Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart
Encyclopedia
"Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" is a popular song written by Howard Greenfield
and Jack Keller
recorded by Connie Francis
in a 18 October 1960 New York City session conducted and arranged by Stan Applebaum; the same session produced "Where the Boys Are" to which "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" was released as the follow-up single in April 1961 reaching the Top Ten that May with a Billboard Hot 100
peak of #7 (#5 on the Cash Box Pop 100).http://countrydiscography.blogspot.com/2009/05/connie-francis-part-i.html
Although "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" was Francis' seventh consecutive A-side to reach the Top Ten - and her eleventh Top Ten overall - the single did mark a dip in her popularity as, while Francis' previous eight singles had had both A- and B-sides chart, "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart"'s B-side "Someone Else's Boy
" was overlooked in the US despite becoming an international success for Francis via her recording versions in eight languages.
In the UK
, "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" reached #12 in June 1961; the track reached the Top Ten in Australia (#8) and New Zealand (#2) that July and in September 1961 reached #7 in the Netherlands with a Top Ten ranking in India that December. Also in 1961 Francis' rendering in Italian as "La Valle Senzo Eco" ("The valley without echo") was a Top Ten hit in Italy
- #9 that October - and the same year while a version in soumi
: "Äsken särkyi sydämeni", was cut by Marjatta Leppänen for release in Finland
.
Like Francis' previous Greenfield/Keller-penned hit "Everybody's Somebody's Fool
", "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" exemplified the country pop
sound and while unlike "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" was not a C&W
crossover
for Francis herself the song early entered the C&W canon via a cover by the Wilburn Brothers
on their 1962 album City Limits. 1 In 1978 Margo Smith
remade the song for her Don't Break the Heart That Loves You whose title cut, a remake of Francis' 1961 #1 hit
, had been a #1 C&W hit. "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" was a #25 C&W single in 1979 for Debby Boone
whose precedent single had also been a remake of a Connie Francis hit, specifically "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own
" (#11 C&W); both tracks were featured on the Debby Boone
album. In 1980 Boone would attempt a third Connie Francis hit remake with her version of "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" which would fall short of the C&W Top 40 at #48.
A German rendering of the song: "Das kommt davon...", was recorded in 1961 by Gitte.
Howard Greenfield
Howard Greenfield was an American lyricist and songwriter, who for several years in the 1960s worked out of the famous Brill Building...
and Jack Keller
Jack Keller (songwriter)
Jack Keller A legend in his own right, Jack Keller wrote hit songs in every genre of music over a period of nearly 40 years with success in New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville....
recorded by Connie Francis
Connie Francis
Connie Francis is an American pop singer of Italian heritage and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s. Although her chart success waned in the second half of the 1960s, Francis remained a top concert draw...
in a 18 October 1960 New York City session conducted and arranged by Stan Applebaum; the same session produced "Where the Boys Are" to which "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" was released as the follow-up single in April 1961 reaching the Top Ten that May with a Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
peak of #7 (#5 on the Cash Box Pop 100).http://countrydiscography.blogspot.com/2009/05/connie-francis-part-i.html
Although "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" was Francis' seventh consecutive A-side to reach the Top Ten - and her eleventh Top Ten overall - the single did mark a dip in her popularity as, while Francis' previous eight singles had had both A- and B-sides chart, "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart"'s B-side "Someone Else's Boy
Someone else's Boy
"Someone Else's Boy" is a song written by Hal Gordon and Athena Hosey. It was recorded by Connie Francis on January 31, 1961, in New York.The song was the flipside of Francis' hit single "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart", which peaked at number seven on the U.S. pop chart. Although "Someone...
" was overlooked in the US despite becoming an international success for Francis via her recording versions in eight languages.
In the UK
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" reached #12 in June 1961; the track reached the Top Ten in Australia (#8) and New Zealand (#2) that July and in September 1961 reached #7 in the Netherlands with a Top Ten ranking in India that December. Also in 1961 Francis' rendering in Italian as "La Valle Senzo Eco" ("The valley without echo") was a Top Ten hit in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
- #9 that October - and the same year while a version in soumi
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
: "Äsken särkyi sydämeni", was cut by Marjatta Leppänen for release in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
Like Francis' previous Greenfield/Keller-penned hit "Everybody's Somebody's Fool
Everybody's Somebody's Fool
"Everybody's Somebody's Fool" is a song written by Jack Keller and Howard Greenfield which was a #1 hit for Connie Francis in mid 1960....
", "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" exemplified the country pop
Country pop
Country pop, with roots in both the countrypolitan sound and in soft rock, is a subgenre of country music that first emerged in the 1970s. Although the term first referred to country music songs and artists that crossed over to Top 40 radio, country pop acts are now more likely to cross over to...
sound and while unlike "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" was not a C&W
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
crossover
Crossover (music)
Crossover is a term applied to musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical tastes, or genres...
for Francis herself the song early entered the C&W canon via a cover by the Wilburn Brothers
The Wilburn Brothers
The Wilburn Brothers were a popular American country music duo from the 1950s to the 1970s consisting of brothers Doyle Wilburn and Teddy Wilburn .-Biography:...
on their 1962 album City Limits. 1 In 1978 Margo Smith
Margo Smith
Margo Smith is an American Country Music Singer. In the 1970s, she was a popular female Country vocalist, acquiring two No. 1 hits on the Country charts during that time, "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" and "It Only Hurts for a Little While", both Country music remakes of previous Pop music...
remade the song for her Don't Break the Heart That Loves You whose title cut, a remake of Francis' 1961 #1 hit
Don't Break the Heart That Loves You
"Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" is an American song written by Benny Davis and Ted Murry. The song would become a success for two artists in two different genres: Connie Francis in the pop field in 1962, and Margo Smith as a country version in 1978....
, had been a #1 C&W hit. "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" was a #25 C&W single in 1979 for Debby Boone
Debby Boone
Deborah Anne Boone is an American singer and stage actress. She is best known for her 1977 hit, "You Light Up My Life," which spent a then record ten weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and led to her winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist the following year...
whose precedent single had also been a remake of a Connie Francis hit, specifically "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own
My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own
"My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" is a song written by Howard Greenfield and Jack Keller which was a #1 hit for Connie Francis in 1960.-1960 hit:...
" (#11 C&W); both tracks were featured on the Debby Boone
Debby Boone (album)
Debby Boone's eponymous 1979 album was her third solo studio album for Warner Bros./Curb. Unlike Boone's previous two albums, 1977's "You Light Up My Life" and 1978's "Midstream" , this album did not reach any Billboard album chart.The album featured two singles, "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own"...
album. In 1980 Boone would attempt a third Connie Francis hit remake with her version of "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" which would fall short of the C&W Top 40 at #48.
A German rendering of the song: "Das kommt davon...", was recorded in 1961 by Gitte.
- 1 as "Breaking in a Brand New Broken Heart"