I Know a Heartache When I See One

"I Know a Heartache When I See One" is a song by Jennifer Warnes from her fifth LP, Shot Through the Heart. It was the first of three charting singles from the album.

"I Know a Heartache When I See One"
Single by Jennifer Warnes
from the album Shot Through the Heart
B-side	"Frankie in the Rain"
Released	June 1979
Genre	Pop, country
Length	3:24
Label	Arista
Songwriter(s)	Rory Bourke, Kerry Chater, Charlie Black
Producer(s)	Rob Fraboni
Jennifer Warnes singles chronology
"I'm Dreaming" (1977) "I Know a Heartache When I See One" (1979) "Don't Make Me Over" (1979)

The song peaked at #19 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[1] and #14 on the Adult Contemporary chart.^[2] It was also a modest hit in Canada (#46).

"I Know a Heartache When I See One" did best on the Country and Western charts, reaching #10 in the U.S.^[3] and #12 in Canada.^[4] It became Arista Records' lone C&W top ten hit prior to 1990.

Chart history

Chart (1979)	Peak position
Canada RPM Top Singles	46
Canada RPM Country[5]	12
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[6]	19
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs[7]	10
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary[8]	14
U.S. Cash Box Top 100[9]	21

Cover versions

• Canadian country singer Lisa Brokop recorded a cover for her 1996 album Lisa Brokop.
• Country singer Jo Dee Messina recorded her own version of the song for her 1998 album I'm Alright.