Hurt So Bad
| "Hurt So Bad" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| A-side | "Hurt So Bad" |
| B-side | "Reputation" |
"Hurt So Bad" is a song written by Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein, and Bobby Hart. It is a classic 1965 Top 10 hit ballad originally recorded by Little Anthony & The Imperials. Linda Ronstadt also had a Top 10 hit with her cover version in 1980. The song has been re-recorded by numerous artists including The Lettermen.
Little Anthony & The Imperials version
Background
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.[1] 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 (Harshman), 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.
Re-released version
Little Anthony and the other Imperials, Sammy Strain, Ernest Wright and Clarence Collins, reunited in 1992 after a 17-year hiatus, and performed the song as part of a "greatest hits" medley on Dick Clark's American Bandstand 40th Anniversary Special and also on two PBS specials: Rock, Rhythm and Doo-Wop, and Soul Spectacular: 40 Years of R&B, in 2002 and 2003, respectively.
Personnel
- "Little Anthony" Gourdine - lead vocals
- Clarence "Wah-Hoo" Collins - baritone/bass
- Ernest Wright - second tenor
- Sammy Strain - first tenor
- Producer: Don Costa
- Backed by The 101 Strings Orchestra
El Chicano version
Background
El Chicano released a cover of "Hurt So Bad" on their 1970 debut album Viva Tirado. It was one of 9 songs on the album, including their first hit single "Viva Tirado".
Linda Ronstadt version
| "Hurt So Bad" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| A-side | "Hurt So Bad" |
| B-side | "Justine" |
Background
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. Her version of the song featured a scorching guitar solo by Danny Kortchmar. It stands as the most successful version ever recorded of the song, which peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Cash Box Top 100 chart in 1980.[2]
Other versions
The song was covered by the following artists:
- The Lettermen, and Jackie DeShannon[3]
- Alicia Keys covered it.
- Ramsey Lewis, The Delfonics, David Cassidy, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Grant Green, Willie Bobo, El Chicano, Nancy Wilson, Anne Renée (fr) (rendered in French as "Ça Fait Mal") and others.
- Philly Devotions hit #10 in 1976 on Billboard's Disco chart. (Joel Whitburn's Hot Dance/Disco Charts 1974-2003)
- Ruth Israel covered it. https://soundcloud.com/onceremovedband/it-hurts-so-bad?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ https://www.billboard.com/artist/linda-ronstadt/chart-history/
- ^ 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.
