Mick Ronson and Ian produced this forceful record Pain for Urgent, Cast the First Stone, which reached Billboard's top 100, with Donnie Kehr. Kehr gets co-writing credit on this song, and this song arose out of their collaboration. The song came from that album and Kehr, although a good singer appearing on two Grammy Award winning albums, he went on to be a successful actor as well. Originally entitled Pain (Love Is a Victim) the song featured Tommy Mandel on keyboards. Ronson added a great deal with his muscular guitar work with powerful chords and delightful choruses. Mick's spikey solo was riddled with controlled feedback superbly performed.
The song is about lost love and the pain that results. It says it's going to take some time to get over the suffering.
Hunter wrote a total of four songs for Donnie Kehr and the Running Back single hit #87 on Billboard. Ian also co-wrote If This Is Love, Inch by Inch.
Donnie Kehr is an American singer-songwriter, musician and producer. He co-founded the band Urgent on EMI-Manhattan Records and their album ‘Cast the First Stone’ sold over 400,000 copies to reach Billboard’s top 100. Donnie’s voice is featured on two Grammy Award winning albums: The Who's 'Tommy', produced by Pete Townshend & Sir George Martin, and Jersey Boys produced by Bob Gaudio.
On the Hunter Ronson version Tommy Mandel played a terrific piano piece with feedback from Mick.
Also recorded at The Cabaret, San Jose CA 16th December 1989 and it is on Missing In Action.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
Donnie Kehr is an American actor, having originated roles in Broadway's Jersey Boys, Billy Elliot, the Who's-Tommy, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Human Comedy and many others.
His film credits include Jersey Boys directed by Clint Eastwood, Wall Street, Chaplin with Robert Downey Jr and more. Television credits include, House of Cards, Gotham, Quantico, Tales of The City, Z-The Beginning of Everything and Inventing Anna. He has performed on the Tonight Show, David Letterman, Good Morning America, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Oscars.
There is live version as well on two different recordings due to minor differences between the two.
Pain
(Donnie Kehr/Ian Hunter)
I believe in magic
Ain't it kinda tragic
When you find out
Angels can be devils
You were never on the level with me babe, at all
Pain, pain, pain!
I got this pain
Sittin' on the midnight train
Beggars can be choosers
Winners can be losers
I'll get over you somehow
It's gonna take a little time
To put you to the back of my mind, forever
Pain, shootin' down the length o' my brain
I got this pain
Nothin' is the same
When love is a victim
Love is a victim of pain
Ain't no doubt about it babe
Love is a victim of pain I'm lonely
And I don't know what to do about you babe
'Cos Loneliness is such a drag
Pain | 4:44 | Originally issued on YUI Orta. |
Pain (live 16th December 1989) | 5:54 | This live version (recorded at the Cabaret, San Jose CA) was released on Missing In Action, and on Bag Of Tricks (Vol 1) (box set only). The version on Bag Of Tricks is shorter (at 5:47) due to the song introduction being omitted at the start, and shorter crowd noise at the end. |