Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations

Album: released as a single (1968)

Charted: 34

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Songfacts®:

The Flirtations were a female trio from South Carolina who made their way to England in 1967, where their American Soul sound went over well. They were discovered by Wayne Bickerton, who signed them to Deram Records and produced this track. Their most famous song and only hit, it has a strong Motown influence. Not only does the group sound like The Supremes, but the song contains lyrics of heartache and pain set to a lush, uptempo groove - something typical of Motown songs like "You Keep Me Hangin' On" and "It's A Shame."
The song appeared in a UK commercial for KFC.
A music video was produced for the song shot at Tintern Abbey in Wales. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Dor - Canton, OH, for above 2
The UK House band The Freemasons recorded a new version for their 2006 album Shakedown. DJ Pytski produced a popular mash-up of this version with an acoustic version of Rihanna's "Umbrella."
Wayne Bickerton co-wrote the song with his fellow English songwriter partner Tony Waddington, who was later responsible for the 1970s successes of The Rubettes.
Waddington had The Flirtations in mind when he wrote "Nothing But A Heartache."

"I was obsessed with that central riff – bam – bam – bam bam bam," he told Uncut magazine. "It kept going round and round in my head. All sorts of bands have used it since like Heaven 17."
The song, featuring a full arrangement including horns and strings, was recorded in an English studio with British studio musicians. "Every element was recorded live," said Waddington. "We thought nothing of that. I'm not even sure there was a practice run through – we just did it in the three minutes the song lasts for. I was responsible for the harmonic structure, and we called in Johnny Harris for the arrangement."
Even the vocals were done live. "We were in that booth singing and the band are out there all playing all in the same room," vocalist Earnestine Pearce said. "They were amazing musicians. It was Big Jim Sullivan, Herbie Flowers and Ronnie Verrell in this big studio with the brass and the strings."

Comments: 7

Meran from NashvilleThis was Art Bell's favorite song!
@Donna from Quincy MA: The video footage of the performing makes it easy to read lips, and it does look like they're saying "Oh why"!
Gary From Nj from Lindenwold, NjI agree, Tom from Dozier, Al.

A very underrated group in the U.S.

Only 1 hit song and only number 34?! That's a shame.

To me, "Nothing But a Heartache" should have been Top 10, if not #1 material!

I have the DERAM single and the B-Side "How Can You Tell Me" is equally great and should have also been a big hit if released as a separate single.

This is a group who, with this sound, should have had at least 20 hits!
Grievousangle from North CarolinaCould have sworn that was a Phil Specter production, "Wall of Sound"
Donna from Quincy MaUnless I am hearing it wrong (and I don't think I am), they're NOT saying "he's got me all won." They're saying "He's got me. Oh why can't I get him?" Used to love the song. Huge local hit in Boston.
Neal from Hooterville, MiThis is a good song to fool people who *think* they know Motown music.... It sure sounds like the Supremes!
Tom from Dozier, AlThis song takes me back to 1969. I always wondered why The Flirtations weren't up there with The Supremes, etc.. This song is one of the classics!!
Mark from Richmond, VaSouthside Johnny & the Asubry Jukes did an excellent cover of this tune on their 2006 release "Into The Harbour."

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