It's a Heartache

Album: It's a Heartache (1977)
Charted: 4 3
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, who were Tyler's managers, wrote this song. The team wrote and produced many of her songs in the '70s, including five of the cuts on the It's a Heartache album.
  • Tyler released this song in November 1977 on RCA 5057. The country singer Juice Newton came out with her version on Capitol 4552 in April 1978; her version only reached #86, though it went gold in Mexico. Around this same time, Ronnie Spector (of the Ronettes) also recorded the song but her version went nowhere. Tyler's version proved the most successful, reaching #1 in Canada, France, Sweden, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil.
  • Other artists who have covered this song include Dave & Sugar, Lorrie Morgan, Gene Pitney, Rod Stewart, and Trick Pony. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jerro - New Alexandria, PA, for above 2
  • When a singer has throat problems severe enough to require surgery, the procedure can often be career threatening. In the case of Bonnie Tyler, however, the nodules that she developed singing in nightclubs in her native Wales turned out to be career making. After her 1976 operation, Tyler's voice carried a distinctive rasp somewhat reminiscent of Rod Stewart's, and helped propel this song into the #3 spot. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Rob - Rothesay, NB, Canada

Comments: 7

  • Anthony Newton from Tucson, AzI’ve been hearing fans singing the song during football (aka soccer) matches in Europe. Kinda cool.
  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenI always wished Raitt would get a throat lozenge whenever I heard this song.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 19th 1978, Bonnie Tyler performed "It's A Heartache" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    Five months earlier on March 19th, 1978 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #78; and on June 18th, 1978 it peaked at #3 {for 2 weeks} and spent 21 weeks on the Top 100...
    Between 1977 and 1986 the Welsh songstress had six Top 100 records; two made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Total Eclipse of the Heart" for 4 weeks on September 25th, 1983...
    The two weeks that "It's A Heartache" was at #3, for those two weeks the #1 record was "Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb and at #2 was "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty...
    Ms. Tyler, born Gaynor Hopkins, celebrated her 63rd birthday two months ago on June 1951 {2014}.
  • Lawrence from Saranac Lake, NyThe drummer on the Bonnie Tyler version of "It's A Heartache" was fellow Welch countryman Mike Gibbins of Badfinger fame.
  • Rick from Belfast, MeBonnies original is the best...but Trick Pony did a decent remake
  • Farrah from Elon, NcBonnie Tyler is a fabulous singer.
  • Ken from Louisville, KyBecause of a ripped vocal chord, many people thought Bonnie Tyler sounded like a female Rod Stewart when she first did this song. Ironically when Stewart got around to recording his own version in 2006, he was much older and didn't have the same range as in the past.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Timothy B. Schmit

Timothy B. SchmitSongwriter Interviews

The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien Songs

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.

Church Lyrics

Church LyricsMusic Quiz

Here is the church, here is the steeple - see if you can identify these lyrics that reference church.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.