"So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)" is a song written by Don Everly, which was released by The Everly Brothers in 1960. The song was later a country hit for multiple artists in the 1970s and 80s.
The Everly Brothers version In 1960, The Everly Brothers released the song as a single and on the album It's Everly Time. The song was a top 10 hit in multiple countries, and spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 7,Hot 100 - The Everly Brothers So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved April 1, 2018. while reaching No. 4 on the United Kingdom's Record Retailer and New Musical Express charts,Everly Brothers - Full Official Chart History, Official Charts Company. Accessed October 15, 2015"British Newsnotes", Billboard, October 17, 1960. p. 6. Retrieved April 1, 2018. and No. 7 on New Zealand's "Lever Hit Parade"."Lever Hit Parade" 03-Nov-1960, Flavour of New Zealand. Retrieved April 1, 2018. The song was a major hit in other countries as well.
Chart performance Chart (1960)PeakpositionAustraliaDavid Kent, Australian Top 20 Singles - Week Ending October 22, 196019Canada (CHUM Hit Parade) Chart No. 179.18New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)7Belgium (Flanders)The Everly Brothers - So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad), Ultratop. Retrieved April 1, 2018.15UK Record Retailer4UK New Musical Express4US Billboard Hot 1007US Billboard Hot R&B Sides"The Billboard Hot R&B Sides", Billboard, October 24, 1960. p. 51. Retrieved April 1, 2018.Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - The Everly Brothers So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved April 1, 2018.16US Cash Box Top 1009US Cash Box Records Disc Jockeys Played Most"The Records Disc Jockeys Played Most", Cash Box, October 8, 1960. p. 24. Retrieved April 2, 2018.7US Cash Box Top Ten Juke Box Tunes"The Nation's Top Ten Juke Box Tunes", Cash Box, October 15, 1960. p. 42. Retrieved April 2, 2018.9US Cash Box Country Top 50"Country Top 50 Across the Nation", Cash Box, October 8, 1960. p. 24. Retrieved April 2, 2018.31Belgium (Wallonia)The Everly Brothers - So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad), Ultratop. Retrieved April 1, 2018.23
Cover versions In 1968, The Hombres included a cover on their only album Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out).
In 1969, Dillard and Clark included a cover on their LP "Through the Morning, Through the Night". This group consisted of Gene Clark of The Byrds and Doug Dillard of The Dillards, as well as future member of The Eagles, Bernie Leadon.
Brian Hyland released a version of the song on his 1969 album Tragedy-A Million to One.
In 1970, a cover of was released by Hank Williams, Jr. and Lois Johnson as a single and on the album Removing the Shadow. Their version reached No. 12 on Billboards Hot Country Singles chart,"Hot Country Singles", Billboard, November 28, 1970. p. 46. Retrieved April 1, 2018. No. 8 on the Cash Box Country Top 65,"Cash Box Country Top 65", Cash Box, November 28, 1970. p. 52. Retrieved April 2, 2018. No. 8 on the Record World Top Country Singles chart,"Top Country Singles", Record World, November 28, 1970. Retrieved April 2, 2018. and No. 10 on Canada's "Top 50 RPM Country" chart."Top 50 RPM Country", RPM, Volume 14, No. 18, December 19, 1970. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
Connie Smith released a cover of the song in 1976, as a single and on her album I Don't Wanna Talk It Over Anymore."Billboard's Top Album Picks", Billboard, October 16, 1976. p. 66. Retrieved April 2, 2018. Smith's version reached No. 31 on the Billboards Hot Country Singles chartHot Country Songs - Connie Smith So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved April 1, 2018. and No. 19 on the Cash Box Top 100 Country chart."Cash Box Top 100 Country", Cash Box, July 31, 1976. p. 35. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
In 1977, Don Everly released a solo version of the song on the album Brother Juke-Box.
A cover was released by Steve Wariner in 1978, which reached No. 76 on the Billboards Hot Country Singles chart,Hot Country Songs - Steve Wariner So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved April 1, 2018. No. 73 on the Cash Box Top 100 Country chart,"Cash Box Top 100 Country", Cash Box, September 2, 1978. p. 34. Retrieved April 2, 2018. and No. 81 on the Record World Country Singles Chart."Record World Country Singles Chart", Record World, September 2, 1978. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
Emmylou Harris released a cover of the song on her 1982 album Last Date, and as a single. In 1983, Harris's version reached No. 28 on the Billboards Hot Country Singles chart,Hot Country Songs - Emmylou Harris So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved April 2, 2018. No. 31 on Cash Boxs Top 100 Country Singles,"Top 100 Country Singles", Cash Box, August 20, 1983. p. 24. Retrieved April 2, 2018. and No. 14 on Canada's RPM "Country 50 Singles" chart."Country 50 Singles", RPM, Volume 38, No. 26, August 27, 1983. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
The Sweethearts of the Rodeo covered the song on their One Time, One Night album in 1988, but the song was not released as a single.
The French singer Françoise Hardy included the song in her year 2000 album Clair-obscur as a duet with Étienne Daho.
Jeff Lynne also recorded it on his album Long Wave in 2012.
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