It’s a Heartache was released in 1978 and peaked at #3 in the Billboard 100, #4 in the UK and #1 in Canada. It also crossed over to the country charts at #10. The single sold over 6 million copies. This song fits Bonnie Tyler’s voice perfectly.
From Songfacts.
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.
The drummer on this song was Mike Gibbons of Badfinger.
It’s a Heartache
It’s a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it’s too late
Hits you when you’re down
Nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it’s too late
Hits you when you’re down
It’s a fool’s game
Nothing but a fool’s game
Standing in the cold rain
Feeling like a clown
Nothing but a fool’s game
Standing in the cold rain
Feeling like a clown
It’s a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Love him ’til your arms break
Then he let’s you down
Nothing but a heartache
Love him ’til your arms break
Then he let’s you down
It ain’t right with love to share
When you find he doesn’t care for you
It ain’t wise to need someone
As much as I depended on you
When you find he doesn’t care for you
It ain’t wise to need someone
As much as I depended on you
Oh, it’s a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it’s too late
Hits you when you’re down
Nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it’s too late
Hits you when you’re down
It’s a fool’s game
Nothing but a fool’s game
Standing in the cold rain
Feeling like a clown
Nothing but a fool’s game
Standing in the cold rain
Feeling like a clown
It ain’t right with love to share
When you find he doesn’t care for you
It ain’t wise to need someone
As much as I depended on you
When you find he doesn’t care for you
It ain’t wise to need someone
As much as I depended on you
Oh, it’s a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
You love him ’til your arms break
Then he let’s you down
Nothing but a heartache
You love him ’til your arms break
Then he let’s you down
It’s a fool’s game
Standing in the cold rain
Feelin’ like a clown
It’s a heartache
Love him ’til your arms break
Then he let’s you down
It’s a fool’s game
Standing in the cold rain
Feelin’ like a clown
It’s a heartache
Love him ’til your arms break
Then he let’s you down
It’s a fool’s game
It was kind of nice seeing her get some exposure last year when the eclipse happened. If Bonnie and Kim Carnes did a duet it might be hard to distinguish who is singing what.
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I’ve always liked scratchy voices…You are right…them two would be one….
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Interesting Bad Finger info. Great band, of course. Anyway, I remember this song well–I was there, listening to Top 40 radio and everybody thought it was Rod Stewart.
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I did also when I first heard it. She sounded very close to to Rod Stewart.
I’ve played in bands that played it…you can satisify country fans and rock fans with that song.
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Yes, it bridges the great divide.
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That is a great way to put it. Many CCR songs would work with both.
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