Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart

"Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" is a popular song written by Howard Greenfield and Jack Keller. It was recorded by Connie Francis in an October 18, 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 10 in May with a Billboard Hot 100 peak of #7 (#5 on the Cash Box Pop 100).

Although "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" was Francis' seventh consecutive A-side to reach the Top 10 - and her eleventh Top 10 overall - the single did mark a dip in her popularity as, while Francis' previous eight singles had had both A- and B-sides chart, the single's B-side "Someone Else's Boy" was overlooked in the U.S. 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 10 in Australia (#8) and New Zealand (#2) that July and in September 1961 reached #7 in the Netherlands with a Top 10 ranking in India in December. Also in 1961, Francis' rendering in Italian as "La Valle Senzo Eco" ("The valley without echo") was a Top 10 hit in Italy - #9 that October - and the same year while a version in soumi: "Äsken särkyi sydämeni", was cut by Marjatta Leppänen(fi) 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. Elda Viler (sl) recorded the Slovenian rendering "Dolina Brez Odmeva" in 1964 and also recorded "La Valle Senzo Eco" in 1965.

• ¹ as "Breaking in a Brand New Broken Heart"

References

Connie Francis U. S. albums Who's Sorry Now? The Exciting Connie Francis My Thanks to You Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites Christmas in My Heart Connie's Greatest Hits Rock 'n' Roll Million Sellers Country & Western - Golden Hits Connie Francis Sings Fun Songs for Children One for the Boys Connie Francis Sings Spanish and Latin American Favorites Connie Francis Sings Jewish Favorites Songs to a Swinging Band More Greatest Hits Connie Francis Sings "Never on Sunday" Connie Francis Sings Folk Song Favorites Connie Francis Sings Irish Favorites Connie Francis Sings Modern Italian Hits Connie Francis Sings Award Winning Motion Picture Hits Greatest American Waltzes In the Summer of His Years Connie Francis Sings German Favorites Connie Francis and Hank Williams, Jr. Sing Great Country Favorites Movie Greats of the 60s Connie's Christmas Connie Francis and The Kids Next Door Love, Italian Style Happiness – Connie Francis On Broadway Today Grandes Exitos del Cine de los Años 60 Connie & Clyde – Hit Songs of the 30s Connie Francis Sings Bacharach & David Connie Francis Sings the Songs of Les Reed International albums Connie Francis en El Patio Melodien, die die Welt erobern Somewhere, My Love U. S. singles Who's Sorry Now? Stupid Cupid/Carolina Moon Fallin'/Happy Days and Lonely Nights I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You) My Happiness You Always Hurt the One You Love If I Didn't Care Lipstick on Your Collar Among My Souvenirs/God Bless America Mama Everybody's Somebody's Fool My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own/Malagueña Where the Boys Are Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart/Someone Else's Boy Together When the Boy in Your Arms (Is the Boy in Your Heart) Don't Break the Heart That Loves You Vacation He Thinks I Still Care I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter/Al di là If My Pillow Could Talk In the Summer of His Years Be Anything (but Be Mine) For Mama Forget Domani Jealous Heart Love Is Me, Love Is You So Nice (Summer Samba) My Heart Cries for You Lonely Again I Don't Wanna Play House International singles Die Liebe ist ein seltsames Spiel Ich komm' nie mehr von dir los Wenn ich träume Schöner fremder Mann Einmal komm' ich wieder Eine Insel für zwei Lili Marleen Jamais Tu' mir nicht weh Wenn du gehst Barcarole in der Nacht Ho bisogno di vederti Notable songs Volare Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Young at Heart Mein Herz weiß genau, was es will Once a Day The Shadow of Your Smile Strangers in the Night Misty Blue Filmography Where the Boys Are Follow the Boys Looking for Love When the Boys Meet the Girls Related topics Discography Bobby Darin Brenda Lee Patti Page Neil Sedaka Lesley Gore Carole King Ricky Nelson Book: Connie Francis