It Hit Me Like a Hammer

"It Hit Me Like a Hammer" is a song by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News, released in 1991 by EMI USA as the second single from their sixth album, Hard at Play (1991). The song was co-written by band leader Huey Lewis and songwriter/producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange.^[1] The song peaked at No. 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming their final top-40 hit in the US, and No. 9 on Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. The single release contains a remix of the song with a saxophone solo that did not appear on the album.

"It Hit Me Like a Hammer"
Single by Huey Lewis and the News
from the album Hard at Play
B-side	"Do You Love Me, or What?"
Released	1991
Length	4:01
Label	EMI USA
Songwriter(s)	Robert John "Mutt" Lange Huey Lewis
Producer(s)	Bill Schnee Huey Lewis and the News
Huey Lewis and the News singles chronology
"Couple Days Off" (1991) "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" (1991) "He Don't Know" (1991)

Track listings

• 7-inch and cassette single^[2][3]

A. "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" – 4:01

B. "Do You Love Me, or What?" – 3:46

• 12-inch and CD single^[4][5]

1. "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" (remix sax solo version) – 4:02
2. "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" – 4:01
3. "Do You Love Me, or What?" – 3:46

• Japanese mini-album^[6]

1. "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" (single remix)
2. "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" (album version)
3. "Do You Love Me, or What?"

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1991) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[7] 106 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] 9 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[9] 8 Europe (European Hit Radio)[10] 7 Germany (GfK)[11] 51 Spain (Top 40 Radio)[12] 12 US Billboard Hot 100[13] 21 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[14] 10

Year-end charts Chart (1991) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15] 77 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[16] 70 Europe (European Hit Radio)[17] 66

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	1991	Cassette	EMI USA
Japan	September 20, 1991	Mini-CD		[18]