Livin' with a Heartache

"Livin' with a Heartache" is a song written by Carl Wilson and Randy Bachman for the American rock band the Beach Boys, one of two collaborations between the two writers.[1] It was recorded from August 27–29 at Bachman's home studio known as "The Barn" in Lynden, Washington with two further sessions at Rumbo Studios in November and December 1979.[2] "Livin' with a Heartache" was released on the Beach Boys' 1980 album Keepin' the Summer Alive and was subsequently released with a truncated 3:05 mix as a single backed with "Santa Ana Winds" which failed to chart in the US.

"Livin' with a Heartache"
Single by The Beach Boys
from the album Keepin' the Summer Alive
B-side"Santa Ana Winds"
ReleasedMay 21, 1980
RecordedAugust–December 1979
GenrePop, country
Length3:05 (single)
4:06 (album)
LabelCaribou Records
Songwriter(s)Carl Wilson, Randy Bachman
Producer(s)Bruce Johnston
The Beach Boys singles chronology
"Goin' On"
(1980)
"Livin' with a Heartache"
(1980)
"The Beach Boys Medley"
(1981)

Record World called it a "gem" and said that the "melody & hook are perfect."[3]

Performers

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Adapted from 2000 liner notes[4] and Craig Slowinski.[5]

Livin’ with a Heartache

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The Beach Boys

  • Carl Wilson – lead vocals, guitar, Yamaha electric piano, uncredited producer
  • Bruce Johnston – harmony and backing vocals, producer

Additional musicians and production staff

Santa Ana Winds

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The Beach Boys

  • Brian Wilson – harmony and backing vocals, producer
  • Carl Wilson – harmony and backing vocals, additional lead vocals
  • Al Jardine – lead vocals, harmony and backing vocals, acoustic guitars, spoken word introduction, producer
  • Mike Love – harmony and backing vocals, additional lead vocals
  • Bruce Johnston – harmony and backing vocals, producer

Additional musicians

  • Lyle Ritzdouble bass
  • Steve Forman – brushed snare drum and timpani
  • Tommy Morgan – harmonica
  • Igor Horoshevsky, Raymond Kelley – cellos
  • James Getzoff, Murray Adler, Bonnie Douglas, Paul Shure, Alfred Breuning, Marshall Sosson, Endre Granat, Spiro Stamos – violins
  • Harry Hyams, Samuel Boghossian – violas
  • Harry Betts – string arrangements
  • Steve Desper – chief engineer, mixing
  • Chuck Leary – engineer
  • Chuck Britz – engineer

References

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  1. ^ "Livin' With a Heartache - The Beach Boys | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  2. ^ "GIGS79". Esquarterly.com. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  3. ^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. May 31, 1980. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  4. ^ Bachman, Randy; Doe, Andrew (2000). Keepin’ the Summer Alive/The Beach Boys (booklet). The Beach Boys. California: Capitol Records. p. 2.
  5. ^ Slowinski, Craig (Summer 2020). Beard, David (ed.). "Keepin' the Summer Alive: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition". Endless Summer Quarterly Magazine. Vol. 33, no. 132. Charlotte, North Carolina.
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