Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

{{Short description|1962 single by Neil Sedaka}} {{Other uses}} {{Infobox song | name = Breaking Up Is Hard to Do | cover = Breaking-up-is-hard-to-do-neil-sedaka.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Neil Sedaka | album = Neil Sedaka Sings His Greatest Hits | B-side = As Long as I Live | released = June 1962 | recorded = | studio = | genre = Brill Building, doo-wop | length = 2:18 | label = RCA Victor | writer = Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield | producer = | prev_title = King of Clowns | prev_year = 1962 | next_title = Next Door to an Angel | next_year = 1962 }}

"'''Breaking Up Is Hard to Do'''" is a song recorded by Neil Sedaka, co-written by Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. Sedaka recorded this song twice, in 1962 and 1975, in two significantly different arrangements, and it is considered to be his signature song.<ref name="signature">[{{AllMusic|class=song|id=t1157430|pure_url=yes}} Breaking Up Is Hard To Do Song Review] November 29, 2011</ref> Between 1970 and 1975, it was a top-40 hit three separate times for three separate artists: Lenny Welch, The Partridge Family and Sedaka's second version. The song was also adapted into multiple languages, most notably in Italian and French.

==Original version==

In his daily mini-concert on June 12, 2020, Sedaka recalled that the song's iconic scat intro ("come-a come-a down, dooby doo down down") was a result of him and Greenfield being unable to come up with a lyric for that section of the song and Sedaka improvising a vocalise, which they liked so much that they kept it in the finished product.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U38LG7lKah4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/U38LG7lKah4 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Today's Mini-Concert - 6/12/20|first=Neil|last=Sedaka|work=Neil Sedaka's official YouTube page|date=June 12, 2020|access-date=June 12, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Sedaka liked the vocalise so much that he wanted to use it as backing vocals throughout the track.<ref name="profrockinterview">{{Citation |title=Professor of Rock - Neil Sedaka - The Story of Laughter In The Rain |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7KFrqA1FSM |access-date=December 2, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> In a later mini-concert, he mentioned that the basic feel had been inspired by "It Will Stand" by General Johnson and The Showmen, then a relatively minor hit that Sedaka liked, and also acknowledged some inspiration from The Everly Brothers' "Cathy's Clown" and an unintentional similarity to "Come Softly to Me" by The Fleetwoods.<ref name="profrockinterview" /> Sedaka recalled in 2019 that he had originally conceived the title of the song in 1961, but that Greenfield stalled for several months, not wanting to complete a lyric until Sedaka pressed him to do so.<ref name="profrockinterview" />

Described by AllMusic as "two minutes and sixteen seconds of pure pop magic,"<ref name="signature"/> "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" hit No.1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 on August 11, 1962, and peaked at No.12 on the Hot R&B Sides chart.<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=516}}</ref> The single was a solid hit all over the world, reaching No. 7 in the UK, sometimes with the text translated into foreign languages. For example, the Italian version was called "'''Tu non lo sai'''" ("You Don't Know") and was recorded by Sedaka himself.

On this version, background vocals on the song are performed by the female group the Cookies.

The personnel on the original recording session included: Al Casamenti, Art Ryerson, and Charles Macy on guitar; Ernie Hayes on piano; George Duvivier on bass; Gary Chester on drums; Artie Kaplan on saxophone; George Devens and Phil Kraus on percussion; Seymour Barab and Morris Stonzek on cellos; and David Gulliet, Joseph H. Haber, Harry Kohon, David Sackson, and Louis Stone on violins.

==Chart history== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1962) !Peak<br />position |- |Argentina | style="text-align:center;"|3 |- |Australia | style="text-align:center;"|19 |- |Canada (CHUM ''Hit Parade'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chumtribute.com/62-07-30-chart.jpg|title=CHUM Hit Parade |website=CHUM Hit Parade |date=1962-07-30 |access-date=2020-04-20}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |New Zealand (''Lever Hit Parade'')<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20lever&qartistid=130#n_view_location |title=Flavour of New Zealand, 30 August 1962 |access-date=19 April 2020 |archive-date=23 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123093335/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20lever&qartistid=130#n_view_location |url-status=dead }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |UK<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28079/neil-sedaka/ |title=Official Charts Company |website=Officialcharts.com |date=1962-07-25 |access-date=2020-04-20}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|7 |- |U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="ReferenceA">''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990'' - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |U.S. ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/19620811.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 8/11/62|website=Cashboxmagazine.com|access-date=February 28, 2026}}</ref> |align="center"|1 |- |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable" |- !Chart (1962) ! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |- |U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://musicoutfitters.com/|title=Musicoutfitters|website=Musicoutfitters.com|date=June 19, 2024|access-date=February 28, 2026}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|15 |- |U.S. ''Cash Box'' <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1962YESP.html|title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1962|website=Tropicalglen.com|access-date=February 28, 2026}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|32 |- |} {{col-end}}

==The Happenings version== {{Infobox song | name = Breaking Up Is Hard to Do | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = the Happenings | album = The Happenings Golden Hits | B-side = Anyway | released = June 1968 | recorded = 1968 | studio = | venue = | genre = Pop | length = 2:20 | label = B.T. Puppy | writer = Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield | producer = | prev_title = Sealed with a Kiss | prev_year = 1968 | next_title = Crazy Rhythm | next_year = 1968 }}

In 1968, American sunshine pop and cover band The Happenings covered the song for their 1968 album, "''The Happenings Golden Hits''", in which the cover was a minor hit. Released in June 1968 on B.T. Puppy Records, the song reached Number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Number 56 on the Canadian RPM charts.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 |isbn=0-89820-089-X |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |date=1991 |publisher=Record Research }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Happenings Official Website - Discography |url=https://www.thehappenings.com/discography.html |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Thehappenings.com}}</ref>

==Lenny Welch version== {{Infobox song | name = Breaking Up Is Hard to Do | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Lenny Welch | album = | B-side = Get Mommy to Come Back Home | released = January 1970 | recorded = 1969 | studio = | genre = Pop | length = 2:20 | label = CUR | writer = Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield | producer = | prev_title = Halfway to Your Arms | prev_year = 1968 | next_title = To Be Loved | next_year = 1970 }}

Though it was originally an uptempo song, Lenny Welch (best known for his 1963 hit version of "Since I Fell for You") re-recorded the song, reimagined as a torch ballad. Welch had approached Sedaka to see if he had any songs in his repertoire that fit Welch's style; as most of the songs Sedaka had written with his usual partner Howard Greenfield were upbeat pop songs, he did not, but playing around on the piano, he discovered "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" worked well as a slow ballad, so he wrote a new introduction and offered it to Welch.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/9PJgeCVWUX8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200907110831/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PJgeCVWUX8 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PJgeCVWUX8| title = Today's Mini-Concert - 7/24/2020 | website=YouTube| date = 24 July 2020 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> It peaked at No. 34 on the US ''Billboard'' charts and No. 8 on the easy listening chart in January 1970.<ref>{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |authorlink= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=253}}</ref> It was Welch's third and final top-40 pop hit, and his first since 1964.

==Sedaka's 1975 version== {{Infobox song | name = Breaking Up Is Hard to Do | cover = Breaking Up Is Hard to Do - Neil Sedaka 1975.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Neil Sedaka | album = Overnight Success (UK)<br />The Hungry Years (US) | B-side = {{ubl|"Nana's Song" (US);|"Lonely Night" (UK);|"Stephen" (Australia)}} | released = December 1975 | recorded = | studio = | genre = Soft rock<ref name= "Breihan 2019">{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Neil Sedaka's "Bad Blood"|website= Stereogum |date= August 9, 2019 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2054251/the-number-ones-neil-sedakas-bad-blood/columns/the-number-ones/|quote= ...Sedaka would record one more crossover success — a chintzy soft-rock ballad version of his original 1962 smash “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do".|access-date= June 26, 2023}}</ref> | length = 3:14 | label = * Rocket (US) * Polydor (Int'l) | writer = * Neil Sedaka * Howard Greenfield | producer = * Neil Sedaka * Robert Appere | prev_title = Bad Blood | prev_year = 1975 | next_title = Love in the Shadows | next_year = 1976 }}

Five years after Welch's successful cover, Sedaka, in the midst of a comeback in his native United States after several years in career decline and a detour through the United Kingdom, re-recorded his signature song in the same style that Welch used. The song begins with the first few bars of Sedaka's 1962 recording, before fading and segueing into the slow version. Sedaka's slow version peaked at No. 8 in February 1976 and went to No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart.<ref>{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=218}}</ref> It was one of only a few times an artist made the ''Billboard'' Top Ten with two different versions of the same song.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://top40weekly.com/top-20-songs-charted-twice-by-same-artist/ | title=Top 20 Songs Charted Twice by Same Artist - Top40weekly | date=2 August 2017 }}</ref> Sedaka has credited Welch's song "Since I Fell for You" as well as The Showmen and Dinah Washington as his inspiration for the new rendition.

===Chart performance=== ====Weekly charts==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !align="left"|Chart (1975–1976) !align="left"|Peak<br />position |- |align="left"|Australia KMR<ref name="austchartbook1970">{{cite web|url=http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |title=Australian Chart Book |website=Austchartbook.com.au |access-date=2016-09-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305064644/http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |archive-date=2016-03-05 }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|48 |- |align="left"|Canada ''RPM'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4081a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4081a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4081a |title=Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada |website=Bac-lac.gc.ca |date=21 February 1976 |access-date=2026-02-27}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |align="left"|Canada ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4058&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4058.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4058 |title=Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada |website=Bac-lac.gc.ca |date=31 January 1976 |access-date=2026-02-27}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |align="left"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2002''</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|8 |- |align="left"|US ''Billboard'' Adult Contemporary | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |align="left"|US ''Cash Box'' Top 100 | style="text-align:center;"|7 |}

====Year-end charts==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !align="left"|Chart (1976) ! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |- |Canada ''RPM'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5173a&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=u9874ano8k0c5b6bkp4r8qrbp3 |title= Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977 |work= RPM |publisher= Library and Archives Canada |access-date= June 13, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160319222559/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5173a&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=u9874ano8k0c5b6bkp4r8qrbp3 |archive-date= March 19, 2016 |url-status= dead }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|30 |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1976.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976 |website=Musicoutfitters.com |access-date=2016-09-26}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|91 |- |US ''Billboard'' Easy Listening<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.45cat.com/45_list_view_record.php?li=2171|title=Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1976|website=45cat.com|access-date=February 28, 2026}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|18 |- |US ''Cash Box''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1976YESP.html |title=Top 100 Year End Charts: 1976 |work=Cashbox Magazine |access-date=2016-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825143147/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1976YESP.html |archive-date=2012-08-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|75 |}

==The Partridge Family version== {{Infobox song | name = Breaking Up Is Hard to Do | cover = Breaking Up Is Hard to Do - Partridge Family.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = The Partridge Family | album = At Home with Their Greatest Hits | B-side = I'm Here, You're Here | released = June 1972 | recorded = | studio = | genre = Pop | length = | label = Bell | writer = Neil Sedaka | producer = Wes Farrell | prev_title = Am I Losing You | prev_year = 1972 | next_title = Looking Through the Eyes of Love | next_year = 1972 }}

Apart from Sedaka's own reworking of the song, by far the most successful cover of "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" was done by the Partridge Family in 1972. While only a medium hit in North America, their version reached No. 3 in both the UK and Australia. Their version was never released in stereo until the 2013 Bell/Legacy release, ''Playlist: The Very Best of the Partridge Family''.

===Chart performance=== {{col-begin|width=65%}} {{col-2}} ====Weekly charts==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !align="left"|Chart (1972) !align="left"|Peak<br />position |- |Australia (KMR)<ref name="austchartbook1970"/> | style="text-align:center;"|3 |- |Canada ''RPM'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4176&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4176.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4176 |title=Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada |website=Bac-lac.gc.ca |date=26 August 1972 |access-date=2016-09-26}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|18 |- |{{single chart|Ireland2|2|song=Breaking Up Is Hard to Do|access-date=July 2, 2017}} |- |New Zealand<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=1317#n_view_location |title=flavour of new zealand - search listener |website=Flavourofnz.co.nz |access-date=2016-09-26}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|11 |- |South Africa<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sa_charts_1969_1989_songs_(A-B).html|title = South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Songs (A-B)}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|19 |- |UK Singles<ref>Roberts, David (2006). ''British Hit Singles & Albums'' (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 419. {{ISBN|1-904994-10-5}}.</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|3 |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–2002''</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|28 |- |US ''Billboard'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/|title=Adult Contemporary|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=February 28, 2026}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|30 |- |US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720826.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 8/26/72 |website=Tropicalglen.com |date=1972-08-26 |access-date=2016-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827092411/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720826.html |archive-date=2016-08-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|25 |} {{col-2}}

====Year-end charts==== {| class="wikitable" |- !align="left"|Chart (1972) ! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |- |Australia<ref name="austchartbook1970"/> | style="text-align:center;"|18 |- |UK<ref>1972 in British music#Best-selling singles</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|23 |- |US (Joel Whitburn's ''Pop Annual'')<ref>{{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |date=1999 |title=Pop Annual |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |publisher=Record Research Inc. |isbn=0-89820-142-X}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|197 |} {{col-end}}

==French version== {{Infobox song | name = Moi je pense encore à toi | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Claude François | album = Dis-lui | B-side = | language = French | English_title = I Still Think of You | released = October 1962 | recorded = Summer–fall 1962 | studio = | venue = | genre = Chanson, yé-yé, rock and roll | length = 2:20 | label = Fontana | writer = Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield, André Salvet, Georges Aber | producer = | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Le Nabout Twist | next_year = 1962 }}

{{Infobox song | name = Moi je pense encore à toi | cover = | alt = Black and white photograph of French pop singer Sylvie Vartan holding a white cat | type = single | artist = Sylvie Vartan | album = Sylvie | B-side = M'amuser | released = November 1962 | recorded = Late 1962 | studio = | venue = | genre = Pop | length = 2:18 | label = RCA Victor | writer = Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield, André Salvet, Georges Aber | producer = | prev_title = Le Loco-motion | prev_year = 1962 | next_title = Chance | next_year = 1963 }}

"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" was adapted into French in late 1962 by André Salvet and Georges Aber as "''Moi je pense encore à toi''" (meaning "I Still Think of You"). The French adaption was first recorded and released by singer Claude François in October 1962 but failed to chart, however, one month later, a cover by French singer Sylvie Vartan would follow and would reach Number 12 on the French Belgian charts in early December 1962 and would be later featured on Vartan's debut album, ''Sylvie'', around the same time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sylvie Vartan - Moi je pense encore à toi - ultratop.be |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/cfe0/Sylvie-Vartan-Moi-je-pense-encore-a-toi |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Ultratop.be}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{YouTube|E3dCDjTmnZE|Neil Sedaka - Breaking Up Is Hard to Do}} (1962) * {{YouTube|Ci4mfZSFh9U|Neil Sedaka - Breaking Up Is Hard to Do}} (1975) * {{YouTube|iMSXzNeKSCw|The Partridge Family - Breaking Up Is Hard to Do}}

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