"Each Time You Break My Heart" is a song recorded by British singerNick Kamen, for his eponymous debut studio album (1987). It was released bySire Records on 2 November 1986 as his debut single in7-inch and12-inch maxi formats. Kamen had gained popularity by starring in a 1985Levi's television commercial, later deciding to delve into the music business and signed a record deal with Sire. "Each Time You Break My Heart" was the lead single from his album, written and produced byMadonna andStephen Bray. It was originally set to be included on Madonna's third studio album,True Blue (1986), but failed to make the final tracklist. Madonna also provided background vocals on the track.
A promotional video to accompany the single was directed byJean-Baptiste Mondino. Thesynth-pop song was featured inBillboard magazine's "New and Noteworthy" single list, receiving comparison to songs by theBee Gees. It was a commercial success, reaching the top ten of therecord charts in France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It attained Silvercertification in France and the United Kingdom, and a remix of the track became adance hit in the United States.
Nick Kamen attained popularity in 1985 when his modelling career gave him the chance to star inLevi's television commercial. It showed him coming into alaunderette to wash his 501 jeans, wearing only white boxer shorts.[1] As he strips down he is watched by a group of women in the launderette.[2] The advertisement had an immediate impact, with Levi's sales increasing by 800% and making it the number one jeans manufacturer. It also made Kamen a household name and a sex symbol.[3] SingerMarvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" was featured in the commercial and its sales were also boosted, resulting in the song reaching number eight on theUK Singles Chart.[4][5]
Kamen later decided to delve into music, and released his eponymous debut album in 1987. Written and produced byMadonna andStephen Bray, "Each Time You Break My Heart" was selected as thelead single from the album.[6] Madonna had previously expressed interest in producing Kamen's record when the latter was signed withSire Records. However, since she was busy shooting for her film that year,Who's That Girl (then titledSlammer), she chose to write and compose one song.[7] Madonna had originally written and recorded the song for her third studio album,True Blue (1986), but it did not make the final tracklist.[8] "Each Time You Break My Heart" also contains background vocals by the singer.The Latin Rascals handled theediting of the track, which was engineered by Steve Peck.Recording andmixing of "Each Time You Break My Heart" was performed by Michael Hutchinson at New York's Sigma Sound Studios, whileTed Jensen did the precision lacquermastering of the song atSterling Sound Studios in New York. An extended dance/club remix was composed byShep Pettibone, which reached number five on theDance Club Songs chart in the United States.[9]
"Each Time You Break My Heart" was released on 2 November 1986 by Sire in7" and12" maxi formats.[10] Photographer Robert Erdman shot the cover artwork photograph of the 7" single, showing Kamen smiling. Another photographer Bob Merlis shot the picture listed on the back cover, which is a black-and-white image of Madonna and Kamen in a recording studio.[9] A promotional video for the song was directed byJean-Baptiste Mondino.[11] It featured Kamen's then girlfriend, actressTalisa Soto andFelix Howard[12]
A writer forBillboard magazine listed the dance mix of the song as one of the "New and Noteworthy" singles released, believing that the combination of the writer and the producer duo, along with Kamen's looks would make the track popular. The reviewer added that the song was musically "lightsynth-pop" and Kamen's vocals were reminiscent of theBee Gees.[13] Roger Morton ofRecord Mirror described the single as being "vapid, exploitative, and a chart certainty", while noting Kamen's "respectable, if somewhat thin,George Michael-style vocal, set against a popping glossy disco backing".[14]
In the United Kingdom, "Each Time You Break My Heart" debuted at number 54 on theUK Singles Chart. After four weeks, the song reached a peak of number five on the chart, staying within the top 100 for a total of 13 weeks.[15] It received a Silver certification from theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipment of 250,000 copies[a] of the single.[17] In France, "Each Time You Break My Heart" attained a peak position of number eight on theFrench Singles Chart, and was present for a total of 19 weeks.[18] TheSyndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP) certified it Silver for shipping 250,000 copies of the single.[19] Across Europe the song also attained the top ten positions in the record charts of Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.[20] On the combined pan-European Hot 100 Singles chart, it entered the chart at number 78 on 22 November 1986, peaked at number 10 in its 15th week,[21] and had a 34-week chart run divided into two segments with a six-week hiatus due to its release in May 1987 in France. In the United States, the song failed to chart on theBillboard Hot 100, but a club remix byShep Pettibone achieved a peak of number five on theDance Club Songs chart.[22]
^In the United Kingdom, the number of sales required to qualify for Platinum, Gold and Silver discs were dropped for singles released after 1 January 1989 to the current thresholds of Silver (200,000 units), Gold (400,000 units), and Platinum (600,000 units). Prior to this, the thresholds were Silver (250,000 units), Gold (500,000 units), and Platinum (1,000,000 units).[16]
^abcEach Time You Break My Heart (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Nick Kamen. Sire Records. 1986. 7-28435.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^abEach Time You Break My Heart (European 12-inch Maxi Single liner notes). Nick Kamen. Warner Bros. Europe Records. 1986. 248 526-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^abEach Time You Break My Heart (US 12-inch Maxi Single liner notes). Nick Kamen. Sire Records. 1986. 9 20632-0 A.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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