"It's a Heartache"
Single by Bonnie Tyler
from the album Natural Force
B-side"Got So Used to Lovin' You"
Released4 November 1977[1]
Genre
Length3:31
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Bonnie Tyler singles chronology
"Heaven"
(1977)		 "It's a Heartache"
(1977)		 "Here Am I"
(1978)

"'It's a Heartache'" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. Written by Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, and co-produced with David Mackay, the single was released in November 1977 through RCA Records. The song topped the charts in Australia, Canada, and numerous European countries, and reached No. 3 in the US and No. 4 in the UK. Worldwide, "It's a Heartache" sold around six million copies.[5]

In the United States, Tyler's version was released in 1978 around the same time as versions of it were released by Juice Newton and Ronnie Spector.

Background

"It's a Heartache" was recorded at The Factory Sound in Surrey, England in 1977. Producer David Mackay finished the construction of his recording studio in the summer of 1977, and this song was cut during the very first session.[6]

"It's a Heartache" was one of the first recordings Tyler made following a surgical procedure to remove nodules from her vocal folds. The procedure left Tyler with an "unusually husky voice", which AllMusic journalist Marcy Donelson described as "an effective instrument".[7]

Release

Producer David Mackay recalled that RCA was reluctant to release the single. The label was preoccupied with reissuing Elvis Presley's back catalogue following his recent death. Mackay, Scott and Wolfe threatened to terminate their contract with RCA if they did not release the track immediately.[6] "It's a Heartache" was released on 4 November 1977 in parts of Europe, including the United Kingdom, and March 1978 in the United States and Canada.[1]

Critical reception

The release had music critics comparing Tyler's voice to Rod Stewart's (he would eventually cover the song.)[8] Carol Wetzel from Spokane Daily Chronicle complimented Tyler's voice on "It's a Heartache", stating that her previous big hit, "Lost in France", is "no big deal, probably because it was made before her voice changed."[9]

Other versions

In 1978, Juice Newton released a cover through Capitol Records, produced by John Palladino. Newton reached No. 86 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 91 on the Canadian RPM Singles Chart. In the same year, Ronnie Spector issued a single through Alston Records. Tyler, Newton and Spector's versions were all released in the same week in the United States, with Billboard listing each one as "recommended" tracks.[10]

The song was covered by Lorrie Morgan on her 1992 album Watch Me.

Dave & Sugar's 1981 rendition of "It's a Heartache" reached No. 32 on the Billboard Country Singles Chart. Trick Pony put their mark on it in 2005, peaking at No. 22 on the same chart.

Ian Noe interpolated a portion of the song at the end of "Road May Flood" to close his 2022 album River Fools and Mountain Saints.

Charts

Sales and certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Argentina — 100,000[41]
Australia (ARIA)[42] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[43] Gold 75,000^
France (SNEP)[44] Platinum 1,000,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Gold 500,000^
United States (RIAA)[46] Gold 1,000,000^
Summaries
Worldwide — 6,000,000[5]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Kareen Antonn & Bonnie Tyler

French/English version Si Tout S'Arrête In 2004, Tyler released a bilingual duet with French singer Kareen Antonn. Renamed "Si tout s'arrête", the single reached No. 7 on the Belgian Flanders chart, No. 12 in France and No. 25 in Switzerland.[47] In the following year, Tyler included a solo version of the song, sung entirely in English, on her album Wings.

Chart (2004) Peak
position
Belgium Wallonie Ultratop[48] 7
France Top Singles Snep[49] 12
Poland Airplay Charts [50] 7
Switzerland Singles Top 100[51] 25
European Hot 100 Singles Billboard[52] 27

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache". VG-lista. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Browne, David; Greene, Andy; Hudak, Joseph; Martoccio, Angie; Sheffield, Rob; Shteamer, Hank; Spanos, Brittany (April 20, 2021). "From Meat Loaf to Celine Dion: 10 Essential Jim Steinman Songs". Rolling Stone.
  3. ↑ Breihan, Tom (July 27, 2020). "The Number Ones: Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse Of The Heart". Stereogum. Retrieved July 28, 2023. A year later, she had a global hit with the hardbitten, country-ish ballad "It's A Heartache," which made it to #3 in the US.
  4. ↑ Molanphy, Chris (October 16, 2020). "Turn Around, Bright Eyes Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Bonnie Tyler". People. Vol. 45, no. 24. 17 June 1996. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  6. 1 2 Brigg, Liam (2019). The RCA Years (booklet). Bonnie Tyler. London: Cherry Red Records. p. 15. CRPOPBOX201.
  7. ↑ Donelson, Marcy. "Bonnie Tyler | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  8. ↑ van Matre, Lynn (29 July 1978). "Bonnie Tyler's Career Took Years to Build". Evening Independent. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  9. ↑ Wetzel, Carol (1 June 1978). "DISCritique". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Cowles Publishing Company. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "Top Singles Picks". Billboard. New York City, USA: Lynne Segall. 25 March 1978. p. 158.
  11. ↑ "Cash Box - International Best Sellers" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. Cash Box. 26 August 1978. p. 45.
  12. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. ↑ "Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  14. ↑ "Cash Box - International Best Sellers" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. Cash Box. 19 August 1978. p. 45.
  15. ↑ "Volume 29, No. 15, 8 July 1978". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  16. ↑ "Adult Contemporary – Volume 29, No. 14, 1 July 1978". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  17. ↑ "Europarade: 1978-05". Hitnoteringen. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  18. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Bonnie Tyler". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 267. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  19. ↑ "Cash Box - International Best Sellers" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. Cash Box. 17 June 1978. p. 45.
  20. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It's a Heartache". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  21. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bonnie Tyler" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  22. ↑ "Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  23. ↑ "Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  24. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (T)". Rock.co.za. John Samson. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  25. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  26. ↑ "Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  27. ↑ "Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  28. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  29. ↑ "Bonnie Tyler Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  30. ↑ "Bonnie Tyler Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  31. ↑ "Bonnie Tyler Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  32. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 7/08/78". www.tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  33. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  34. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 430. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  35. ↑ Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  36. ↑ "nztop40.co.nz - Top Selling Singles of 1978". nztop40.co.nz. Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  37. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website - Hits 1978". Rock.co.za. John Samson. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  38. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Swiss Year-End Charts 1978 - swisscharts.com". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  39. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978". www.musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  40. ↑ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1978". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  41. ↑ Smirnoff, Miguel (14 October 1978). "Argentinian News" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 39. Retrieved 2 August 2020 – via World radio History.
  42. ↑ "Golden Visit". Billboard. 29 July 1978. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  43. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache". Music Canada.
  44. ↑ "French single certifications – Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache" (in French). InfoDisc. Select BONNIE TYLER and click OK. 
  45. ↑ "British single certifications – Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache". British Phonographic Industry.
  46. ↑ "American single certifications – Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  47. ↑ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "Bonnie Tyler" from the artist drop-down menu. Archived from the original on 19 March 2005. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  48. ↑ "Belgium Wallonie Charts". Ultratop. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  49. ↑ "Les Charts". Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  50. ↑ "Pif Paf Airplay". Archived from the original on 2007-10-26. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  51. ↑ "Swiss Charts". Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  52. ↑ "European Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
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