First recorded by The Everly Brothers (1960).
Also recorded by Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris (1969, released 1974).
Hit versions by Roy Orbison (AUS #5 1961), Jim Capaldi (US #97/UK #4/CAN #15/AUS #6 1975), Nazareth (US #8/UK #41/CAN #1/AUS #8/DEN #2/NZ #4 1975), Cher (1975 |UK #43/NOR #2 1991).
From the wiki: “‘Love Hurts’ was written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant (‘All I Have to Do Is Dream’, ‘Bye Bye Love’), and was first recorded by The Everly Brothers in July 1960. The song was introduced in December 1960 as an album track on A Date with The Everly Brothers, but was never released as a single (A-side or B-side) by the Everlys. (The duo would re-record the song with a more up-tempo arrangement in 1964.)
“The first hit version of the song was recorded by Roy Orbison, who earned Australian radio play for ‘Love Hurts’ even though the song was issued as the B-side to ‘Running Scared’, hitting the Top-5 on that country’s singles charts in 1961.
“A 1969 recording by Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons was included on Parsons’ posthumously released Grievous Angel (1974) album. After Parsons’ 1973 death, Harris made the song a staple of her concert repertoire.
“‘Love Hurts’ became a well-known international hit in 1975 with versions released by both Nazareth (Top-10 in the US) and former Traffic co-founder Jim Capaldi (Top-5 in the UK).
“In addition to the 1975 chart hits by Nazareth and Capaldi, Cher recorded ‘Love Hurts’ for the album Stars – her first without Sonny Bono’s influence (following their divorce) and the dissolution of her relationship with David Geffen – but it was never released as a single. She charted a remake, though, in the UK in 1991 as the lead promotional single from her Love Hurts album.”
Roy Orbison, “Love Hurts” (1961):
The Everly Brothers, “Love Hurts” uptempo re-recording (1964):
Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris, “Love Hurts” (1969):
Jim Capaldi, “Love Hurts” (1975):
Nazareth, “Love Hurts” (1975):
Cher, “Love Hurts” original recording (1975):
Cher, “Love Hurts” re-recording (1991):