Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Encyclopedia
"Only Love Can Break Your Heart" is a song written by Neil Young
.
. The song was supposedly written for Graham Nash
after Nash's split from Joni Mitchell
, though Young in interviews has been somewhat tentative in admitting or remembering this. Released as a single in October 1970, it became Young's first top 40 hit as a solo artist, peaking at number 33 in the U.S. The single was issued with a Crazy Horse
version of "Birds" (rather than the solo piano version of the album) on the B-side, apparently accidentally. The song is praised as a "seemingly simple song which display[s] considerable attention to detail in the deployment of instruments."
recorded a cover version
of the song, included on their debut album Foxbase Alpha
. Andrew Weatherall
later remixed the song to further emphasise the dub bassline: this remix was featured on both releases of the single and on the compilation Casino Classics
. Their recording, made in under two hours, got them a record deal, their first single, and their first hit. Lead vocals were by Moira Lambert
, as Sarah Cracknell
had not yet joined the band as a permanent member.
The song was re-released in the UK as a double A-side with the track "Filthy", peaking at number 39 in the UK Singles Chart
. The song remains Saint Etienne's only entry in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
, peaking at number 97 in 1992. It did, however, top the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
chart. The U.S. b-side to the single was the Foxbase Alpha album track "Stoned to Say the Least." In 2003, Vibe listed Masters at Work
's remix of the song as one of the "Top 25 remixes ever created."
The U.S. release contained a different extended mix by Flowered Up
(issued in the UK only on a flexidisc), though it was mistakenly listed as the "Mix of two halves". Weatherall had no involvement with this mix.
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
.
Genesis and recording
The song is the third track on Neil Young's album After the Gold RushAfter the Gold Rush
After the Gold Rush is the third studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young. Released in August 1970 on Reprise Records, it was one of the four high-profile albums released by each member of folk rock collective Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in the wake of their chart-topping 1970 album Déjà Vu...
. The song was supposedly written for Graham Nash
Graham Nash
Graham William Nash, OBE is an English singer-songwriter known for his light tenor vocals and for his songwriting contributions with the British pop group The Hollies, and with the folk-rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Nash is a photography collector and a published photographer...
after Nash's split from Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
, though Young in interviews has been somewhat tentative in admitting or remembering this. Released as a single in October 1970, it became Young's first top 40 hit as a solo artist, peaking at number 33 in the U.S. The single was issued with a Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse (band)
Crazy Horse is an American rock band best known for its association with Neil Young. It has been co-credited on a number of albums throughout Young's career and has released five albums of its own.-Early years:...
version of "Birds" (rather than the solo piano version of the album) on the B-side, apparently accidentally. The song is praised as a "seemingly simple song which display[s] considerable attention to detail in the deployment of instruments."
Cover versions
- Jackie DeShannonJackie DeShannonJackie 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 :...
sang it on her Jackie album (1972). - Peter LaughnerPeter LaughnerPeter Laughner was an American guitarist, songwriter and singer.A native of Bay Village, Ohio, Laughner remains a rather little known figure; nonetheless, Richie Unterberger described him as "probably the single biggest catalyst in the birth of Cleveland's alternative rock scene in the mid...
covered this song on a demo tape and it was later released on the compilation Take the Guitar Player for a Ride. - Bradford Cox aka Atlas SoundAtlas SoundBradford James Cox is an American musician best known as the lead singer and guitarist of Atlanta, Georgia-based psychedelic and ambient band Deerhunter. He also pursues a solo career under the moniker Atlas Sound. Cox formed Deerhunter with drummer Moses Archuleta in 2001. The band has released...
covered the song for his blog. - Rock musician Juliana HatfieldJuliana HatfieldJuliana Hatfield , is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter and author from the Boston area, formerly of the indie rock bands Blake Babies and Some Girls. She currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
recorded the song for her collection Gold Stars 1992-2002: The Juliana Hatfield CollectionGold Stars 1992-2002: The Juliana Hatfield CollectionGold Stars 1992–2002: The Juliana Hatfield Collection is Juliana Hatfield's first collection of greatest hits and also includes previously unreleased recordings, released in 2002.- Track listing :All songs written by Juliana Hatfield except where noted...
. - Canadian alt-country rocker Kathleen EdwardsKathleen EdwardsKathleen Edwards is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician. Her 2003 debut album, Failer, contained the singles "Six O'Clock News" and "Hockey Skates".- Personal life :...
recorded the song live for her iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
exclusive Live Session. - British singer Elkie BrooksElkie BrooksElkie Brooks is an English singer, formerly a vocalist with Vinegar Joe, and later a solo artist. Elkie has been nominated twice for Brit Awards' top female singer. She is known for her powerful husky voice...
achieved a UK hit with the song in 1978. - British girl group the Mint Juleps recorded the song in 1986.
- Rapper/singer EverlastEverlast (musician)Erik Francis Schrody , better known by his stage name Everlast, is a Grammy Award-winning American rapper and songwriter, known for his solo hit "What It's Like" and as the front-man for rap group House of Pain. He is also part of the hip-hop supergroup La Coka Nostra, which consists of members of...
covered the song for the 1999 film Big Daddy. - Psychic TVPsychic TVPsychic TV or PTV, is a video art and music group that primarily performs psychedelic, punk, electronic and experimental music...
played the song on The Bridge: A Tribute to Neil YoungThe Bridge: A Tribute to Neil YoungThe Bridge: A Tribute To Neil Young is a 1989 anthology album that features a variety of alternative rock bands covering songs written by Neil Young. A portion of the profits from the album were donated to The Bridge School, which develops and uses advanced technologies to aid in the instruction of...
in 1989. - The CorrsThe CorrsThe Corrs are an Irish band which combine pop rock with traditional Celtic folk music. The brother and sisters are from Dundalk, Ireland. The group consists of the Corr siblings: Andrea ; Sharon ; Caroline ; and Jim .The Corrs came to international prominence with their performance at the...
recorded the song for VH1 Presents: The Corrs, Live in DublinVH1 Presents: The Corrs, Live in DublinVH1 Presents: The Corrs, Live In Dublin is an album which is a live performance performed by the Irish celtic folk-rock band, The Corrs in Dublin, Ireland who are accompanied by the Irish Film Orchestra. The Corrs have performed previous released songs with a slight remix into it...
; The New Rolling Stone Album Guide called their version "pretty but lightweight." - Damien LeithDamien LeithDamien Leo Leith is an Irish Australian singer–songwriter. He was the winner of the Network Ten music contest Australian Idol 2006Damien has also guest co-hosted 'The Morning Show' on Network Ten on 18 July 2011.He was born in Ireland and now lives in Australia with his Australian wife, Eileen...
covered the song on his album Catch the Wind: Songs of a GenerationCatch the Wind: Songs of a GenerationCatch the Wind: Songs of a Generation is the second studio album by Australian Idol 2006 winner Damien Leith. It was released on 26 April 2008....
, which reached number 1 on the ARIA Chart for Australian albums. - It is a bonus track on the re-released John Baldry album Everything Stops for TeaEverything Stops for TeaEverything Stops for Tea is a record album by John Baldry released in May 1972. The album was produced by Elton John and Rod Stewart. Elton John provides vocal accompaniment on tracks 1, 3, 4, and 5...
as a duet between Baldry and Joyce Everson. - Gwyneth HerbertGwyneth HerbertGwyneth Herbert is a British singer-songwriter and pianist, initially known for her interpretation of jazz and swing standards, and now established as a writer of original compositions. She lives in Hackney, London....
recorded the song for her debut album Bittersweet and Blue. Her cover also appears in the film Leap YearLeap Year (2010 film)Leap Year is a 2010 American romantic comedy film directed by Anand Tucker. The film, which is largely set in Ireland and stars Amy Adams and Matthew Goode, premiered in New York City on January 6, 2010.-Plot:...
. - The New StandardsThe New StandardsThe New Standards is a minimalist jazz trio formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2005 and composed of Chan Poling , John Munson and Steve Roehm...
recorded the song for their eponymous album released in 2005. - Indonesian garage rock band The S.I.G.I.T.The S.I.G.I.T.The S.I.G.I.T. is an Indonesian rock band based in Bandung, Indonesia. Although the band doesn't like to be categorized, they've been described as a garage rock band and often compared to Wolfmother and The Datsuns, even dubbed as 'Indonesian Answer To Wolfmother' by some Australian...
also covered the song on their album Visible Idea of Perfection. - Butch WalkerButch WalkerButch Walker is an American recording artist, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist for the metal band SouthGang from the late 80s to early 90s as well as the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Marvelous 3 from 1997 until 2001.-Career:Walker grew up in Cartersville,...
released a live version on his iTunes release, Live From Lollapalooza. - I Blame Coco has recorded covers of both the Neil Young and Saint Etienne versions of the song. A cover of Young's version was released with Fyfe DangerfieldFyfe DangerfieldFyfe Antony Dangerfield Hutchins is an English musician and songwriter, best known as the founding member of the indie rock band Guillemots.-Early life:...
in 2010. A cover of the Saint Etienne version appears on the album The ConstantThe Constant (I Blame Coco album)The Constant is the debut album by the English band I Blame Coco. It was initially released in most of mainland Europe in October 2010, and subsequently in the United Kingdom on 8 November 2010. It was preceded by three singles: "Caesar" , "Selfmachine", "Quicker" and "In Spirit Golden"...
. - Angie HartAngie HartAngie Hart is an Australian pop singer best known for her role as lead vocalist in the band Frente!.Hart was a founding member of Frente! in 1989. She is renowned for her delicate songcraft, lyrics, and her breathy vocals....
sang it on her Eat My Shadow album.
Saint Etienne version
In 1990, English band Saint EtienneSaint Etienne (band)
Saint Etienne are an English Pop group comprising Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs. They are named after the French football team AS Saint-Étienne.-History:Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs were childhood friends and former music journalists...
recorded a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the song, included on their debut album Foxbase Alpha
Foxbase Alpha
- CD: Warner / 9-26793-2 :2009 release- CD: Heavenly / HVNLP1CDDE :- Credits :The liner notes list the album's personnel as follows:* Sarah Cracknell - vocals.* Bob Stanley - Roland Jupiter 4, Korg M1, tambourine...
. Andrew Weatherall
Andrew Weatherall
Andrew Weatherall is a DJ, producer, and remixer.Andrew, Terry Farley, Cymon Eckel and Steve Mayes started Boy's Own initially as a fanzine commenting on fashion, records, football, and other issues...
later remixed the song to further emphasise the dub bassline: this remix was featured on both releases of the single and on the compilation Casino Classics
Casino Classics
Casino Classics is a remix compilation album by Saint Etienne.The first CD collects many of the remixes featured as B-sides on singles from 1990 to 1995. The second disc contains rarer remixes and newly commissioned remixes. Disc one was originally a bonus CD released with limited copies of Too...
. Their recording, made in under two hours, got them a record deal, their first single, and their first hit. Lead vocals were by Moira Lambert
Moira Lambert
Moira Lambert is a UK recording artist.She has collaborated with St Etienne on the Neil Young cover "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" . Polygram gave her a publishing deal and UK independent label Big Cat Records signed Moira as a teenager...
, as Sarah Cracknell
Sarah Cracknell
Sarah Cracknell is an English pop singer who fronts the band Saint Etienne and is known for her light, smooth singing voice. She is the daughter of Stanley Kubrick's first assistant director Derek Cracknell.-Career:...
had not yet joined the band as a permanent member.
The song was re-released in the UK as a double A-side with the track "Filthy", peaking at number 39 in 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 remains Saint Etienne's only entry in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
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...
, peaking at number 97 in 1992. It did, however, top the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart. The U.S. b-side to the single was the Foxbase Alpha album track "Stoned to Say the Least." In 2003, Vibe listed Masters at Work
Masters At Work
Masters at Work is the house/garage production and remix team of "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez. They first worked together using the name, which had been given to them by mutual friend Todd Terry , in 1990...
's remix of the song as one of the "Top 25 remixes ever created."
The U.S. release contained a different extended mix by Flowered Up
Flowered Up
-Career:The band was formed in mid-1989 by singer Liam Maher, along with his younger brother Joe . After a few changes in personnel, the settled line-up included Tim Dorney , Andy Jackson , and John Tuvey , with dancer Barry Mooncult adding to their live shows...
(issued in the UK only on a flexidisc), though it was mistakenly listed as the "Mix of two halves". Weatherall had no involvement with this mix.
Chart performance
| Artist | Chart (1970) | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| Neil Young | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 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... |
33 |
| Artist | Chart (1991) | Peak position |
| Saint Etienne | 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 ... |
39 |
| Artist | Chart (1992) | Peak position |
| Saint Etienne | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 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... |
97 |
| Saint Etienne | U.S. Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
1 |
| Saint Etienne | U.S. Modern Rock Tracks Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs... |
11 |