"The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow)"
Single by The Jam
B-side
  • "Pity Poor Alfie"
  • "Fever"
Released6 September 1982
GenreBlue-eyed soul[1]
Length3:34
LabelPolydor (UK)
Songwriter(s)Paul Weller
The Jam singles chronology
"Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?"
(1982) 		"The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow)"
(1982) 		"Beat Surrender"
(1982)
Rear cover
Rear cover of The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow)

"The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow)" is a single that was released by The Jam in September 1982. It reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and remained there for two weeks, unable to dislodge "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor and "Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth from the top spot.[2][3]

The backing vocals are provided by Jennie Matthias, lead singer of The Belle Stars.[4]

The man on the front cover of this single is Vaughn Toulouse, singer of Department S.[5]

References

  1. ^ Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "Back to the Future: Two Tone and Mod". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 499. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
  2. ^ "Jam: Singles". Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 277. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ^ "The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow)" (sleeve). London: Polydor. 1982. PEP 316.
  5. ^ "What is the Chain?". bbc.co.uk. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
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