"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" | ||||
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Single by Neil Sedaka | ||||
from the album Neil Sedaka Sings His Greatest Hits | ||||
B-side | "As Long as I Live" | |||
Released | June 1962 | |||
Genre | Brill Building, doo-wop | |||
Length | 2:18 | |||
Label | RCA Victor | |||
Songwriter(s) | Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield | |||
Neil Sedaka singles chronology | ||||
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"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" is a song recorded by Neil Sedaka, co-written by Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. Sedaka recorded this song twice, in 1962 and 1975, in two significantly different arrangements, and it is considered to be his signature song. [1] Between 1970 and 1975, it was a top-40 hit three separate times for three separate artists: Lenny Welch, The Partridge Family and Sedaka's second version. The song was also adapted into multiple languages, most notably in Italian and French.
In his daily mini-concert on June 12, 2020, Sedaka recalled that the song's iconic scat intro ("come-a come-a down, dooby doo down down") was a result of him and Greenfield being unable to come up with a lyric for that section of the song and Sedaka improvising a vocalise, which they liked so much that they kept it in the finished product. [2]
Described by AllMusic as "two minutes and sixteen seconds of pure pop magic," [1] "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" hit No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 11, 1962, and peaked at No.12 on the Hot R&B Sides chart. [3] The single was a solid hit all over the world, reaching No. 7 in the UK, sometimes with the text translated into foreign languages. For example, the Italian version was called "Tu non lo sai" ("You Don't Know") and was recorded by Sedaka himself.
On this version, background vocals on the song are performed by the female group the Cookies.
The personnel on the original recording session included: Al Casamenti, Art Ryerson, and Charles Macy on guitar; Ernie Hayes on piano; George Duvivier on bass; Gary Chester on drums; Artie Kaplan on saxophone; George Devens and Phil Kraus on percussion; Seymour Barab and Morris Stonzek on cellos; and David Gulliet, Joseph H. Haber, Harry Kohon, David Sackson, and Louis Stone on violins.
"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" | ||||
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Single by the Happenings | ||||
from the album The Happenings Golden Hits | ||||
B-side | "Anyway" | |||
Released | June 1968 | |||
Recorded | 1968 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 2:20 | |||
Label | B.T. Puppy | |||
Songwriter(s) | Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield | |||
The Happenings singles chronology | ||||
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In 1968, American sunshine pop and cover band The Happenings covered the song for their 1968 album, "The Happenings Golden Hits", in which the cover was a minor hit. Released in June 1968 on B.T. Puppy Records, the song reached Number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Number 56 on the Canadian RPM charts. [11] [12]
"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" | ||||
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Single by Lenny Welch | ||||
B-side | "Get Mommy To Come Back Home" | |||
Released | January 1970 | |||
Recorded | 1969 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 2:20 | |||
Label | CUR | |||
Songwriter(s) | Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield | |||
Lenny Welch singles chronology | ||||
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Though it was originally an uptempo song, Lenny Welch (best known for his 1963 hit version of "Since I Fell for You") re-recorded the song, reimagined as a torch ballad. Welch had approached Sedaka to see if he had any songs in his repertoire that fit Welch's style; as most of the songs Sedaka had written with his usual partner Howard Greenfield were upbeat pop songs, he did not, but playing around on the piano, he discovered "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" worked well as a slow ballad, so he wrote a new introduction and offered it to Welch. [13] It peaked at #34 on the US Billboard charts and #8 on the easy listening chart in January 1970. [14] It was Welch's third and final top-40 pop hit, and his first since 1964.
"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" | ||||
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Single by Neil Sedaka | ||||
from the album Overnight Success (UK) The Hungry Years (US) | ||||
B-side |
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Released | December 1975 | |||
Genre | Soft rock [15] | |||
Length | 3:14 | |||
Label | Rocket (US); Polydor (Int'l) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield | |||
Producer(s) | Neil Sedaka, Robert Appere | |||
Neil Sedaka singles chronology | ||||
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Five years after Welch's successful cover, Sedaka, in the midst of a comeback in his native United States after several years in career decline and a detour through the United Kingdom, re-recorded his signature song in the same style that Welch used. The song begins with the first few bars of Sedaka's 1962 recording, before fading and segueing into the slow version. Sedaka's slow version peaked at No.8 in February 1976 and went to No.1 on the Easy Listening chart. [16] It was one of only a few times an artist made the Billboard Top Ten with two different versions of the same song. [17] Sedaka has credited Welch's song "Since I Fell for You" as well as The Showmen and Dinah Washington as his inspiration for the new rendition.
Chart (1975–1976) | Peak position |
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Australia KMR [18] | 48 |
Canada RPM Top Singles [19] | 1 |
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary [20] | 1 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [21] | 8 |
US Billboard Adult Contemporary | 1 |
US Cash Box Top 100 | 7 |
Chart (1976) | Rank |
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Canada RPM Top Singles [22] | 30 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [23] | 91 |
US Billboard Easy Listening [24] | 18 |
US Cash Box [25] | 75 |
"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" | ||||
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Single by The Partridge Family | ||||
from the album At Home with Their Greatest Hits | ||||
B-side | "I'm Here, You're Here" | |||
Released | June 1972 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Label | Bell | |||
Songwriter(s) | Neil Sedaka | |||
Producer(s) | Wes Farrell | |||
The Partridge Family singles chronology | ||||
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Apart from Sedaka's own reworking of the song, by far the most successful cover of "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" was done by the Partridge Family in 1972. While only a medium hit in North America, their version reached No.3 in both the UK and Australia. Their version was never released in stereo until the 2013 Bell/Legacy release, "Playlist: The Very Best of the Partridge Family".
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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"Moi je pense encore à toi" | ||||
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Single by Claude François | ||||
from the album Dis-lui | ||||
Language | French | |||
English title | I Still Think of You | |||
Released | October 1962 | |||
Recorded | Summer–fall 1962 | |||
Genre | Chanson, yé-yé, rock and roll | |||
Length | 2:20 | |||
Label | Fontana | |||
Songwriter(s) | Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield, André Salvet, Georges Aber | |||
Claude François singles chronology | ||||
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"Moi je pense encore à toi" | ||||
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Single by Sylvie Vartan | ||||
from the album Sylvie | ||||
B-side | "M'amuser" | |||
Released | November 1962 | |||
Recorded | Late 1962 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 2:18 | |||
Label | RCA Victor | |||
Songwriter(s) | Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield, André Salvet, Georges Aber | |||
Sylvie Vartan singles chronology | ||||
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"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" was adapted into French in late 1962 by André Salvet and Georges Aber as "Moi je pense encore à toi" (meaning "I Still Think of You"). The French adaption was first recorded and released by singer Claude François in October 1962 but failed to chart, however, one month later, a cover by French singer Sylvie Vartan would follow and would reach Number 12 on the French Belgian charts in early December 1962 and would be later featured on Vartan's debut album, Sylvie , around the same time. [36]
Neil Sedaka is an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Since his music career began in 1957, he has sold millions of records worldwide and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard "Howie" Greenfield and Phil Cody.
"Baby It's You" is a song written by Burt Bacharach (music), Luther Dixon, and Mack David (lyrics). It was recorded by the Shirelles and the Beatles and was a hit for both. The highest-charting version of "Baby It's You" was by the band Smith, who took the track to No.5 on the US charts in 1969.
"Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" is a pop song released in 1961 by Neil Sedaka. Sedaka wrote the music and performed the song, while the lyrics were written by Howard Greenfield. The song is noted for being similar in musical structure to Take Good Care of My Baby by Bobby Vee, and additionally for its resemblance to the melody of the Chiffons' subsequent 1963 hit "One Fine Day". Both of these songs exhibiting similarity to "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" were penned by the team of Carole King and Gerry Goffin. The song reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Laughter in the Rain" is a song composed and recorded by Neil Sedaka, with lyrics by Phil Cody. It includes a 20-second saxophone solo by Jim Horn. The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1975.
"Rhythm of the Rain" is a song performed by The Cascades, released in November 1962 in the US and on January 25, 1963 in the UK. It was written by Cascades band member John Claude Gummoe. On March 9, 1963, it rose to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and spent two weeks at number 1 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart. Billboard ranked the record as the number 4 song of 1963.
"Love Will Keep Us Together" is a song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. It was first recorded by Sedaka in 1973. The brother-sister duo Mac and Katie Kissoon also recorded a version in 1973. American pop duo Captain & Tennille covered it in 1975, with instrumental backing almost entirely by “Captain” Daryl Dragon, with the exception of drums played by Hal Blaine; their version became a worldwide hit.
"Bad Blood" is a popular song written by Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody. The song, with uncredited backing vocals by Elton John, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975, remaining at the top position for three weeks. It was certified Gold by the RIAA and was the most successful individual commercial release in Sedaka's career. "Bad Blood" was replaced at the number one spot by John's single "Island Girl".
"Since I Fell for You" is a blues ballad composed by Buddy Johnson in 1945 that was first popularized by his sister, Ella Johnson, with Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra.
"Lonely Night (Angel Face)" is a song written by Neil Sedaka. The song was first recorded by Sedaka and appeared as a track on his 1975 studio album, The Hungry Years. The following year the song was made popular when covered by the pop music duo Captain & Tennille, who took their version to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Love or Let Me Be Lonely" is a pop song recorded by the soul group The Friends of Distinction and released as a single in early 1970. The song was a multi-format success, peaking in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at #6 on May 1, 1970 and at #13 on the R&B chart. On the Adult Contemporary singles charts, "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" went to #9. The song is ranked as the 63rd biggest hit of 1970.
I Don't Remember Ever Growing Up is the forty-third and final studio album by American pop singer Andy Williams, released in the UK by the Demon Music Group in 2007. In the liner notes of the album Williams writes, "Over the past few years I have come across songs that I really wanted to record. I picked 13 of my favorites and set out to make a new record." While the title track is the only new song, the other 12 selections were chart hits for other artists or, as is the case with "Desperado" by the Eagles, received critical acclaim without having been released as a single.
"Next Door to an Angel" is a rock and pop song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield and recorded by Neil Sedaka in 1962. It was issued by RCA Victor Records. It reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1962. "Next Door to an Angel" also went to No. 19 on the Hot R&B Singles chart. It was Sedaka's last appearance on the American Top 10 until "Laughter in the Rain" in late 1974.
"It Hurts to Be in Love" is a song written by Howard Greenfield and Helen Miller which was a Top Ten hit in 1964 for Gene Pitney. It was one in a long line of successful "Brill Building Sound" hits created by composers and arrangers working in New York City's Brill Building at 1619 Broadway.
I Only Have Eyes for You is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on May 10, 1976, by Columbia Records and included two new songs, "Yellow Roses on Her Gown" and "Ooh What We Do", which was written specifically for him, as well as a contemporary arrangement of the 1934 title track that foreshadowed his recordings of standards that incorporated a disco beat a few years later.
"I Can't Stay Mad at You" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was originally recorded by American country artist Skeeter Davis, becoming her second top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. "I Can't Stay Mad at You" followed on the popular success of Davis' earlier 1963 crossover hit "The End of the World". The song was one of the first Goffin-King compositions to be recorded by a country music performer.
"Workin' On a Groovy Thing" is a song written by Neil Sedaka and Roger Atkins which had its highest profile as a 1969 hit single by the 5th Dimension.
"Love in the Shadows" is an uptempo pop song co-written and recorded by Neil Sedaka. The song became an international Top 20 hit in 1976.
"Our Last Song Together" is a 1973 song recorded by Neil Sedaka. It is a track from his LP The Tra-La Days Are Over, and was the third of four single releases from the album.
"Puppet Man" is a song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. It was originally recorded by Sedaka on his 1969 Workin' on a Groovy Thing LP. The first hit version was by The Fifth Dimension in 1970. The following year it was also a hit for Tom Jones.
"Summer Symphony" is a song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. It was arranged by John Farrar and produced by Pat Aulton. The song was used on the album Sounds Of Sedaka, a UK issue of the 1969 album, Workin' On A Groovy Thing recorded for Festival Records of Australia.
...Sedaka would record one more crossover success — a chintzy soft-rock ballad version of his original 1962 smash "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do".