Peak
2
Weeks
27
Score
4,911
Chart Year
1981
Following an appearance on the 1980 Rodney Crowell album But What Will the Neighbors Think, on which composer DeVito played guitar, "Queen of Hearts" had its highest-profile rendition in a version by country-rock singer Juice Newton from the 1981 album Juice. Newton would later recall: "I did ['Queen of Hearts'] live for about a year...Then I brought it to [producer] Richard Landis when we started the Juice album. He wasn’t convinced at that point that it was a breakout song but I told him I think this is a real cool song … so we cut it."[1] Newton's own favorite cut on the Juice album,[2] "Queen of Hearts" was issued as the album's second single and would reach No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in September 1981, behind "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie. While still at No. 2, "Queen of Hearts" was certified Gold for domestic sales of one million units. "Queen of Hearts" also gave Newton her second huge international hit, with Top Ten chart positions in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and Switzerland, and more moderate success in Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands. Her recording of the song earned Newton a 1982 Grammy nomination for Best Female Vocalist, Country and Western category, "Queen of Hearts" having been a No. 14 country hit.[3] In June 2014, Newton's version of the song was ranked No. 92 by Rolling Stone on its list of the 100 greatest country songs of all time.[4] Newton re-recorded "Queen of Hearts" for her 1998 album The Trouble With Angels. In 1997, a live version by Dave Edmunds was released on his compilation album Rockin' . Juice Newton's first version of the song is featured in Oliver Stone's 1986 film Salvador and the 1997 film Boogie Nights. It also appears as source music in the first episode of The Americans, a 2013 television series set during the first Reagan administration. The song is also featured in the 1998 King of the Hill episode Hank's Dirty Laundry, the 2017 South Park episode "Splatty Tomato" and the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Midnight, and I'm a-waitin' on the twelve-oh-five Hopin' it'll take me just a little farther down the line Moonlight, you're just a heartache in disguise Won't you keep my heart from breakin' If it's only for a very short time? Playin' with the Queen of Hearts Knowin' it ain't really smart The Joker ain't the only fool Who'll do anythin' for you Layin' out another lie Thinkin' 'bout a life of crime 'Cause that's what I'll have to do To keep me away from you Honey, you know it makes you mad Why is everybody tellin' everybody what you have done? Baby, I know it makes you sad But when they're handin' out the heartaches You know you got to have you some Playin' with the Queen of Hearts Knowin' it ain't really smart The Joker ain't the only fool Who'll do anythin' for you Layin' out another lie Thinkin' 'bout a life of crime 'Cause that's what I'll have to do To keep me away from you Lovers, I know you've had a few But hide your heart beneath the covers And tell 'em they're the only one And others, they know just what I'm goin' through And it's a-hard to be a lover When you say you're only in it for fun Playin' with the Queen of Hearts Knowin' it ain't really smart The Joker ain't the only fool Who'll do anythin' for you Playin' with the Queen of Hearts And knowin' it ain't really smart The Joker ain't the only fool Who'll do anythin' for you Layin' out another lie Thinkin' 'bout a life of crime 'Cause that's what I'll have to do To keep me away from you Playin' with the Queen of Hearts Playin' with the Queen of Hearts Playin' with the Queen of Hearts Playin' with the Queen of Hearts
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 30, 1981 | 76 | 50 |
| 2 | Jun 6, 1981 | 64 | 62 |
| 3 | Jun 13, 1981 | 43 | 83 |
| 4 | Jun 20, 1981 | 33 | 93 |
| 5 | Jun 27, 1981 | 26 | 100 |
| 6 | Jul 4, 1981 | 23 | 103 |
| 7 | Jul 11, 1981 | 21 | 105 |
| 8 | Jul 18, 1981 | 16 | 110 |
| 9 | Jul 25, 1981 | 14 | 112 |
| 10 | Aug 1, 1981 | 10 | 116 |
| 11 | Aug 8, 1981 | 9 | 117 |
| 12 | Aug 15, 1981 | 9 | 117 |
| 13 | Aug 22, 1981 | 8 | 118 |
| 14 | Aug 29, 1981 | 6 | 120 |
| 15 | Sep 5, 1981 | 6 | 120 |
| 16 | Sep 12, 1981 | 6 | 120 |
| 17 | Sep 19, 1981 | 2 | 124 |
| 18 | Sep 26, 1981 | 2 | 124 |
| 19 | Oct 3, 1981 | 6 | 120 |
| 20 | Oct 10, 1981 | 14 | 112 |