Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word

"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It was recorded by Elton John and released in 1976, both as a single and as part of the Blue Moves album. It was John's second single released by The Rocket Record Company. The song is a mournful ballad about a romantic relationship which is falling apart.

"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
Single by Elton John
from the album Blue Moves
B-side"Shoulder Holster"
Released1 November 1976
RecordedEastern Sound, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 22 March 1976
Length3:48
LabelRocket (UK)
MCA (US)
Songwriter(s)Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Producer(s)Gus Dudgeon
Elton John singles chronology
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart"
(1976)		 "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
(1976)		 "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)"
(1977)
Music video
"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" on YouTube

The song also appeared the following year on Greatest Hits Volume II, though for copyright reasons it no longer appears on the current version of that album. It now appears on Greatest Hits 1976–1986, The Very Best of Elton John and in Greatest Hits 1970–2002, as well as a number of other compilations.

Reception

Billboard Magazine praised John's vocal performance, calling it "almost painfully sincere and believable" and also commented on the complexity of the backing vocals.[1]

Personnel

Commercial performance and certifications

The song was a Top 20 hit, reaching No. 11 in the United Kingdom, No. 6 in the United States and No. 3 in Canada.[2] In addition, the song went to No. 1 on the US and Canadian Adult Contemporary charts.[3][4] In the US, it was certified Gold on 25 January 1977 by the RIAA.[5]

Chart history

Blue version
"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
Single by Blue featuring Elton John
from the album One Love
B-side"Sweet Thing"
Released9 December 2002
Genre
Length3:41 (album version)
3.31 (radio edit)
LabelVirgin, Innocent
Songwriter(s)Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Producer(s)Stargate
Blue singles chronology
"One Love"
(2002)		 "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
(2002)		 "U Make Me Wanna"
(2003)
Music video
"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" on YouTube

The song was covered in 2002 by English boy band Blue for their second studio album, One Love (2002). The song was recorded as a collaboration with Elton John, and was the second single from the album. It peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart on 15 December 2002 and also reached number one in Hungary and the Netherlands. It peaked within the top 10 in an additional 16 countries.

Track listing

UK CD1

  1. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
  2. "Lonely This Christmas" – 2:08
  3. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (Ruffin Ready Soul Mix) – 3:51
  4. "Recording Studio Footage" – 3:30

UK CD2

  1. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
  2. "Album Medley" – 5:44
  3. "Sweet Thing" – 3:38
  4. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (Video) – 3:31

UK cassette

  1. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
  2. "Album Medley" – 5:44
  3. "Sweet Thing" – 3:38

Charts

Sales and certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[53] Gold 25,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[54] Gold 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[55] Gold 400,000

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

Other versions

The song was covered by Joe Cocker in 1991 for the Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin tribute album.

Cocker is quoted in the album liner notes:

Way back in '68 I met Elton in the office of the publisher Dick James. I was given a tape of 'Border Song' which for some obscure reason I turned down. I hope I've made up for it with this rendition of 'Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word' that shows the deeper side of Reg and Bernie's writing.

In 2004, Elton John and Ray Charles performed the song on Charles' duet album, Genius Loves Company. It would turn out to be the last recording Charles ever did before his death that June.[56] The duet was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. It was also performed by smooth jazz saxophonist Kenny G on the soprano saxophone featuring Richard Marx on his 2004 album At Last...The Duets Album later that year.

The single was the lead single for the eight-track remix compilation Good Morning to the Night in collaboration with Australian remixer Pnau, which came out on 16 July 2012. In 2015, the song was covered by Diana Krall. This version was included on her Wallflower album.

References
  1. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 6 November 1976. p. 74. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  2. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 8 January 1977. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 122.
  4. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 25 December 1976. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  5. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 128.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  8. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  9. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 122.
  10. Cash Box Top 100 Singles, January 1, 1977
  11. Australian-charts.com
  12. "Top 200 Singles of '77 – Volume 28, No. 14, December 31 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  13. Musicoutfitters.com
  14. "Canadian single certifications – Elton John – Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word". Music Canada. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  15. "American single certifications – John, Elton – Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 22 November 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  16. "Australian-charts.com – Blue feat. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
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  22. "Hits of the World – Eurochart Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 5 April 2003. p. 49. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
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  28. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 6, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 5 July 2018.
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  31. "Norwegiancharts.com – Blue feat. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word". VG-lista. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  32. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21 no. 6. 1 February 2003. p. 13. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  33. "Romanian Top 100". Archived from the original on 18 February 2005. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
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  56. Kaufman, Gil. "ROAD TO THE GRAMMYS: THE MAKING OF RAY CHARLES' GENIUS LOVES COMPANY". MTV.
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