B-side "It's About Time" Length 3:31 | Released November 1977 Producer(s) David Mackay | |
Genre Rock, country rock, soft rock Writer(s) Ronnie Scott & Steve Wolfe | ||
"It's a Heartache" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler for her second studio album, Natural Force (1978). The song was recorded in the same year by Juice Newton as a standalone single. It was written by Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, Tyler's at-the-time managers, and produced by David Mackay.
Contents
Tyler's version received positive reviews from music critics. The song reached number three in the United States and number four in the United Kingdom. With physical sales in excess of 6 million copies, Tyler's version is one of the best-selling singles of all time. Tyler has re-recorded the song several times, most notably as a bilingual duet with French singer Kareen Antonn in 2004.
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 number 86.
Critical reception
The release of "It's a Heartache" had music critics comparing Tyler's voice to Rod Stewart's who would eventually cover the song. 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."
Si Tout S'Arrête
Tyler's most notable re-recording of the song appeared on her album Simply Believe (2004). It was recorded as a French/English bilingual track with Kareen Antonn and released as a single on 7 June 2004. The song was a hit in Belgium, France and Switzerland.
Track listing
- "Si Tout S'Arrête (It's a Heartache)" — 3:25
- "Rock Theme (Single Version)" — 3:49
The second track is an instrumental rock track.
Other covers
Since 1977, this song has been covered numerous times. It appeared on the 1978 live album by David Johansen 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. Gene Pitney recorded a version on his 2003 album, Blue Angel - The Bronze Sessions. 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.
A Spanish version was recorded by the Chilean group Frecuencia Mod in 1978, with the title "¡Oh! Qué pena".
In Italy, Patty Pravo recorded a version called "Notti bianche" in 1978.
A French version was recorded by Eva (a German singer), under the title "Et je m'en vais".
The Argentinian band Fun People recorded a punk version for the single "Middle Of The Rounds", in 1999.
In 1978, Ronnie Spector recorded this song with the B-side being the song "I Wanna Come Over", which was later recorded by Fort Payne, Alabama based country band Alabama
In 1979, Czech singer Karel Gott made cover version "Jen se hádej".
In 1992, Country singer Lorrie Morgan recorded the song on her album Watch Me.