The Big Hurt (song)
Encyclopedia
"The Big Hurt" is a pop song, that was a hit Toni Fisher
(billed as "Miss Toni Fisher") in 1959. The song was written by her husband, Wayne Shanklin
. The song went to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100
music chart in the United States
. "The Big Hurt" is notable because it featured phasing effects
which at that time were rare in popular music; DJ Dick Biondi
on WKBW
would introduce the record as "Toni Fisher's weird one."
is 4/4, and the tempo
is indicated as "Moderate Beguine Tempo." The melody begins with a triplet on beats three and four, a motif that appears throughout the song in every second measure. In the other measures, however, the duple meter is reinforced by using eighth notes in the same location, presumably to prevent the tune from becoming a waltz
. Although Miss Toni Fisher does use the triplet in her performance on the record, she takes liberties with it and often uses some form of duple rhythm. She also deviates here and there from the notes as written, but well within the usual range employed by singers for expressive purposes.
The main harmonic idea uses the tonic
chord alternating with the Neapolitan chord
(the flattened supertonic
major chord). (The sheet music has an error that occurs three times, but in the chord symbols only, not in actual piano notation: the A flat diminished chord
should really be the E major chord
with a G# bass note
.) The release (contrasting middle section) is in the key of A flat.
in Hollywood, claim that "The Big Hurt" was the first commercial recording to feature a technique (or effect) now known as flanging
. This “jet plane-like” sound effect may also be familiar to those who have listened to long distance shortwave radio music broadcasts. (In radio, this effect was the result of multipath interference and varying propagation times.) To some, the flanging
effect made this record sound like a distant shortwave broadcast.
1966 version reached No. 94 on the Hot 100 (his only charted single on Liberty Records). Shannon's version, produced by Snuff Garrett, also included the phasing effects.
Toni Fisher
Toni Fisher was an American pop singer. She was known for her recordings of "The Big Hurt", "West of the Wall", "Maybe ," and "Why Can't The Dark Leave Me Alone".-Biography:...
(billed as "Miss Toni Fisher") in 1959. The song was written by her husband, Wayne Shanklin
Wayne Shanklin
Wayne Shanklin was an American music performer, composer, arranger, and producer....
. The song went to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
music chart in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. "The Big Hurt" is notable because it featured phasing effects
Phasing
In the compositional technique phasing, the same part is played on two musical instruments, in steady but not identical tempo...
which at that time were rare in popular music; DJ Dick Biondi
Dick Biondi
Dick Biondi is an American Top 40 and Oldies disc jockey. Calling himself "The Wild I-tralian", he was one of the original "screamers," known for his screaming delivery as well as his wild antics on the air and off. In a 1988 interview, Biondi related he had been fired 23 times; both fits of...
on WKBW
WWKB
WWKB is an AM radio station in Buffalo, New York that operates on a frequency of 1520 kHz. It is owned and operated by Entercom Communications. The station carries a progressive talk radio format. Declaring itself as A New Voice, A New Choice, The Voice of the New Majority; WWKB carries a number...
would introduce the record as "Toni Fisher's weird one."
Music
The 45 rpm plays in C major, even though on the sheet music (copyright 1959 by Music Productions, Hollywood, CA), the song is in the key of F major. The time signatureTime signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
is 4/4, and the tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
is indicated as "Moderate Beguine Tempo." The melody begins with a triplet on beats three and four, a motif that appears throughout the song in every second measure. In the other measures, however, the duple meter is reinforced by using eighth notes in the same location, presumably to prevent the tune from becoming a waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
. Although Miss Toni Fisher does use the triplet in her performance on the record, she takes liberties with it and often uses some form of duple rhythm. She also deviates here and there from the notes as written, but well within the usual range employed by singers for expressive purposes.
The main harmonic idea uses the tonic
Tonic (music)
In music, the tonic is the first scale degree of the diatonic scale and the tonal center or final resolution tone. The triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord...
chord alternating with the Neapolitan chord
Neapolitan chord
In music theory, a Neapolitan chord is a major chord built on the lowered second scale degree. It most commonly occurs in first inversion so that it is notated either as II6 or N6 and normally referred to as a Neapolitan sixth chord...
(the flattened supertonic
Supertonic
In music or music theory, the supertonic is the second degree or note of a diatonic scale, one step above the tonic. In music theory, the supertonic chord is symbolized by the Roman numeral ii in a major scale, indicating that the chord is a minor chord , or ii in a natural minor scale, indicating...
major chord). (The sheet music has an error that occurs three times, but in the chord symbols only, not in actual piano notation: the A flat diminished chord
Diminished chord
A diminished triad chord or diminished chord is a triad consisting of two minor thirds above the root — if built on C, a diminished chord would have a C, an E and a G. It resembles a minor triad with a lowered fifth....
should really be the E major chord
Major chord
In music theory, a major chord is a chord having a root, a major third, and a perfect fifth. When a chord has these three notes alone, it is called a major triad...
with a G# bass note
Bass note
In music theory, the bass note of a chord or sonority is the lowest note played or notated. If there are multiple voices it is the note played or notated in the lowest voice. While the bass note is often the root or fundamental of the chord, it does not have to be, and sometimes one of the other...
.) The release (contrasting middle section) is in the key of A flat.
Effects
American music industry veterans David S. Gold and Stan Ross, founders of the renowned Gold Star StudiosGold Star Studios
Gold Star Studios was a major independent recording studio located in Los Angeles, California, United States. For more than thirty years, from 1950 to 1984, Gold Star was one of the most influential and successful commercial recording studios in the world....
in Hollywood, claim that "The Big Hurt" was the first commercial recording to feature a technique (or effect) now known as flanging
Flanging
Flanging is an audio effect produced by mixing two identical signals together, with one signal delayed by a small and gradually changing period, usually smaller than 20 milliseconds. This produces a swept comb filter effect: peaks and notches are produced in the resultant frequency spectrum,...
. This “jet plane-like” sound effect may also be familiar to those who have listened to long distance shortwave radio music broadcasts. (In radio, this effect was the result of multipath interference and varying propagation times.) To some, the flanging
Flanging
Flanging is an audio effect produced by mixing two identical signals together, with one signal delayed by a small and gradually changing period, usually smaller than 20 milliseconds. This produces a swept comb filter effect: peaks and notches are produced in the resultant frequency spectrum,...
effect made this record sound like a distant shortwave broadcast.
Covers
The song was covered numerous times in the mid-to-late-1960s. Del Shannon'sDel Shannon
Del Shannon was an American rock and roll singer-songwriter who had a No. 1 hit, "Runaway", in 1961.- Biography :...
1966 version reached No. 94 on the Hot 100 (his only charted single on Liberty Records). Shannon's version, produced by Snuff Garrett, also included the phasing effects.