I'm Gonna Be Strong
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"I'm Gonna Be Strong" is a song written by the famed songwriting duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. It was first recorded by Frankie Laine in 1963 and released as a single on Columbia Records. However, the song did not become a major hit until 1964, when Gene Pitney released his version as a single. It was also the most successful single released by the 1980 band Blue Angel, fronted by the vocals of a then-unfamous Cyndi Lauper. Lauper re-recorded the track and released it as a single in 1994.
Contents |
[edit] Gene Pitney version
| “I'm Gonna Be Strong” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Gene Pitney from the album I'm Gonna Be Strong |
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| B-side | "E Se Domani (If Tomorrow)" | ||||
| Released | 1964 | ||||
| Format | 7" single | ||||
| Recorded | 1964 | ||||
| Genre | Pop | ||||
| Length | 2:16 | ||||
| Label | Musicor | ||||
| Writer(s) | Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil | ||||
| Gene Pitney singles chronology | |||||
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This version became a top ten hit on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. The song is his biggest UK solo hit, with only his duet version of "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" with Marc Almond peaking higher.
[edit] Chart performance
| Country | Peak position |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 2 |
| United States | 9 |
[edit] Blue Angel version
| “I'm Gonna Be Strong” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Blue Angel from the album Blue Angel |
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| B-side | Just The Other Day | ||||
| Released | 1980 | ||||
| Format | 7" Vinyl , 7”Vinyl Single | ||||
| Genre | Pop | ||||
| Length | 2:50 | ||||
| Label | Polydor | ||||
| Producer | Roy Halee | ||||
| Blue Angel singles chronology | |||||
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It was also the most successful single released by the 1980 band Blue Angel from their album also called Blue Angel. The band was fronted by the vocals of a then-unfamous Cyndi Lauper. Like the album, the only country the single charted in was the Netherlands where it reached #37 on the charts.
The artwork and track listing for the single varied depending on the country of origin. An Italian promotional 7" vinyl single with the same catalogue number and track listing as the German version was released with alternate artwork. The original 1980 Dutch release was re-released with identical packaging in 1984 after Lauper's solo success.
[edit] Track Listing
[edit] 7" Vinyl (Netherlands)
Length: 5:32
- "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:50
- "Just the Other Day" (Cyndi Lauper and John Turi) – 2:42
[edit] Credits
Production: Roy Halee
[edit] 7" Vinyl (Germany)/Italian Promo 7" Vinyl
Length: 6:44
- "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:50
- "Maybe He'll Know" (Cyndi Lauper and John Turi) – 3:54
[edit] Credits
Production: Roy Halee
[edit] 7" Vinyl (Australia and UK)
Length: 6:47
- "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:50
- "Anna Blue" (Cyndi Lauper and John Turi) – 3:57
[edit] Credits
Production: Roy Halee
[edit] Cyndi Lauper version
| “I'm Gonna Be Strong” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Cyndi Lauper from the album Twelve Deadly Cyns...and Then Some |
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| A-side | I'm Gonna Be Strong | ||||
| B-side | A Part Hate | ||||
| Released | 1994 | ||||
| Recorded | 1994 | ||||
| Genre | Pop | ||||
| Label | Epic | ||||
| Writer(s) | Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil | ||||
| Cyndi Lauper singles chronology | |||||
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Because "I'm Gonna Be Strong" was the most successful single of Lauper's early band Blue Angel, she went on to re-record the track for her greatest hits album Twelve Deadly Cyns...and Then Some, and subsequently a new single was released in 1994. The song shows off Lauper's singing ability more than ever with the it's challenging notes and arrangement. It peaked in the top 40 on the UK chart. This single was not commercially released in the US where it was only released as a promo.
[edit] Chart Performance
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 37 |
[edit] Other versions
1960s rocker Del Shannon continued his trait of adding his style to songs made popular by others by covering this song on his 1965 album 1661 Seconds. Juice Newton included this song on her albums Quiet Lies (1982) and Greatest Hits (1987).
