Hurt So Bad

For the Nancy Wilson album, see Hurt So Bad (album).

"Hurt So Bad" is a song written by Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein, and Bobby Hart. It is a 1965 Top 10 hit ballad originally recorded by Little Anthony & The Imperials. Linda Ronstadt also had a Top 10 hit with her cover version in 1980. The song has been re-recorded by numerous artists including The Lettermen, who took the song to number twelve in September 1969.

"Hurt So Bad"
Single by Little Anthony & The Imperials
from the album Goin' Out Of My Head
B-side	"Reputation"
Released	December 29, 1964 (1964-12-29)[1]
Genre	Soul, pop
Length	2:15
Label	DCP
Songwriter(s)	Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein, Bobby Hart
Producer(s)	Teddy Randazzo, Don Costa
Little Anthony & The Imperials singles chronology
"Goin' Out Of My Head" (1964) "Hurt So Bad" (1964) "Take Me Back" (1965)

"Hurt So Bad"
Single by The Lettermen
from the album Hurt So Bad
B-side	"Catch the Wind"
Released	1969
Recorded	1969
Genre	Pop, Easy listening
Length	2:18
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein, Bobby Hart
Producer(s)	Al De Lory
The Lettermen singles chronology
"Blue on Blue" (1969) "Hurt So Bad" (1969) "Shangri-La" (1969)

Little Anthony & The Imperials version

Background

Little Anthony & The Imperials' original version was taken from their album, Goin' out of My Head. It was the follow-up to that album's smash-hit title song, and like that song, also became a Billboard Top 10 hit as well as a Top Five R&B hit.^[2] This version reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100, and number one in Canada.^[3] It was also performed by the group on their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. It was written especially for The Imperials by Teddy Randazzo, a long-time friend of the group, along with Bobby Weinstein and Bobby Hart, and was produced by Don Costa for his DCP record label, later absorbed by United Artists Records and re-released on its Veep Records subsidiary. A powerful, dramatic ballad recording, it has become one of The Imperials' best-known songs, and has inspired numerous cover versions.

Personnel

• "Little Anthony" Gourdine - lead vocals
• Clarence "Wah-Hoo" Collins - baritone/bass
• Ernest Wright - second tenor
• Sammy Strain - first tenor
• Producer: Don Costa
• Backed by The 101 Strings Orchestra

El Chicano version

Background

El Chicano released a cover of "Hurt So Bad" on their 1970 debut album Viva Tirado.^[4] It was one of 9 songs on the album, including their first hit single "Viva Tirado".

Linda Ronstadt version

"Hurt So Bad"
Single by Linda Ronstadt
from the album Mad Love
B-side	"Justine"
Released	March 1980 (1980-03)
Genre	Rock, new wave
Length	3:17
Label	Asylum Records
Songwriter(s)	Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein, Bobby Hart
Producer(s)	Peter Asher
Linda Ronstadt singles chronology
"How Do I Make You" (1980) "Hurt So Bad" (1980) "I Can't Let Go" (1980)

Background

Linda Ronstadt recorded a cover of "Hurt So Bad" for her Platinum-certified album, Mad Love, in 1980. Produced by Peter Asher on Asylum Records, it was released as the album's second single. Linda's version of the song featured a guitar solo by Danny Kortchmar. It stands as the most successful version ever recorded of the song, which peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Cash Box Top 100 chart in the spring of 1980.^[5] It was Ronstadt's final Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist.

Other versions

The song was covered by the following artists:

• The Lettermen, and Jackie DeShannon^[6]
• Ramsey Lewis, The Delfonics, David Cassidy, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Grant Green, Willie Bobo, Nancy Wilson, Anne Renée (fr) (rendered in French as "Ça Fait Mal"), Susan Rafey, Nancy Holloway, Alicia Keys, and others.