"'It's a Heartache'" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. Written by Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, and co-produced with David Mackay, the single was released in November 1977 by RCA Records. The song topped the charts in Australia, Canada, and numerous European countries, and reached No. 3 in the US and No. 4 in the UK. Worldwide, "It's a Heartache" sold around six million copies.

In the United States, Tyler's version was released in 1978 around the same time as versions of it were released by Juice Newton and Ronnie Spector.

Background "It's a Heartache" was recorded at The Factory Sound in Surrey, England, in 1977. Producer David Mackay finished the construction of his recording studio in mid-1977, and this song was cut during the very first session.

"It's a Heartache" was one of the first recordings Tyler made following a surgical procedure to remove nodules from her vocal folds. The procedure left Tyler with an "unusually husky voice", which AllMusic journalist Marcy Donelson described as "an effective instrument".

Release Producer David Mackay recalled that RCA Records was reluctant to release the single as the label was pre-occupied with reissuing Elvis Presley's back catalogue following his unexpected death in August 1977. Mackay, Scott and Wolfe threatened to terminate their contract with RCA if they did not release the track immediately. "It's a Heartache" was released on 4 November 1977 in parts of Europe, including the United Kingdom, and March 1978 in the United States and Canada.

Critical reception The release had music critics comparing Tyler's voice to Rod Stewart's. 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."

Other versions In 1978, Juice Newton released a cover through Capitol Records, produced by John Palladino. Newton reached No. 86 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 91 on the Canadian RPM Singles Chart. In the same year, Ronnie Spector issued a single through Alston Records. Tyler, Newton and Spector's versions were all released in the same week in the United States, with Billboard listing each one as "recommended" tracks.

Dave & Sugar's 1981 rendition of "It's a Heartache" reached No. 32 on the Billboard Country Singles Chart.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1977–1978)PeakpositionArgentina1Australia (Kent Music Report)1 scope="row"Brazil BPRA1Canada (CRIA)1Canada 100 Singles (RPM)1Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)1Canada Country Playlist (RPM)2Europe (Europarade Top 30)2Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)2 France Europe 11South Africa (Springbok Radio)2Spain (AFYVE) 1US Cash Box Top 1003

+ Chart (2026)Peakposition UK Singles Sales (Official Charts) 14 US Digital Songs (Billboard) 7

Year-end charts Chart (1978)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) 7Canada Top 200 Singles (RPM)21Canada Top 50 Country Singles (RPM)44New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)37South Africa (Springbok Radio)9Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)12US Billboard Hot 10024US Cash Box Pop Singles17

Sales and certifications

Kareen Antonn and Bonnie Tyler In 2004, Tyler released a bi-lingual duet with French singer Kareen Antonn. Renamed "Si tout s'arrête", the single reached No. 7 on the Belgian Flanders chart, No. 12 in France and No. 25 in Switzerland. In the following year, Tyler included a solo version of the song, sung entirely in English, on her album Wings. Chart (2004)Peakposition Belgium Wallonie Ultratop7France Top Singles Snep 12Poland Airplay Charts7Switzerland Singles Top 10025European Hot 100 Singles Billboard27

Trick Pony version

American country music group Trick Pony recorded a version of the song for their third studio album R.I.D.E. (2005). The group's record label, Asylum-Curb Records, released "It's a Heartache" as the second single from the album on 31 January 2005. Heidi Newfield sang the main vocals, and Chuck Howard produced. At the end of July 2005, the cover peaked at number 22 on the Hot Country Songs chart, while reaching number 18 on the Radio & Records version of the country chart. Bobby Peacock of Roughstock called the cover a "near-carbon copy" of the original.

Commercial performance Trick Pony's cover of "It's a Heartache" debuted on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart the week of February 12, 2005 at number 49, becoming the second highest debut of the week. Slowly, the song barely missed the top twenty, peaking at number 22 on July 30, 2005 and becoming the most successful single from the album. It was their highest peaking single since "On a Mission" peaked at number 19 in 2003 and their final top forty hit to date. On the Radio & Records version of the country chart, it performed even better by peaking at number 18.

Music video Jeffrey Phillips directed the music video. The video features a couple going through a divorce, which includes cut-scenes of the members of Trick Pony. While the husband is buying wine, two robbers come in and hold the owner at gunpoint. The husband tries to stop them but is stabbed by one of the thieves. The police then break the news to the wife, who is devastated. The video ends with the wife going to her would-be ex-husband's grave.

The video began airing in late April 2005 on the Great American Country channel.

Charts Weekly charts Chart (2005)Peakposition

Year-end charts Chart (2005)Peak positionUS Country (Radio & Records)68

Release history +Release dates and format(s) for "It's a Heartache" (Trick Pony version)RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesJanuary 31, 2005Country radioAsylum-Curb Records

References

External links