Livin' with a Heartache

"Livin' with a Heartache" is a song written by Carl Wilson and Randy Bachman for the American rock band the Beach Boys, one of two collaborations between the two writers.^[1] It was recorded from August 27–29 at Bachman's home studio known as "The Barn" in Lynden, Washington with two further sessions at Rumbo Studios in November and December 1979.^[2] "Livin' with a Heartache" was released on the Beach Boys' 1980 album Keepin' the Summer Alive and was subsequently released with a truncated 3:05 mix as a single backed with "Santa Ana Winds" which failed to chart in the US.

"Livin' with a Heartache"
Single by The Beach Boys
from the album Keepin' the Summer Alive
B-side	"Santa Ana Winds"
Released	May 21, 1980
Recorded	August–December 1979
Genre	Pop, country
Length	3:05 (single) 4:06 (album)
Label	Caribou Records
Songwriters	Carl Wilson, Randy Bachman
Producer	Bruce Johnston
The Beach Boys singles chronology
"Goin' On" (1980) "Livin' with a Heartache" (1980) "The Beach Boys Medley" (1981)

Record World called it a "gem" and said that the "melody & hook are perfect."^[3]

Performers

Adapted from 2000 liner notes^[4] and Craig Slowinski.^[5]

Livin’ with a Heartache

The Beach Boys

• Carl Wilson – lead vocals, guitar, Yamaha electric piano, uncredited producer
• Bruce Johnston – harmony and backing vocals, producer

Additional musicians and production staff

• Terry Melcher, Curt Boettcher, Jon Joyce – harmony and backing vocals
• Billy Joe Walker, Jr. – lead and acoustic guitars
• Bryan Garofalo – bass
• John Hobbs – tack piano
• Gary Mallaber – drums
• Steve Forman – percussion
• Steve Desper – engineer, mixing

Santa Ana Winds

The Beach Boys

• Brian Wilson – harmony and backing vocals, producer
• Carl Wilson – harmony and backing vocals, additional lead vocals
• Al Jardine – lead vocals, harmony and backing vocals, acoustic guitars, spoken word introduction, producer
• Mike Love – harmony and backing vocals, additional lead vocals
• Bruce Johnston – harmony and backing vocals, producer

Additional musicians

• Lyle Ritz – double bass
• Steve Forman – brushed snare drum and timpani
• Tommy Morgan – harmonica
• Igor Horoshevsky, Raymond Kelley – cellos
• James Getzoff, Murray Adler, Bonnie Douglas, Paul Shure, Alfred Breuning, Marshall Sosson, Endre Granat, Spiro Stamos – violins
• Harry Hyams, Samuel Boghossian – violas
• Harry Betts – string arrangements
• Steve Desper – chief engineer, mixing
• Chuck Leary – engineer
• Chuck Britz – engineer