Released 1964 (1964) Recorded 1964 (1964) Length 2:16 | Format 7" single Genre Pop | |
B-side "E Se Domani (If Tomorrow)" | ||
"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.
Contents
Gene Pitney version
This version became a top ten hit on both the Billboard Hot 100 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.
Blue Angel version
It was also the most successful single released by the 1980 band Blue Angel 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.
7" vinyl (Netherlands)
Length: 5:32
- "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:50
- "Just the Other Day" (Cyndi Lauper, 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, 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, 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 Some, and subsequently a new single was released in 1994. The song shows off Lauper's singing ability, containing a challenging arrangement and notes. 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.
Other versions
Jackie DeShannon covered the song on her 1965 album This is Jackie DeShannon. Del Shannon covered this song on his 1965 album One Thousand Six Hundred Sixty One 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, peaking at 13 on the Dutch Top 40.
Buddy Miller covered the song on his 1999 album Cruel Moon, with Joy Lynn White on backing vocals.
Tim Rose released the song as single with the B-side "I Got a Loneliness" (Columbia USA 4-43958, 19 Dec 1966) and on his selftitled album 1967.