Hard to Say I'm Sorry

"Hard to Say I'm Sorry"

Artwork for Italian release
Single by Chicago
from the album Chicago 16
B-side "Sonny Think Twice"
Released May 17, 1982 (1982-05-17)
Format 7" single
Recorded 1982
Genre Soft rock, progressive rock
Length 5:06 (Album Version, with "Get Away")
3:51 (Alternate Edit)
3:40 (Single Version)
Label Full Moon/Warner Bros.
Writer(s) Peter Cetera and David Foster
Producer(s) David Foster
Certification Gold (RIAA)
Chicago singles chronology
"Song for You"
(1980)
"Hard to Say I'm Sorry"
(1982)
"Love Me Tomorrow"
(1982)

"Hard to Say I'm Sorry" is a song by American rock group Chicago. It was written by band member Peter Cetera and producer David Foster, and released on May 17, 1982 as the lead single from the album Chicago 16. The song hit number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 11 of that year.[1] It was their first top 50 hit since "No Tell Lover" in 1978. In the fall of 1982, while it was moving down the Hot 100, it just left the top 50 within two weeks from #4.

History

The song, as well as the album on which it is featured, was a marked departure from Chicago's traditional soft rock, horns-driven sound, taking on a polished and modern feel. There were minimal horns on the track, instead featuring more layered synthesizers and heavier distorted electric guitars in a contemporary 1980s styling. This was done to revitalize the band that was considered by some to be past its commercial prime at the time.

The album version of "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" segued into a second song titled "Get Away," which was closer to the older horn-driven Chicago sound. Most adult contemporary radio stations at the time did not play the entire album track, however, choosing to cut it off just before "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" segued into "Get Away." About half the Top 40 radio stations played the longer version with "Get Away".

Deviating from Chicago's practice of having mostly band members playing on their albums, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" featured several session musicians. The song featured producer David Foster on the piano, as well as three members of the American rock band Toto: Steve Lukather on guitar, while David Paich and Steve Porcaro both contributed synthesizers. The song's vocals were performed by Peter Cetera.

The song was also featured in the movie and soundtrack for Summer Lovers, a 1982 film written and directed by Randal Kleiser, starring Peter Gallagher, Daryl Hannah and Valerie Quennessen, and filmed on location on the island of Santorini, Greece.

Music video

The band appears in a black colored room with diamonds on the wall. Danny Seraphine magically appears from his drum kit.

Personnel

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1982) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[2] 4
Austrian Singles Chart[3] 5
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[4] 15
Canadian Singles Chart[5] 1
German Singles Chart[6] 6
New Zealand Singles Chart[7] 13
Swiss Singles Chart[8] 1
UK Singles Chart[9] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[1] 1
US Adult Contemporary[1] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1982) Rank
Australia [10] 10
Canada 9
UK [11] 44
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [12] 10

Preceded by
"Even the Nights Are Better" by Air Supply
Billboard Adult Contemporary (chart) number-one single
August 21, 1982 – September 4, 1982
Succeeded by
"Blue Eyes" by Elton John
Preceded by
"Abracadabra" by Steve Miller Band
Billboard Hot 100 number one single
September 11, 1982 – September 18, 1982
Succeeded by
"Abracadabra" by Steve Miller Band
Preceded by
"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
Canadian Singles Chart
September 11, 1982 – September 18, 1982
Succeeded by
"Jack & Diane" by John Mellencamp
Preceded by
"Abracadabra" by Steve Miller Band
Swiss number-one single
September 26, 1982 – October 3, 1982
Succeeded by
"I Know There's Something Going On" by Frida

Az Yet version

"Hard to Say I'm Sorry"
Single by Az Yet featuring Peter Cetera
from the album Az Yet
Released February 3, 1997 (1997-02-03)
Format CD
Recorded 1996
Genre R&B, adult contemporary
Length 3:17
Label LaFace Records
Writer(s) Peter Cetera and David Foster
Producer(s) Babyface
Az Yet featuring Peter Cetera singles chronology
"Last Night"
(1996)
"Hard to Say I'm Sorry"
(1997)
"You're the Inspiration"
(1997)

In 1996, the R&B band Az Yet included a cover version on their self-titled debut album. The single, which featured cameo vocals by Peter Cetera, was produced by legendary songwriter Babyface and reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single reached platinum status[13] and was nominated for a Grammy Award (Best Performance by an R&B Group or Duo).

Track listing

CD-Single

  1. "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" (David Foster Remix) 3:18
  2. "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" (Album Version) 3:17

Charts

Chart (1997) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[14] 5
Canadian Singles Chart[15] 26
Dutch Singles Chart[16] 3
German Singles Chart[17] 72
New Zealand Singles Chart[18] 1
Swedish Singles Chart[19] 59
UK Singles Chart[20] 7
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 8
US Rhythmic Top 40[21] 9

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[22] Platinum 70,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[23] Platinum 0*
United States (RIAA)[24] Platinum 1,100,000[25]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Preceded by
"I Shot the Sheriff" by Warren G
New Zealand Singles Chart
April 27, 1997 – May 4, 1997
Succeeded by
"Don't Leave Me" by Blackstreet

Other cover versions

Sampling

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Chicago – Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  2. "Hits of the World – Australia". Billboard. 94 (41): 79. October 16, 1982. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  3. "Chicago – Hard to Say I'm Sorry – Austriancharts.at". Austriancharts.at (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  4. "Ultratop.be – Chicago – Hard to Say I'm Sorry". Ultratop (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  5. "50 Singles". RPM. 36 (4). September 11, 1982. ISSN 0033-7064. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  6. "Top 100 Single". Charts.de (in German). Media Control. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  7. "Charts.org.nz – Chicago – Hard to Say I'm Sorry". Charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  8. "Chicago – Hard to Say I'm Sorry – Hitparade.ch". Hitparade.ch (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  9. "1982-10-09 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive | Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  10. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 50 Singles 1988". Aria.com.au. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  11. "Top 100 1982 - UK Music Charts". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  12. "Top 100 Hits of 1982/Top 100 Songs of 1982". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  13. RIAA Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - Az Yet Singles, Retrieved on 2009-07-16
  14. "Australian-charts.com – Az Yet feat. Peter Cetera – Hard to Say I'm Sorry". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  15. "100 Hit Tracks". RPM. 65 (18). July 7, 1997. ISSN 0033-7064. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  16. "Dutchchart.nl – Az Yet feat. Peter Cetera – Hard to Say I'm Sorry". GfK Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  17. "Single – Az Yet feat. Peter Cetera, Hard to Say I'm Sorry". Chart.de (in German). Media Control. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  18. "Charts.org.nz – Az Yet feat. Peter Cetera – Hard to Say I'm Sorry". Charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  19. "Swedishcharts.com – Az Yet feat. Peter Cetera – Hard to Say I'm Sorry". Swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  20. "1997-06-21 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive | Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  21. 1 2 "Az Yet – Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  22. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  23. "New Zealand single certifications – Az Yet – Hard to Say I'm Sorry". Recorded Music NZ.
  24. "American single certifications – Az Yet – Hard to Say I". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  25. "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 110 (5): 76. January 31, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  26. Aquagen - Hard To Say I'm Sorry (CD). Discogs.com.

External links

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