First recorded by Brenda Holloway (1962).
Hit versions by Brenda Holloway (US #13/R&B #3 1964), The Spencer Davis Group (UK #41/CAN #5 1965), “Shirley” Strachan (AUS #3 1976).
Also recorded by The Clash (1980, released 1991), Alicia Keys (2005).
From the wiki: “‘Every Little Bit Hurts’ was a 1964 hit single for Motown soul singer Brenda Holloway (‘You’ve Made Me So Very Happy‘), written by Ed Cobb (‘Tainted Love‘) of The Four Preps (‘Love of the Common People‘). It was first recorded by the then-16-year old Holloway in 1962 for the Del-Fi record label without any chart impact.
“After being signed to Motown Records, Holloway was reluctant to re-record the song and later said she was upset during the sessions; several takes were recorded before producers felt that Holloway had hit her mark. Released in April 1964, three months before Holloway’s eighteenth birthday, the song peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted Top-5 on the R&B chart.”
“The Spencer Davis Group version reached #41 in the UK and #9 in Canada with their cover in early 1965. ‘Every Little Bit Hurts’ was also covered by Graeme “Shirley” Strachan (lead singer of Skyhooks) as his debut solo release and his single peaked at #3 in 1976 on the Australian singles chart. The song was included by Alicia Keys on her live album, Unplugged, in 2005. It was released as the album’s second and last single in 2006 but failed to enter the US and international charts.
“The Clash first recorded ‘Every Little Bit Hurts’ in 1980 during their Sandinista album sessions. It went unreleased until 1991, when it was included on the compilation box set, Clash on Broadway, of early demos, unreleased tracks and live recordings.”
Brenda Holloway, “Every Little Bit Hurts” TV performance (1964):
The Spencer Davis Group, “Every Little Bit Hurts” (1965):
“Shirley” Strachan, “Every Little Bit Hurts” (1976):
The Clash, “Every Little Bit Hurts” studio outtake from the Sandinista sessions (1980):
Alicia Keys, “Every Little Bit Hurts” (2005):