It Hit Me Like a Hammer

Last updated
"It Hit Me Like a Hammer"
Hlnhammer.jpg
Single by Huey Lewis and the News
from the album Hard at Play
B-side "Do You Love Me, or What?"
Released1991
Length4:01
Label EMI USA
Songwriter(s)
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)

"It Hit Me Like a Hammer" is a song by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News, released as the second single from their sixth album, Hard at Play , in 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.

Contents

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

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United States1991Cassette EMI USA
JapanSeptember 20, 1991Mini-CD [15]

Related Research Articles

<i>Hard at Play</i> 1991 studio album by Huey Lewis and the News

Hard at Play is the sixth album by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News. It was released in 1991 on EMI for most of the world and Chrysalis in the UK. Hard at Play peaked at number 27 on the Billboard 200 pop albums chart and produced two top 40 singles, "Couple Days Off" and "It Hit Me Like a Hammer." Music videos were released for "It Hit Me like a Hammer," "Couple Days Off," and "He Don't Know."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mickey (Toni Basil song)</span> 1981 song performed by Toni Basil

"Mickey" is a song recorded by American singer and choreographer Toni Basil for her debut studio album, Word of Mouth (1981). It was first recorded by the pop group Racey. Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn wrote the song, while production was helmed by Greg Mathieson and Trevor Veitch. Basil's version is new wave, featuring guitar, synthesizers and cheerleading chants. It garnered a mixed response from music critics, with some critics praising the radio-friendly nature of the song, while others described some of the lyrics as obscene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric Blue (Icehouse song)</span> 1987 Australian pop rock song

"Electric Blue" is a song by Australian rock band Icehouse. It was co-written by Iva Davies of Icehouse and John Oates of US band Hall & Oates. Oates became involved with Davies after contacting him to state he was a fan. The resulting collaboration produced this song and Oates has stated that if Davies had not released the song under the Icehouse name, then it would have been a Hall & Oates track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Woman</span> 1997 single by White Town

"Your Woman" is a song by British music producer White Town. It was released in January 1997 as the lead single from the album Women in Technology. It features a muted trumpet line taken from a 1932 recording of "My Woman" by Lew Stone and his Monseigneur Band. The song peaked at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and also topped the charts of Iceland, Israel and Spain. It peaked within the top 10 of the charts in 12 other countries and reached No. 23 in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordinary World (song)</span> 1992 single by Duran Duran

"Ordinary World" is a song by English rock band Duran Duran, released in December 1992 as the first single from their self-titled album (1993), commonly known as the Wedding Album. The ballad reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Top 40/Mainstream chart, the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, and the Italian Singles Chart. It also peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 2 in Iceland and Sweden, and No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rooms on Fire</span> 1989 single by Stevie Nicks

"Rooms on Fire" is a song by American singer and songwriter Stevie Nicks from her fourth solo studio album The Other Side of the Mirror (1989). Written by Nicks and Rick Nowels, and produced by Rupert Hine, the song was released on April 24, 1989, by the Modern label, as the lead single from The Other Side of the Mirror. The 12-inch single was released in a limited-edition poster sleeve in certain territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spending My Time</span> 1991 song by Roxette

"Spending My Time" is a song by Swedish duo Roxette, released as the fourth single from their third studio album, Joyride (1991). It was written by Per Gessle and Mats Persson, and produced by Clarence Öfwerman. The single attained moderate success, reaching the top ten in Germany and Italy, and the top twenty in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland, while peaking at number twenty-two on the UK Singles Chart and thirty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of Your Heart</span> 1992 song by Roxette

"Church of Your Heart" is the fifth and final single taken from Swedish pop duo Roxette's third studio album, Joyride (1991). Written by Per Gessle, the song was a top-20 hit in Canada, where it peaked at number 11, and charted throughout Europe, entering the top 40 in several countries. "I Call Your Name" – originally released as a single from their 1986 debut album Pearls of Passion – appeared as the B-side. On UK editions of the single, the song was backed by an exclusive megamix consisting of a medley of "It Must Have Been Love", "Listen to Your Heart", "The Look", "Joyride" and "Fading Like a Flower ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King of Wishful Thinking</span> 1990 single by Go West

"King of Wishful Thinking" is a song by British pop duo Go West, written by Peter Cox, Richard Drummie and Martin Page. It was featured in the film Pretty Woman and appeared on its soundtrack. It was later featured on Go West's third studio album, Indian Summer, in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domino Dancing</span> 1988 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Domino Dancing" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released in September 1988 by Parlophone as the lead single from their third studio album, Introspective (1988). The song reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart and topped the charts in Finland and Spain. Its music video was directed by Eric Watson and filmed in Puerto Rico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rubberband Girl</span> 1993 single by Kate Bush

"Rubberband Girl" is a song by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush that was the first of five singles released from her seventh studio album, The Red Shoes (1993). The song marked Bush's return from her third three-year hiatus. Not counting "Rocket Man", this was her first UK release in 39 months.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When You Tell Me That You Love Me</span> 1991 single by Diana Ross

"When You Tell Me That You Love Me" is a song by American singer Diana Ross, released on August 20, 1991 as the lead single from her nineteenth studio album, The Force Behind the Power (1991). The song was released on the Motown label in the United States and by EMI Records in the United Kingdom. It was written by Albert Hammond and John Bettis, and produced by Peter Asher. A sentimental ballad, it became the album's biggest hit, peaking at number 37 on the US Billboard R&B singles chart and number two on the UK Singles Chart. Ross considers it one of her signature songs and it was subsequently covered by various artists. The UK release of "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" included her 1985 hit "Chain Reaction".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuck with You</span> 1986 by Huey Lewis and the News

"Stuck with You" is a song by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News, written by guitarist Chris Hayes and lead singer Huey Lewis. Released in 1986, it was the first single from the band's fourth album, Fore!. The song spent three weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's second number-one hit on the chart. Internationally, the song became the band's second top-20 hit in the United Kingdom, reaching number 12 on the UK Singles Chart, and peaked within the top 10 in Australia, Canada, Iceland, South Africa, and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rush Hour (Jane Wiedlin song)</span> 1988 single by Jane Wiedlin

"Rush Hour" is a song by American musician Jane Wiedlin, taken from her second album, Fur (1988). It was backed by the album track "End of Love". The UK 12-inch single of "Rush Hour" includes an extended remix by Rusty Garner and an instrumental version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Living in a Box (song)</span> 1987 single by Living in a Box

"Living in a Box" is a song by the British band of the same name, released on 23 March 1987 as their first single from their self-titled debut album. It was the group's biggest hit single along with "Room in Your Heart" (1989), reaching No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. "Living in a Box" became the group's only top-40 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was later covered by Bobby Womack; his version reached No. 70 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay (Glenn Jones song)</span> 1993 single by Eternal

"Stay" is a song written by Bob Khozouri and Mark Stevens, originally recorded by American singer Glenn Jones and released in 1990. It reached number six on the US Billboard Hot Black Singles chart. The song became a worldwide hit for British girl group Eternal in 1993 and 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Couple Days Off</span> 1991 single by Huey Lewis and the News

"Couple Days Off" is a song performed by Huey Lewis and the News and released as a single from the album Hard at Play in 1991. The single peaked at No. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, and it reached the top 40 on the charts of Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. "Couple Days Off" was the band's final top-20 single on the Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Fired Up (Rattling Sabres song)</span> 1987 single by the Rattling Sabres

"All Fired Up" is a song written by Kerryn Tolhurst and first performed and released by Australian country rock group Rattling Sabres in 1987. It charted nationally, peaking at number 94 on the Australian Music Report. The following year, American singer-songwriter Pat Benatar recorded a version that became a chart hit in several countries, including Australia, where it reached number two on the ARIA Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faithful (Go West song)</span> 1992 single by Go West

"Faithful" is a song by English pop duo Go West. The song is the opening track on the band's fourth album, Indian Summer (1992), and served as the album's lead single. Written by the band and Martin Page and produced by Peter Wolf, the song reached the top 20 in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Its highest chart position was in Canada, where it peaked at number two in February 1993. It also reached number three on the adult contemporary charts of both Canada and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wild Women Do</span> 1990 single by Natalie Cole

"Wild Women Do" is a song by American singer-songwriter Natalie Cole. The song was written by Greg Prestopino, Sam Lorber, and Matthew Wilder for the 1990 romantic comedy film Pretty Woman and was included on the film's soundtrack as the opening track. The song contains influences from pop, rock, R&B, and soul music, and its lyrics describe an independent woman who lives a wild life. In 1990, the song was also included on certain re-issues of Cole's 1989 album Good to Be Back.

References

  1. Hard at Play (Media notes). Huey Lewis and the News. EMI Records. 1991. 93355.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. It Hit Me Like a Hammer (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Huey Lewis and the News. EMI USA. 1991. 006 20 4402 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. It Hit Me Like a Hammer (US cassette single sleeve). Huey Lewis and the News. EMI USA. 1991. 4KM-50364.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. It Hit Me Like a Hammer (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Huey Lewis and the News. Chrysalis Records. 1991. HUEYX14, 3237496.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. It Hit Me Like a Hammer (UK CD single liner notes). Huey Lewis and the News. Chrysalis Records. 1991. HUEYCD 14, 3237492.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. It Hit Me Like a Hammer (Japanese mini-album liner notes). Huey Lewis and the News. EMI USA. 1991. TODP-2321.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing August 26, 1991" . Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  8. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1630." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  9. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1613." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  10. "Huey Lewis and the News – It Hit Me Like a Hammer" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  11. "Huey Lewis the News Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  12. "Huey Lewis the News Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  13. "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM . Retrieved November 23, 2017 via Library and Archives Canada.
  14. "RPM 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1991". RPM. Retrieved April 29, 2020 via Library and Archives Canada.
  15. "ヒット・ミー・ライク・ア・ハマー | ヒューイ・ルイス&ザ・ニュース" [Hit Me Like a Hammer | Huey Lewis & the News] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved January 26, 2024.