in 1981, reaching #32 on the country charts with it. Trick Pony
covered it on the album R.I.D.E.
, and released its version in 2005, peaking at #22 on the same chart. A version of the song appears on Arab Strap
's Ten Years of Tears. Rod Stewart
has been covering the song live since recording it on his 2006 album 'Still the Same… Great Rock Classics of Our Time'. In 2009, Jill Johnson
recorded the song on the cover album Music Row II
.
There is also a German version called "Lass mein Knie, Joe", sung by Norwegian female singer Wencke Myhre in 1978.
In Italy, Patty Pravo recorded a version called "Notti Bianche" in 1979.
A French version was recorded by Eva (a German singer), under the title "Et je m'en vais".
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
and Juice Newton
Juice Newton
Judith Kay "Juice" Newton is an American Pop music and Country singer, songwriter and guitarist...
in 1977. Tyler's version charted in the UK in November 1977 and both versions charted in the United States in 1978. The song was also recorded by Ronnie Spector
Ronnie Spector
Veronica Yvette "Ronnie" Spector is an American rock and roll and popular music vocalist, and was the lead singer of the 1960s hit-making girl group, The Ronettes, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. She is known as the "original bad girl of rock and roll."-Personal...
of the Ronettes in 1978, but it was not a hit. Authorship is credited to Ronnie Scott & Steve Wolfe, who became Tyler's managers, songwriters, and producers when they saw her in Wales in 1976.
Tyler's version of the song, which was produced by David Mackay
David Mackay (producer)
David Mackay is an Australian record producer/arranger and musical director. He was born in Sydney, Australia and began his music career at the age of 15 in a production of Bye Bye Birdie for J.C. Williamson Theatre Company...
, proved to be the most successful (see chart positions below), peaking at #4 in the U.K. and #3 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(where it was also a Top Ten hit on the Country Music chart), and #1 in several European countries and Australia. Many re-recordings were produced by Tyler, with the 2004 version in French with French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
singer Kareen Antonn
Kareen Antonn
Kareen Antonn is a French artist of Greek and Spanish origin.In 2003, she recorded in duet with Bonnie Tyler the hit songs "Si demain... " and "Si Tout s'arrête ". She also recorded "Un Homme se blesse" to help the homeless.-Singles:* 2003 : "Si demain.....
on Tyler's album Simply Believe
Simply Believe
Simply Believe is the 14th studio album recorded by Bonnie Tyler, released in Europe in 2004.-Track listing:# "Si demain... " 3:50 # "Simply Believe" 4:44# "Si tout s'arrête " 3:24...
and the 2005 version on Tyler's album Wings. Although the 2005 version did not receive chart success as it was not released as a single, the 2004 version reached #12 in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on the week of release.
Juice Newton's version of "It's A Heartache" was released on select foreign editions of her "Come to Me" album. When released as a single in Mexico in 1977, the song garnered a gold record. Newton's version was released in the United States the following year and peaked at #86.
Other versions
Since 1977, this song has been covered numerous times. It appeared on the 1978 live album by David JohansenDavid Johansen
David Roger Johansen is an American rock, protopunk, blues, and pop singer, as well as a songwriter and actor. He is best known as a member of the seminal protopunk band The New York Dolls and also achieved commercial success under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter.-Early life:Johansen was born in...
of the New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
, "The David Johansen Group Live
The David Johansen Group Live
The David Johansen Group Live was originally a promotional-only LP released by David Johansen to help promote his solo career away from the New York Dolls. The nine tracks from the promotional LP were recorded on July 21, 1978 at the New York's Bottom Line...
." Country rock
Country rock
Country rock is sub-genre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock with country. The term is generally used to refer to the wave of rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning with Bob Dylan and The Byrds; reaching its greatest...
group Dave & Sugar
Dave & Sugar
Dave & Sugar was a pop-styled country music trio that enjoyed its peak success in the mid- to late-1970s. It consisted of lead singer Dave Rowland and initially on backing vocalists, Vicki Hackeman and Jackie Frantz...
released a cover in 1981, reaching #32 on the country charts with it. Trick Pony
Trick Pony
Trick Pony was an American country music group. It was formed in 1996 by Keith Burns , Ira Dean , and Heidi Newfield . The group recorded three studio albums: Trick Pony, On a Mission and R.I.D.E., released in 2001, 2002 and 2005, respectively...
covered it on the album R.I.D.E.
R.I.D.E.
R.I.D.E. is the third and final studio album by American country music group Trick Pony. It is also the group's only recording for the Asylum-Curb label. The album's name is an abbreviation for "Rebellious Individuals Delivering Entertainment"....
, and released its version in 2005, peaking at #22 on the same chart. A version of the song appears on Arab Strap
Arab Strap (band)
Arab Strap were an indie rock band from Scotland that consisted of core members Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton. The band were signed to independent record label Chemikal Underground, and split in 2006...
's Ten Years of Tears. Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
has been covering the song live since recording it on his 2006 album 'Still the Same… Great Rock Classics of Our Time'. In 2009, Jill Johnson
Jill Johnson
Jill Anna Maria Johnson, , is a Swedish country- and pop-singer and songwriter. She performed the Melodifestivalen 1998 winning song Kärleken är, and represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 with that song, which finished 10th with 53 points. In 2003 she again entered Melodifestivalen...
recorded the song on the cover album Music Row II
Music Row II
Music Row II is the second cover album by Jill Johnson, recorded in Nashville and released on 28 October 2009, two years after Music Row.-Track listing:-External links:*...
.
There is also a German version called "Lass mein Knie, Joe", sung by Norwegian female singer Wencke Myhre in 1978.
In Italy, Patty Pravo recorded a version called "Notti Bianche" in 1979.
A French version was recorded by Eva (a German singer), under the title "Et je m'en vais".
Bonnie Tyler
| Chart (1977/1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| France | 1 |
| Sweden | 1 |
| Norway | 1 |
| Australia | 1 |
| New Zealand | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Oriented | 1 |
| Spain | 1 |
| Finland | 1 |
| U.S Billboard Rock Singleshttp://books.google.com/books?id=9CQEAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=pt-BR&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false | 2 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 2 |
| South Africa | 2 |
| Germany | 2 |
| Swiss | 3 |
| Austria | 3 |
| Netherlands | 3 |
| Ireland | 3 |
| UK | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Country | 10 |
Juice Newton
| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 86 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 91 |
Dave & Sugar
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 32 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 37 |
Trick Pony
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs | 22 |