Album: More Hits by The Supremes (1965)

Charted: 11

License This Song 

Songfacts®:

• As this song missed just one position of the US Top 10, it put the Supremes' string of consecutive #1 American hits to an end. Like the four out of their five consecutive #1 American hits, this song is about heartache and/or unrequited love. When this failed to make even the Top 10 (let alone reach #1), Holland/Dozier/Holland (the Supremes' songwriters and producers) had finally realized that the themes of the Supremes' songs had begun to be monotonous.
  
  After the song's disappointing result on the charts, Motown president Berry Gordy sent a memo all around offices of Motown that read: "We will release nothing less than Top 10 product on any artist; and because the Supremes' worldwide acceptance is greater than the other artists, on them we will only release #1 records." When Holland/Dozier/Holland received the message, they decided to try a new theme for the Supremes. The result was the Supremes' next hit, "I Hear a Symphony," which brought the group back to the #1 spot.
• The original title of this song was "I Can't Break Away." >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Jerro - New Alexandria, PA, for above 2
• As the title implies, this song is a bit of a downer, with Diana Ross singing about a guy who "keeps me cryin' myself to sleep." It's quite a contrast to the giddy "Back in My Arms Again," the previous Supremes single.
• This was released in the lead-up to The Supremes first run at the Copacabana, a venerable nightclub in New York city that typically hosted crooners like Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. Motown was hoping the song would provide another hit to coincide with their three-week stay at the Copa, but the song lagged on the charts; it peaked at #11 on September 4, 1965, two weeks after their engagement ended.

Comments: 5

• Rick from New YorkSimply the APEX of American pop music. From the excellent background musicians (the unheralded “Funk Brothers”) to Diana Ross’s creamy delivery, including Wilson’s and Ballard’s echoey “response.”
  
  Motown has been accused of being FORMULAIC, but if the “formula” works, time and time again…
• Rotunda from Tulsa, OkI bought this single when it was released in '65 and I still love it. Back then, I am sure I never felt it was monotonous theme-wise. All I cared about was that if it had a good beat to dance to, if it had "The Motown Sound," and if the lyrics were sensible (not silly). For those of you who remember, the mid-Sixties had some pretty bizarre-sounding songs, like "Snoopy & The Red Baron," "JuJu Hand," & "Judy In Disguise." But "Nothing But Heartaches" apparently sold well enough to reach #11, according to Billboard. Back then, I hardly ever paid much attention to the Billboard record charts. For me it was Song Hits or CashBox magazines' polls. I still love this song.
  
• John from Nashville, TnThis song was an illogical followup to the Supremes' previous five #1 hits. After Diana wonders "where did our love go?", she pleads with her lover to "Don't throw our love away" (Baby Love). The lover leaves Diana who begs him to "Come See About Me" before discovering her lover is a two-timer in "Stop In The Name Of Love". After Diana sings that the lover is "Back In My Arms Again", he then brings her "Nothing But Heartaches". It seems like after he's back in her arms again, Diana should immediately be singing "I Hear A Symphony" to celebrate her reignited romantic relationship.
• Kristin from Bessemer, AlAfter the Supremes' winning streak of five consecutive number ones in the row, their next follow-up was supposed to be a tune called "Mother Dear", but "Nothing But Heartaches" got the deciding vote from Motown's Quality Control - "Mother Dear" is on their album "More Hits By The Supremes"-
• Jim from Dearborn Heights , MiThis is one of my favorite songs The Supremes did yes it broke their string of number ones i really do feel it did have it in it to go to to number one why who knows also theyreleased a lot of unreleased songs that i love too like It's All Your Fault Dr. Goldfoot and The Bikini Machine which was a movie in 1966 with Vincent Price Fred Clark and Frankie Avalon they are singing the song when the movie starts they were also in Beach Ball they did that song and Surfer Boy and were in a TV episode of Tarzan in 1968 The Supremes then were Diana Cindy and Mary they were dressed as nuns Tarzan was Ron Ely
  

More Songfacts:

Hunger StrikeTemple of the Dog

"Hunger Strike" by Temple of the Dog features Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder, and was Vedder's first music video.

LolaThe Kinks

When The Kinks released "Lola," most people didn't realize Lola was a man. "I was dancing with this beautiful blonde, then we went out into the daylight and I saw her stubble," Ray Davies said of the inspiration.

Opposites AttractPaula Abdul

MC Skat Kat was created for the remix of "Opposites Attract," which was released as the last single from Paula Abdul's Forever Your Girl album. The team that created the Kat also did a-ha's "Take On Me" video.

Whip ItDevo

Devo got the idea for their "Whip It" video from an article about a guy who owned a dude ranch and charged people to watch him remove his wife's clothes with a bullwhip.

JumpVan Halen

Van Halen's first #1 hit was "Jump," an unusual song for the band because the lead instrument was synthesizer, not guitar.

Santa Claus Is Coming To TownEddie Cantor

"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" is the most performed holiday song of all time, according to a Top 30 list released by the performance rights organization ASCAP in December 2014.

Editor's Picks

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"They're Playing My Song

When a waitress wouldn't take him home, Jack wrote what would become one of the Eagles most enduring hits.

Annie Haslam of RenaissanceSongwriter Interviews

The 5-octave voice of the classical rock band Renaissance, Annie is big on creative expression. In this talk, she covers Roy Wood, the history of the band, and where all the money went in the '70s.

Bryan AdamsSongwriter Interviews

What's the deal with "Summer of '69"? Bryan explains what the song is really about, and shares more of his songwriting insights.

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?