Hard to Say I’m Sorry
Released May 17, 1982
Format 7″ single
Recorded 1982
Genre Soft rock
Length 5:06 (Album Version, with “Get Away”)
3:51 (Alternate Edit)
3:40 (Single Version)
“Hard to Say I’m Sorry” is a song by American rock group Chicago. It was written by lead singer Peter Cetera and producer David Foster, and released on May 17, 1982 as the lead single from the album Chicago 16. The song hit number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 11 of that year. It was their first top 50 hit since “No Tell Lover” in 1978 and spent twelve weeks in the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The song, as well as the album on which it is featured, was a marked departure from Chicago’s traditional soft rock, horns-driven sound, taking on a polished and modern feel. There were minimal horns on the track, instead featuring more layered synthesizers and heavier distorted electric guitars in a contemporary 1980s styling. This was done to revitalize the band that was considered by some to be past its commercial prime at the time.
The album version of “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” segued into a second song written by Robert Lamm titled “Get Away,” which was closer to the older horn-driven Chicago sound. Most adult contemporary radio stations at the time did not play the entire album track, however, choosing to cut it off just before “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” segued into “Get Away.” About half the Top 40 radio stations played the longer version with “Get Away”.[citation needed]
Deviating from Chicago’s practice of having mostly band members playing on their albums, “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” featured several session musicians. The song featured producer David Foster on the piano, as well as three members of the American rock band Toto: Steve Lukather on guitar, while David Paich and Steve Porcaro both contributed synthesizers. The song’s vocals were performed by Peter Cetera. The only other member of Chicago besides Cetera that played on the track was drummer Danny Seraphine. Foster took over playing the bass from Cetera on the song when, after messing up on a take, a frustrated Cetera told Foster he didn’t want to play the bass for the song.
The song was also featured in the movie and soundtrack for Summer Lovers,[6] a 1982 film written and directed by Randal Kleiser, starring Peter Gallagher, Daryl Hannah and Valerie Quennessen, and filmed on location on the island of Santorini, Greece.
Personnel
Peter Cetera – vocals, acoustic guitar
David Foster – piano, Minimoog synth bass
Steve Lukather – electric guitar
David Paich – synthesizer
Steve Porcaro – synthesizer
Danny Seraphine – drums
Strings arranged by Peter Cetera, David Foster and Jeremy Lubbock