When music fans think of Bobby Sherman, most remember his string of hits in the late 1960s and early 1970s, his clean-cut teen idol image, and his appearances on TV that made him a household name. Yet long before his rise to fame, Sherman released a lesser-known single that captured the aching vulnerability of young love—It Hurts Me (1965). Although it never charted, this track offers a fascinating glimpse into Sherman’s early career, the pop landscape of the mid-1960s, and the foundation of what would later make him a star.
The Early Release and Context
Released in 1965 under Decca Records, It Hurts Me wasn’t Sherman’s breakthrough moment, but it represented an important step in his journey. Originally recorded as the B-side to You Make Me Happy in 1964, the song was later promoted to A-side status in an effort to spark more traction for the young artist. Despite Decca’s push, the single failed to climb the charts, but it showcased Sherman’s heartfelt delivery and positioned him for future opportunities.
Fans can also rediscover It Hurts Me in the 1990 compilation album What Came Before (Teen Ager Records), which collected many of Sherman’s earliest recordings. This re-release highlighted just how much untapped potential lay within the young singer even before his eventual fame.
Why It Hurts Me Was Created
At the time, Bobby Sherman was struggling to break into the competitive music scene. Several of his earlier singles had gone largely unnoticed, but Decca Records believed in his potential. With the rise of teen idols and the popularity of heartfelt pop ballads in the mid-1960s, the label saw an opportunity. They gave Sherman another shot, promoting It Hurts Me as a standalone single.
The song was penned by Dick Glasser, a songwriter and producer who had also written You Make Me Happy. Glasser understood the market perfectly—teenagers wanted songs that spoke directly to the highs and lows of young love. His lyrics, paired with Sherman’s clean voice and earnest delivery, were designed to resonate with listeners experiencing heartbreak for the first time.
At the same time, Sherman was gaining visibility through his appearances on the TV show Shindig! (1964–1966). This exposure gave him credibility and momentum, even if his singles weren’t immediate hits. It Hurts Me was part of that transitional phase—a project that reflected ambition, youthful emotion, and a careful attempt to craft his image as a rising star.
Musical Style and Themes
It Hurts Me is best described as a melancholic pop ballad, a song steeped in the universal emotions of loss and longing. It tells the story of a young man witnessing the girl he loves with someone else, and the pain that follows. Its central theme is heartbreak, a subject as timeless in 1965 as it is today.
The arrangement is deliberately simple. Listeners hear gentle piano lines, a soft guitar, and a restrained rhythm section that allows Sherman’s vocals to shine. Unlike the more upbeat pop hits of the era, this ballad leans into vulnerability, creating intimacy between singer and audience.
The lyrics are direct, almost painfully honest. Lines such as “It hurts me, baby, to see you with him / My heart breaks in two, my world grows dim” capture the rawness of teenage heartache. Other phrases like “losing my mind” add to the emotional weight, making the song relatable to anyone who has endured unrequited love or betrayal.
Importantly, the song avoids naming the love interest. By keeping the story vague, it becomes universally applicable. Any listener could insert their own experience into the narrative, which was a clever way to broaden its appeal.
Bobby Sherman’s Delivery
Sherman’s performance is what elevates It Hurts Me. Even as a young and relatively unknown artist, his sincerity comes through in every note. His voice carries both tenderness and urgency, making listeners believe the pain he sings about is real. While he would later become known for more polished pop hits, this early track revealed his natural ability to connect emotionally through song.
This authenticity is precisely why It Hurts Me remains compelling, even decades later. It may not have been a commercial success at the time, but it demonstrated Sherman’s potential as an interpreter of heartfelt ballads.
Cultural Relevance and Legacy
Though overshadowed by Sherman’s later successes, It Hurts Me deserves recognition for its role in shaping his career. It reflects the pop trends of the mid-1960s, when teen idols and emotional ballads dominated the charts. It also highlights how record labels experimented with different approaches—testing B-sides as potential A-sides, gauging audience response, and working to establish artists in a crowded marketplace.
Today, revisiting It Hurts Me is like opening a time capsule. It brings us back to an era when love songs were unashamedly sentimental, when vulnerability was celebrated rather than hidden, and when young singers like Bobby Sherman were just beginning to carve out their place in music history.
Rediscovering the Song
For those who have never heard it, It Hurts Me is more than just a forgotten single—it’s a snapshot of Bobby Sherman before the fame, a reminder of his determination, and an example of the raw honesty that made him beloved by fans later on. Thanks to reissues and archival compilations, the track is accessible once again to curious listeners and nostalgic fans.
The performance also lives on through video clips, including Sherman’s appearance on Shindig! where he performed the song with youthful energy and sincerity. Watching these early performances helps fans appreciate just how much groundwork was laid before the massive hits of the late 1960s.
Final Thoughts
It Hurts Me (1965) may not have been a chart-topping success, but it remains a poignant piece of Bobby Sherman’s musical story. With lyrics that cut straight to the heart, a simple yet effective arrangement, and a vocal delivery filled with sincerity, the song embodies the bittersweet charm of 1960s pop ballads.
For today’s listeners, revisiting this track is both a musical discovery and a nostalgic journey. It reminds us that even the songs that didn’t make the charts can carry emotional power and historical value. In the case of Bobby Sherman, It Hurts Me stands as proof that his talent was evident long before the world fully took notice.