It's a Heartache (1978) 8/24/20

1978 brought us the “Battle of the Heartaches,” with Ronnie Spector (of the '60s group, the Ronettes), Juice Newton and Bonnie Tyler fighting it out for chart dominance with a tune that became a “Great Song of the '70s!”

Bonnie won the war with her version of “It's a Heartache,” but it wasn't easy. RCA records was reluctant to release the song because they were too busy re-releasing and promoting posthumous Elvis tracks and didn't feel the song was worth the trouble. (Once again, a record company ALMOST deprives the world of a “Great Song!”)

Finally, after Songwriters Ronnie Scott, Steve Wolf and Producer David MacKay threatened to sue RCA for breach of contract, Bonnie's record was released in the US with zero fanfare, the SAME WEEK Ronnie's version was released by Alston records and Juice's was released by Capitol!

Billboard Magazine diplomatically suggested that all 3 were “Great Songs,” but in the end, Ronnie didn't chart and Juice ran out (of juice!) at #86 on the Hot 100.

But Bonnie's scratchy vocals (recorded after throat surgery to remove nodes) ruled the day, going Top 10 in 13 countries... including #1 in Australia, Norway, Sweden and Canada! In the US, it was a hit on 3 Billboard Charts: #3 on the Hot #100, and #10 on both the Adult Contemporary and Country Charts!

Over the years, the song has been covered quite a few times, most notably by Rod Stewart (which makes sense vocally), and by the group Dave & Sugar, who had a minor country hit with it (#32) in 1981.

But there's no question about it: the “Great Song of the '70s” winner in the “Battle of the Heartaches” was

Bonnie Tyler!

For comparison, Here's Juice Newton:

And here's Ronnie Spector: