It Hurts So Good
"It Hurts So Good" is a song written by Phillip Mitchell, and first recorded in 1971 by Katie Love and the Four Shades of Black on the Muscle Shoals Sound label.[1][2] That version was not a hit, and the song was later recorded more successfully by Millie Jackson, whose 1973 recording was featured in the blaxploitation action film Cleopatra Jones. Hit versions were also recorded by Susan Cadogan and Jimmy Somerville, both titled as "Hurt So Good".
Covers
Millie Jackson version
| "Hurts So Good" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Millie Jackson | ||||
| from the album It Hurts So Good | ||||
| B-side | "Love Doctor" | |||
| Released | 1973 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:07 | |||
| Label | Spring Records | |||
| Songwriter | Phillip Mitchell | |||
| Producer | Brad Shapiro | |||
| Millie Jackson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
American R&B and soul artist Millie Jackson's recording, named "Hurts So Good", charted at #24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on what was then called the Billboard R&B Singles chart.[3] It was used as the title track of her second album, It Hurts So Good (1973).
Charts
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[3] | 24 |
| US R&B Singles (Billboard)[3] | 3 |
Susan Cadogan version
Jamaican reggae singer Susan Cadogan released a reggae cover version of the song later that year retitled as "Hurt So Good", which featured bassist Boris Gardiner and the Zap Pow horns.[4] It was released to little effect in Jamaica on Lee Perry's new 'Perries' record label, but was released in the UK by Dennis Harris's DIP International label. Magnet Records picked up the single and it went on to reach the top 5 of the UK Singles Chart,[5] with Cadogan flying to London to promote the single, including a television appearance on Top of the Pops.[6]
Charts
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC) | 4 |
Jimmy Somerville version
| "Hurt So Good" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Jimmy Somerville | ||||
| from the album Dare to Love | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 8 May 1995[7] | |||
| Genre | Reggae fusion | |||
| Length | 3:52 | |||
| Label | London | |||
| Songwriter | Phillip Mitchell | |||
| Producer | Stephen Hague | |||
| Jimmy Somerville singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Hurt So Good" on YouTube | ||||
Former Bronski Beat lead singer Jimmy Somerville covered the song in 1995, titled on single as "Hurt So Good", while "Hurts So Good" on the respective album, Dare to Love (1995). It was produced by Stephen Hague and released by London Recordings, peaking at #15 on the UK Singles Chart.[8] An accompanying video was directed by Russell Young and produced by Nick Verden for Atlas Films.
Critical reception
Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Somerville = Summer In The City. The heat-proof current single, pop reggae tune 'Hurts So Good' will escort all citizens on their way to and from the beach."[9]
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Other versions
- Luminites, contestants on the seventh series of Britain's Got Talent.[17]
References
- ↑ Katie Love and the Four Shades of Black at Discogs.com. Retrieved 13 February 2014
- ↑ "It Hurts So Good" at SecondhandSongs.com. Retrieved 13 February 2014
- 1 2 3 "Millie Jackson US chart history". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
- ↑ "Susan Cadogan: Hurt So Goog". Shazam.
- ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 89. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ↑ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae. Virgin Books. ISBN 0-7535-0242-9.
- ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 6 May 1995. p. 59. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Jimmy Somerville Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "New Releases: Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 27. 8 July 1995. p. 9. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
- ↑ "Music & Media: Europe's Music Radio Newsweekly. Volume 12. Issue 23" (PDF). Music & Media. BPI Communications. 10 June 1995. worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 9 June 2023. (see section 'Eurochart Hot 100 Singles', p. 19)
- ↑ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 25. 24 June 1995. p. 29. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 (28 May 1995 – 03 June 1995)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ↑ UK Top 50 Airplay Chart
- ↑ "The RM on a Pop Tip Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 20 May 1995. p. 8. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ↑ "Latvian Airplay Top Chart – 1995". Lanet.lv. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ↑ "Luminites Perform Hurts So Good By Millie Jackson". Most Watched Today. Retrieved 10 June 2013.