Peak
3
Weeks
21
Score
3,559
Chart Year
1978
Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, who were Tyler's managers, wrote this song. The team wrote and produced many of her songs in the '70s, including five of the cuts on the It's a Heartache album. Tyler released this song in November 1977 on RCA 5057. The country singer Juice Newton came out with her version on Capitol 4552 in April 1978; her version only reached #86, though it went gold in Mexico. Around this same time, Ronnie Spector (of the Ronettes) also recorded the song but her version went nowhere. Tyler's version proved the most successful, reaching #1 in Canada, France, Sweden, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil. Other artists who have covered this song include Dave & Sugar, Lorrie Morgan, Gene Pitney, Rod Stewart, and Trick Pony. >> 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. >>
It's a heartache 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 It's a heartache 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 Oh, it's a heartache 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 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 Oh, it's a heartache 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
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 25, 1978 | 78 | 48 |
| 2 | Apr 1, 1978 | 68 | 58 |
| 3 | Apr 8, 1978 | 56 | 70 |
| 4 | Apr 15, 1978 | 48 | 78 |
| 5 | Apr 22, 1978 | 38 | 88 |
| 6 | Apr 29, 1978 | 31 | 95 |
| 7 | May 6, 1978 | 25 | 101 |
| 8 | May 13, 1978 | 22 | 104 |
| 9 | May 20, 1978 | 20 | 106 |
| 10 | May 27, 1978 | 18 | 108 |
| 11 | Jun 3, 1978 | 15 | 111 |
| 12 | Jun 10, 1978 | 6 | 120 |
| 13 | Jun 17, 1978 | 4 | 122 |
| 14 | Jun 24, 1978 | 3 | 123 |
| 15 | Jul 1, 1978 | 3 | 123 |
| 16 | Jul 8, 1978 | 6 | 120 |
| 17 | Jul 15, 1978 | 9 | 117 |
| 18 | Jul 22, 1978 | 12 | 114 |
| 19 | Jul 29, 1978 | 19 | 107 |
| 20 | Aug 5, 1978 | 46 | 80 |