Little Anthony & The Imperials' original version was taken from their album, Goin' out of My Head. It was the follow-up to that album's smash-hit title song, and like that song, also became a Billboard Top 10 hit as well as a Top Five R&B hit.[2] This version reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100, and number one in Canada.[3] It was also performed by the group on their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. It was written especially for The Imperials by Teddy Randazzo, a long-time friend of the group, along with Bobby Weinstein and Bobby Hart, and was produced by Don Costa for his DCP record label, later absorbed by United Artists Records and re-released on its Veep Records subsidiary. A powerful, dramatic ballad recording, it has become one of The Imperials' best-known songs, and has inspired numerous cover versions.
El Chicano released a cover of "Hurt So Bad" on their 1970 debut album Viva Tirado.[4] It was one of 9 songs on the album, including their first hit single "Viva Tirado".
Linda Ronstadt recorded a cover of "Hurt So Bad" for her Platinum-certified album, Mad Love, in 1980. Produced by Peter Asher on Asylum Records, it was released as the album's second single. Linda's version of the song featured a guitar solo by Danny Kortchmar. It stands as the most successful version ever recorded of the song, which peaked at #8 on the BillboardHot 100 and #9 on the Cash Box Top 100 chart in the spring of 1980.[5] It was Ronstadt's final Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist.
^Steve Huey. "Little Anthony & the Imperials Biography & Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 7 November 2009. The Imperials' streak of good fortune continued with the equally dramatic ballad "Hurt So Bad," another Top Ten hit that also became their second R&B Top Fiver in 1965.
^William Ruhlmann. "Hurt So Bad". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 November 2009. The Lettermen, who had previously covered "Goin' out of My Head," revived it in 1969 for a Top 20 hit; Jackie DeShannon combined it in a medley with "You Keep Me Hangin' On" that reached the charts in 1976.
