Hard to Say I'm Sorry

"Hard to Say I'm Sorry"
Italian picture sleeve
Single by Chicago
from the album Chicago 16
B-side"Sonny Think Twice"
Released17 May 1982
GenreSoft rock[1][2]
Length
  • 5:06 (album version, with "Get Away")
  • 3:42 (single version)
LabelFull Moon, Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Peter Cetera, David Foster
Producer(s)David Foster
Chicago singles chronology
"Song for You"
(1980)
"Hard to Say I'm Sorry"
(1982)
"Love Me Tomorrow"
(1982)
Music video
"Hard to Say I'm Sorry" on YouTube

"Hard to Say I'm Sorry" is a 1982 power ballad by the group Chicago. It was written by bassist Peter Cetera, who also sang the lead vocals on the track, and producer David Foster.[3] It was released on May 17, 1982, as the lead single from the album Chicago 16. On September 11 it reached No. 1 for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.[4][5] It was the group's second No. 1 single.[6] It was their first top 50 hit since "No Tell Lover" in 1978 and it spent twelve weeks in the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100.[7][8] The single was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal,[9] and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in September of the same year.[10] Songwriter Cetera, a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), won an ASCAP Pop Music Award for the song in the category, Most Performed Songs.[11]

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Chicago – The Collection". AllMusic. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  2. ^ Go, Justin (February 1, 2012). "Jazz-rock-fusion group Chicago reflects on a 45-year career". National Post. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  3. ^ Chicago 16 (audio CD liner notes). Rhino Entertainment Company. 2006. R2 74090. This album was first issued as Full Moon/Warner Bros. #23689 (5/26/82)
  4. ^ "The Hot 100 - 1982 Archive | Billboard Charts Archive". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  5. ^ "Chicago – Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  6. ^ Grein, Paul (January 19, 1985). "Chart Beat: Springsteen's 'U.S.A.' returns to the top following Purple Reign". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 3. New York, NY: Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 6. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  7. ^ "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  8. ^ "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  9. ^ "Chicago". GRAMMY.com. May 14, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  10. ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA: Artists: Chicago". RIAA. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  11. ^ Dobrin, Gregory (May 19, 1984). "ASCAP Celebrates 70th Anniversary With First Pop Awards Dinner, Gala" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XLVI, no. 50. George Albert. pp. 14, 29. Retrieved March 5, 2019 – via AmericanRadioHistory.com.