Two words say it all: Love hurts. Behind that simple sentiment, a song with that very dual-word title traveled decades, voices, even genres before Nazareth could turn it into a global hit and one of rock’s most enduring heartbreak anthems. With Dan McCafferty’s raw, aching vocals and Manny Charlton's legendary guitar, Nazareth took a forgotten 1960s country tune and transformed it into a slow-burning rock ballad we play even in the best of spirits.
Composed by the husband-wife songwriting duo who went by Boudleaux Bryant — Felice Bryant and Diadorius Boudleaux Bryant — “Love Hurts” was an Everly Brothers original, first recorded in July 1960. It was added to their fourth album, A Date With the Everly Brothers, but never released as a single. In 1961, Roy Orbison recorded the track as a B-side to his No. 1 hit, “Running Scared.” Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons also recorded covers; still, the song went on existing for years before really breaking through.
“We all loved the song,” bassist Pete Aginew tells Classic Bands. “We recorded 'Love Hurts' as a B-side and that’s how we saw it. Of course, when I hear it now, it’s probably one of the best rock ballads of all time and definitely the vocal is in the top three.”
When the Scottish group released their version of “Love Hurts,” they were riding off chart success in the U.K. with three hits. According to Aginew, the band preferred Parsons’ and Harris’ versions best, taking inspiration from the country legends, but turning the song into a hard rock power ballad with McCafferty’s key emotional delivery and Charlton’s gnarly guitar solo. The song was added to the band’s sixth album, Hair of the Dog, in 1975, making it the only studio record in the U.S. to feature “Love Hurts.”
Despite the track's modern-day reputation, Nazareth’s “Love Hurts” was an initial flop. It wasn’t until South Africa took a liking to the track that radio stations in the U.S., particularly in Texas, began playing the song. After a year, the sleeper hit finally got its due, climbing to No. 8 in early 1976 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hitting No. 1 in Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, and Norway.
View this post on InstagramToday, the breakout anthem still hits just as hard. And so do the guys of Nazareth, who continue to tour extensively. They’re even opening for Foghat in Mount Dora, Florida, this month, promising a night of pure rock nostalgia with fan-favorite hits including their most famous song and signature hit, “Love Hurts.” More than 50 years later, that dang track just proves that some heartbreak anthems never fade — they only get louder.
Related: 1968 Taboo Ballad With Iconic Lyrics Returns to the Spotlight After Songwriter’s Death
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