The Harder I Try
"The Harder I Try" | ||||
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Single by Brother Beyond | ||||
from the album Get Even | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 18 July 1988[1] | |||
Studio | PWL (London, England)[2] | |||
Length | 3:24 | |||
Label | Parlophone | |||
Songwriter(s) | Stock Aitken Waterman | |||
Producer(s) | Stock Aitken Waterman | |||
Brother Beyond singles chronology | ||||
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"The Harder I Try" is a song by British boyband
Background and writing
In 1988, British production team Stock Aitken Waterman auctioned off their services for the Young Variety Club of Great Britain charity. Label EMI won the auction, and British boyband Brother Beyond was selected by Pete Waterman to be produced by the trio.[3] The group had met Waterman previously when they had worked at PWL Studios on a prior single, "Can You Keep A Secret", and the producer liked the band.[3] Brother Beyond was by then a struggling pop act, with their first four singles only making the lower reaches of the UK top 75 singles chart. EMI saw this as their much-needed breakthrough and agreed with Waterman on producing the group.
"The Harder I Try" was written in the morning, singer
Critical reception
Chart performance
When released in July 1988, "The Harder I Try" became an instant success in the UK: it started at number 43 on 30 July 1988 on the
Track listings
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Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI)[10] | Silver | 250,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ "New Singles". Music Week. 16 July 1988. p. 47.
- ^ a b The Harder I Try (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Brother Beyond. Parlophone. 1988. R 6184.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 35: The Harder I Try on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ a b Griffiths, Daniel (21 August 2020). "5 songs producers need to hear by... Stock Aitken Waterman". musicradar.com. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- NME. p. 12. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ Hamilton, James (23 July 1988). "DJ Directory: Pop Dance". Record Mirror. p. 39. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ Soutar, Mike (13 July 1988). "Singles: Single of the Fortnight". Smash Hits. p. 69. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Brother Beyond: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Top 100 Singles: Year-End Chart 1988". Music Week. 4 March 1989. p. 12.
- ^ a b "British single certifications – Brother Beyond – The Harder I Try". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Harder I Try". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ Dagblaðið Vísir(in Icelandic). 4 November 1988. p. 44. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Brother Beyond – The Harder I Try". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Brother Beyond – The Harder I Try" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Brother Beyond – The Harder I Try" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
- ^ a b "Offiziellecharts.de – Brother Beyond – The Harder I Try" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 37. 10 September 1988. p. 20.
- ^ OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 14 August 2023 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b "Brother Beyond – The Harder I Try". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 17 June 2014". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2017 – via Imgur.
- ^ The Harder I Try (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Brother Beyond. Parlophone. 1988. 12 R 6184.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ The Harder I Try (UK 12-inch remix single sleeve). Brother Beyond. Parlophone. 1988. 12RX 6184.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ The Harder I Try (UK CD single liner notes). Brother Beyond. Parlophone. 1988. CDR 6184, 20 2798 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ The Harder I Try (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Brother Beyond. EMI Music Japan. 1988. XP10-2048.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 44, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 52/1. 1 January 1989. p. 30.