Only Gene and Billy Joe Royal, with the first version of "Hush", embraced the lost art of "wall of noise" in 1969. Such thrilling theatrical songs, like I'd only get from "flashback" time, as a kid. It was the folk rock era that Simon and Garfunkel were ushering in, boring the hell out of me.
Take that suit off and put him in causal clothes and let him move. If you saw Gene do Italian songs you would see a different Gene. The voice was always superb but when you see him sing in Europe it's a whole different ballgame. He let loose.
Love this song and remember dancing to it at school dances. Not sure but I think this is the last one that made the charts in the States. Gene took his talent and went to Europe and they loved him just like we did. The man is LEGEND.
This song was a departure for Gene who, heretofore, had sang one teenage,lost love lament after another. After some six or seven years on the American charts there was, rather suddenly, no more Gene Pitney on the Top 40 radio stations. For those us us who were teens at that time Gene Pitney was a regular on the radio and had a slew of great hits. My opinion is that he and Jay Black of Jay and the Americans had the two best voices in the youth market. May he rest in peace.
spaceweed69:between him and Paul Anka they were the best of the time. i grew up with them both. and when i play their songs i go back in history to when i was just understanding what music was all about.
Wow! Mr. Gene Pitney really did make an awesome tune with this one, I have to say!
Great tune, and great lyrics, as well.
I need to tell y'all, that the first time I heard this recording, I thought it was a black artist, maybe Motown, but I didn't know.
When I found out it was Gene Pitney, I was both surprised and amazed! I guess I'll always like music from the 60's and 70's, and Mr. Pitney was one of the GREATS!
i was ten years old when this record came out and my aunt bought me the 45. i loved this song then and i love it just as much today. one of the truly overlooked classics of that time period
I agree. Maybe after singing all those years he lost his real voice. This was his last hit, topping out at #16 on the Billboards Charts in June of 1968.
Jerry 'Swamp Dogg' Williams produced this song...it was his idea to take Gene out of his usual mode and into more of an R&B style, reasoning that if you haven't had a hit in three years, you need to do something drastic. Despite the song's success, Musicor Records fired Swamp from his position with the company, and he went on his way to becoming a soul cult hero...Gene never had another hit, at least not in the States.
No he didnt loode his voice! as he made way more albums from 1968, For a start he had hits every decade (1960s-1990's) in the british charts (which no other American artist has achieved this- in the british charts). Most artists around that time were told to mime on tv shows as it was much cheaper and it was guaranteed to be a sucsessful promotion. If you thought he lost his voice check out his album known as 'Blue Angel', and 'Pitney 76' (recorded in 1976) and pitney 'ten years later.
If this tune sounds familiar , well check out Prince's 'Kiss'. You will only hear it by Tom Jones. Prince checked out of YOU TUBE. Take a good listen while slowing the song down in your head. Prince likes to borrow tunes it seems.
Great voice, classic singer. This video is really bizarre, it looks like he`s sitting there reporting the news, not belting out a rockin song. Kinda looks like Steve Carrell.
Great comments everyone. Truly one of THEE greatest voices of ALL time. This is also one of my favorite Gene Pitney songs, there were so many that he had that it's hard to pick. Too bad alot of young people will never get to enjoy his great songs cuz there aren't too many radio stations out there playing them. Really sad when you think about it. Thanx for post!!!
I was 6 years old and my favorite song was "She's a Heartbreaker." I literally wore out the 45rpm record my parents bought me. I still have that record to this day, but it's barely playable. I still remember what first attracted me to this song at such a young age. It was mostly Gene's voice, the little "hooks" composed of guitar and string instruments, and my little sister would giggle every time he sang "the devil on wheels"! Archie Bell and the Drells was my other favorite at that time also.
I nearly could have written this! Although I was 14 when Heartbreaker hit the airwaves. I love everything about this song. I'm now a 54 year old granny with shaky knees, but let me hear this song and I'm dancing.
Although I've been a fan of 60's music, and I remember this song, while growing up, I didn't know Gene was white! What a soulful performance. This man is a true 'All-Time-Great'. I can relate to a 'Heartbreaker'!
I agree! When I started collecting records (in the 70's) and realized this was the same Gene Pitney who did "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence" I couldn't believe it!!
@Brent441 On the lyrics......" I need a heartbreaker on my body's goal" look at his grin when he sings... and 2nd....when we're out on a date a none of it shows
@danasteve524 Thanks for laying this tune on Youtube for all to see. Gene was the real deal and this song was the very best, what ever the words. I can't believe no one ever covered this song......thanks again
YES I love it !
harphan 4 months ago
Only Gene and Billy Joe Royal, with the first version of "Hush", embraced the lost art of "wall of noise" in 1969. Such thrilling theatrical songs, like I'd only get from "flashback" time, as a kid. It was the folk rock era that Simon and Garfunkel were ushering in, boring the hell out of me.
gorgonique 4 months ago
love his strut!
saffron1031 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I love him..he was so * jung * .. ( like me ) )ich bin über 40 Jahre verheiratet..und mag* Ihn *immer *and forever
Labbiohr 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I love him..he was so * jung *
Labbiohr 5 months ago
exxelente cancion de gene
leopili100 7 months ago
And you can tell she's a heartbreaker too
MGattorney 10 months ago
so sexy :D :D :D
lonnalonna 11 months ago
Quelle voix ! On dirait un noir. I like it . Trop BON !
Charlie200971 11 months ago
Take that suit off and put him in causal clothes and let him move. If you saw Gene do Italian songs you would see a different Gene. The voice was always superb but when you see him sing in Europe it's a whole different ballgame. He let loose.
Tonithenightowl 1 year ago
OMG, that smile from him!! My Man, sure was a heartbreaker,dynamite!!
Reddirtgirl55Again 1 year ago
Gene was one who could write and sing anything,had that great voice until the day the music died
JJMFB1 1 year ago
@JJMFB1 Yes, he could.. This song brought him back to the North American market... Gene P is rather cool...
shmuli9 1 year ago
My Man was dynamite!!! Miss you Gene. :((
TheLovelyladylover 1 year ago
They glued him to that seat!
itsabomberscope 1 year ago 3
Love this song and remember dancing to it at school dances. Not sure but I think this is the last one that made the charts in the States. Gene took his talent and went to Europe and they loved him just like we did. The man is LEGEND.
Tonithenightowl 1 year ago 3
This song was a departure for Gene who, heretofore, had sang one teenage,lost love lament after another. After some six or seven years on the American charts there was, rather suddenly, no more Gene Pitney on the Top 40 radio stations. For those us us who were teens at that time Gene Pitney was a regular on the radio and had a slew of great hits. My opinion is that he and Jay Black of Jay and the Americans had the two best voices in the youth market. May he rest in peace.
Purrturbed 1 year ago 2
At first i thought this was one of Lou Christie's songs becuase of the falsetto. I was surprised to find out this was from Gene Pitney.
bluecatky 1 year ago
spaceweed69:between him and Paul Anka they were the best of the time. i grew up with them both. and when i play their songs i go back in history to when i was just understanding what music was all about.
spaceweed69 1 year ago
LOVE him!
donnalethal 1 year ago 5
Funky!!! Why Gene didn't sing more songs like this I have no idea.
My favorite of all his great tunes.
gripedwards 1 year ago
Thanx for posting, Mr. Brent441 !
Wow! Mr. Gene Pitney really did make an awesome tune with this one, I have to say!
Great tune, and great lyrics, as well.
I need to tell y'all, that the first time I heard this recording, I thought it was a black artist, maybe Motown, but I didn't know.
When I found out it was Gene Pitney, I was both surprised and amazed! I guess I'll always like music from the 60's and 70's, and Mr. Pitney was one of the GREATS!
your pal,
fluffy
ThatMiserableCat 1 year ago
Thank you again for posting!!! Great song!!!!!
jcs4bama 2 years ago
He certainly hadn't lost his voice when I saw him live in 1997 in Toowoomba in Australia. He was truly awesome.
AG4572 2 years ago
He visually always looked like a businessman who sang good.
fumetti 2 years ago
Have this on 45. Great song for Gene.
wasthere1 2 years ago
i was ten years old when this record came out and my aunt bought me the 45. i loved this song then and i love it just as much today. one of the truly overlooked classics of that time period
sirfrancisalbert 2 years ago 3
@sirfrancisalbert: Uh-huh, even in the day (1970s) you didn't hear it too much on the radio when they were playing 60s rock. A great piece of musci.
wsidejack 2 years ago
is he really singing this? voice doesn't match up right
susanr81 2 years ago
I agree. Maybe after singing all those years he lost his real voice. This was his last hit, topping out at #16 on the Billboards Charts in June of 1968.
surfside48 2 years ago
Jerry 'Swamp Dogg' Williams produced this song...it was his idea to take Gene out of his usual mode and into more of an R&B style, reasoning that if you haven't had a hit in three years, you need to do something drastic. Despite the song's success, Musicor Records fired Swamp from his position with the company, and he went on his way to becoming a soul cult hero...Gene never had another hit, at least not in the States.
recordman64 2 years ago
No he didnt loode his voice! as he made way more albums from 1968, For a start he had hits every decade (1960s-1990's) in the british charts (which no other American artist has achieved this- in the british charts). Most artists around that time were told to mime on tv shows as it was much cheaper and it was guaranteed to be a sucsessful promotion. If you thought he lost his voice check out his album known as 'Blue Angel', and 'Pitney 76' (recorded in 1976) and pitney 'ten years later.
sedumplanter 2 years ago
Maybe it's just me, but I think he looks and acts like the lead singer of Maroon 5. ???
plus34me 2 years ago
totally agree
damnbossy 2 years ago
It's the bass guitar that makes this a top song.
Uburosco 2 years ago
This, along with his other songs, just shows his diversity as a perfomer.
Such a cool rock riff streaking through it.
I would love to hear a decent rock/metal band take a cover of this song.
I can see Metallica or someone (maybe "Cradle of Filth") pulling this riff off very nicely.
To some it would be tantamount to blasphemy, but to me it would show the timeless quality if this mans work.
chazdavenport 2 years ago
His best song that I've heard. Second best would be the song "Hate"
sargoth37 2 years ago
If this tune sounds familiar , well check out Prince's 'Kiss'. You will only hear it by Tom Jones. Prince checked out of YOU TUBE. Take a good listen while slowing the song down in your head. Prince likes to borrow tunes it seems.
havenoneatall 2 years ago
Your are so right!
7beers 2 years ago
¡¡Idolo!!
Martacristina2009 2 years ago
I love him too! He look sexy in this video but I think he should be moving or dancing a little more :p kisses
Yax82 3 years ago
Love him - love him - love him!
Lonestarry 3 years ago
There is a better singing version of this song from German 'Beat Club', and it is full of psychedelic effects. I wish I could find it on YouTube.
fumetti 3 years ago
Great voice, classic singer. This video is really bizarre, it looks like he`s sitting there reporting the news, not belting out a rockin song. Kinda looks like Steve Carrell.
pilesovinyl 3 years ago
Great comments everyone. Truly one of THEE greatest voices of ALL time. This is also one of my favorite Gene Pitney songs, there were so many that he had that it's hard to pick. Too bad alot of young people will never get to enjoy his great songs cuz there aren't too many radio stations out there playing them. Really sad when you think about it. Thanx for post!!!
kismet818 3 years ago 2
This song rocks my dad use to cut a rug on this and when i was down to see them i looked this sound up and he was 30 again Rock -n- Roll
SHINEORRUST 3 years ago
The man could sing ANYTHING!!!
vynilistic 3 years ago
I was 6 years old and my favorite song was "She's a Heartbreaker." I literally wore out the 45rpm record my parents bought me. I still have that record to this day, but it's barely playable. I still remember what first attracted me to this song at such a young age. It was mostly Gene's voice, the little "hooks" composed of guitar and string instruments, and my little sister would giggle every time he sang "the devil on wheels"! Archie Bell and the Drells was my other favorite at that time also.
Allardyce 3 years ago 2
I nearly could have written this! Although I was 14 when Heartbreaker hit the airwaves. I love everything about this song. I'm now a 54 year old granny with shaky knees, but let me hear this song and I'm dancing.
Shangfan 3 years ago 2
All-time great vocalist.
mausolos8 3 years ago 3
Gene starts his career as Billy Bryan¡
hispapop 3 years ago
Although I've been a fan of 60's music, and I remember this song, while growing up, I didn't know Gene was white! What a soulful performance. This man is a true 'All-Time-Great'. I can relate to a 'Heartbreaker'!
ThatMiserableCat 3 years ago
I agree! When I started collecting records (in the 70's) and realized this was the same Gene Pitney who did "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence" I couldn't believe it!!
carolyn1e1s 3 years ago
whiteboy with sum soul.love it
koolizm1000 3 years ago 4
May Gene Pitney rest in peace.
Farrah300 3 years ago 2
Man, thanks so much for the Pitney videos!
Clarkymonster 3 years ago
wow never seen him like this
now he's fantastic
thanks northerngal
clattybrown 3 years ago
NOT BAD
motown250 3 years ago
Another track I'm lovin at the mo. Been wantin this track to add to my you tube thanks Brent441
northerngirl72 3 years ago
it looks like he's lipsync badly, i thought he'd be putting some effort to get those notes out
slosh77 3 years ago
Great song, but the video doesn't really fit the music IMHO. W/an upbeat song like this I expected to see some dancin'! Oh well.
psykdiva 3 years ago
My favorite Gene Pitney song. Love the guitar!
Shangfan 3 years ago 3
I heard this on the radio yesterday haven't heard it in sometime.
dappylu 3 years ago
This man's got soul! Rest in peace, Gene.
sapphiretaurus 4 years ago 4
What a great song. The musical arrangement is fantastic. RIP Gene.
nssd70 4 years ago 16
thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!
sipenholz 4 years ago 2
This is such a great song!!! May Gene Pitney rest in peace.
Farrah300 4 years ago 3
NOTE; Click on (more info) to see the LYRICS to this great song...Please let me know of any omissions or errors...Thank You...
Brent441 4 years ago
@Brent441 On the lyrics......" I need a heartbreaker on my body's goal" look at his grin when he sings... and 2nd....when we're out on a date a none of it shows
theycallmehutch 10 months ago
@theycallmehutch I always thought that that line was "She's a heartbreaker, all my buddies know..." But never the less, this is such an AWSOME song
danasteve524 7 months ago
@danasteve524 Thanks for laying this tune on Youtube for all to see. Gene was the real deal and this song was the very best, what ever the words. I can't believe no one ever covered this song......thanks again
theycallmehutch 7 months ago