I'm Gonna Be Strong

"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.

Gene Pitney version

"I'm Gonna Be Strong"
Single by Gene Pitney
from the album I'm Gonna Be Strong
B-side	"E Se Domani (If Tomorrow)"
Released	1964 (1964)
Format	7" single
Recorded	1964 (1964)
Genre	Pop
Length	2:16
Label	Musicor
Writer(s)	Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
Gene Pitney singles chronology
"It Hurts to Be in Love" (1964) "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (1964) "I Must Be Seeing Things" (1965)

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.

Chart performance

Country	Peak position
United Kingdom	2
United States	9

Blue Angel version

"I'm Gonna Be Strong"
Single by Blue Angel
from the album Blue Angel
B-side	Just The Other Day
Released	1980 (1980)
Format	7" Vinyl , 7”Vinyl Single
Genre	Pop
Length	2:50
Label	Polydor
Producer	Roy Halee
Blue Angel singles chronology
"You Make Loving Fun" (1977) "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (1980) "I Had a Love" (1980)

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.

Track listing

01 - Maybe he'll known 3:51 02 - I had a love 2:48 03 – Fade 2:45 04 - Anna blue 3:55 05 - Can't blame me 2:37 06 – Late 2:47 07 - Cut out 2:17 08 - Take a chance 2:37 09 - Just the other day 2:43 10 - I'm gonna be strong 2:52 11 – Lorraine 3:48 12 - Everybody's got an angel 2:26

7" Vinyl (Netherlands)

Length: 5:32

1. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:50
2. "Just the Other Day" (Cyndi Lauper and John Turi) – 2:42

Personnel

Production: Roy Halee

7" Vinyl (Germany)/Italian Promo 7" Vinyl

Length: 6:44

1. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:50
2. "Maybe He'll Know" (Cyndi Lauper and John Turi) – 3:54

Personnel

Production: Roy Halee

7" Vinyl (Australia and UK)

Length: 6:47

1. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:50
2. "Anna Blue" (Cyndi Lauper and John Turi) – 3:57

Personnel

Production: Roy Halee

Cyndi Lauper version

"I'm Gonna Be Strong"
Single by Cyndi Lauper
from the album Twelve Deadly Cyns...and Then Some
A-side	I'm Gonna Be Strong
B-side	A Part Hate
Released	30 January 1995
Recorded	1994 (1994)
Genre	Pop
Label	Epic
Writer(s)	Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
Cyndi Lauper singles chronology
"Hey Now (Girls Just Want To Have Fun)" (1994) "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (1994) "Come On Home" (1995)

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 more than ever with the song's challenging notes and arrangement. 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.

Chart Performance

Chart (1994)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	37

Other versions

Jackie DeShannon covered the song on her 1965 album "This is Jackie DeShannon." Del Shannon covered this song on his 1965 album 1661 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, topping at 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

External links

• Official Cyndi Lauper website