Only Love Can Break Your Heart

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“Only Love Can Break Your Heart”
Single by Neil Young
from the album After the Gold Rush
B-side "Birds"
Released September 19, 1970

October 19, 1970
(U.S. 7" single)
Recorded Aug. 1969-June 1970
Genre Rock
Length 3:05
Label Reprise
Writer(s) Neil Young
Neil Young singles chronology
"Cinnamon Girl"
(1970)		 "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
(1970)		 "When You Dance I Can Really Love"
(1971)
After the Gold Rush track listing
"After the Gold Rush"
(2)
(3)		 "Southern Man"
(4)

"Only Love Can Break Your Heart" is the third track on Neil Young's album After the Gold Rush. The song was supposedly written for Graham Nash after Nash's split from Joni Mitchell.[1] Released as a single in October of 1970, it became Young's first top 40 hit as a solo artist, peaking at number thirty three in the U.S.

Musically, the song consists of the same three chords; D, G, A; repeated until the end.

Contents

[edit] Saint Etienne version

“Only Love Can Break Your Heart”
“Only Love Can Break Your Heart” cover
Single by Saint Etienne
from the album Foxbase Alpha
B-side "Filthy" (UK)
"Stoned to Say the Least" (U.S.)
Released May 1990
Recorded 1990
Genre House
Synthpop
Electronica
Length 4:29
Label Heavenly
Writer(s) Neil Young
Producer Saint Etienne
Saint Etienne singles chronology
"Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
(1990)		 "Kiss and Make Up"
(1990)

In 1990, English band Saint Etienne recorded a cover version of the song, included on their debut album Foxbase Alpha. This cover is relatively faithful to the original but is arranged in 4/4 (as opposed to the original's waltz time), with a driving piano-bass-drum section. Andrew Weatherall later remixed the song to further emphasise the dub bassline: this remix was featured on both releases of the single and on the compilation Casino Classics.

"Only Love Can Break Your Heart" was Saint Etienne's first single release, and featured lead vocals by Moira Lambert, as Sarah Cracknell had not yet joined the band as a permanent member. The song was released in the UK as a double A-side with the track "Filthy", peaking at number 39 in the UK Singles Chart. The song remains Saint Etienne's only entry in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 97 in 1992. It did, however, top the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart. The U.S. B-side to the single was the Foxbase Alpha album track "Stoned to Say the Least".

[edit] Other cover versions

[edit] Saint Etienne version track listing

[edit] May 1990 release

  • 7"
  1. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" – 4:29
  2. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Version)" – 3:41
  • 12"
  1. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" – 4:29
  2. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Version)" – 4:41
  • Remix 12"
  1. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart (A Mix of Two Halves)" – 8:49
  2. "The Official Saint Etienne World Cup Theme"

[edit] August 1991 release

  • 7"/12"/Cassette
  1. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" – 4:29
  2. "Filthy" – 5:33
  • UK CD
  1. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" – 4:29
  2. "Filthy" – 5:33
  3. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart (A Mix of Two Halves)" – 8:49
  • US CD (Warner Bros. 40196-2)
  1. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Single Remix)" – 3:48
  2. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Kenlou B-Boy Mix)" – 6:53
  3. "Stoned to Say the Least (Album Version)" - 7:42
  4. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart (A Mix in Two Halves)" – 6:19
  5. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Masters at Work Dub)" – 7:38
  6. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Single-Album Version)" – 4:29

[edit] Chart performance

Chart (1970) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 33
Chart (1991) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 39
Chart (1992) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 97
U.S. Hot Dance Club Play 1
  • 1970: Neil Young
  • 1991/1992: Saint Etienne

[edit] References

  1. ^ Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Neil Young Songfacts
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