"Heartaches" is a song written by composer Al Hoffman and singer John Klenner and originally published in 1931. A fast-tempo instrumental version of the song by Ted Weems and his Orchestra became a major hit in 1947, topping the Billboard Best Selling Singles chart. Later versions by band leader Harry James and doo-wop group the Marcels were also chart successes. "Heartaches" has received renewed attention in the 2010s and 2020s after several 1930s recordings of the song, including a version by Sid Phillips & his Melodians with Al Bowlly, were sampled in the Caretaker's album Everywhere at the End of Time. Early recordings Al Hoffman composed "Heartaches" after moving to New York City in a bid to become a successful songwriter; though it was not initially a major hit, it has been described by Billboard as Hoffman's first great song. The song's lyrics were written by John Klenner. A 1931 recording by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians on Columbia (catalogue number 2390-D), was a modest success. Another early version was issued by Sid Phillips & his Melodians with Al Bowlly providing the vocal. This recording was made in London in late August 1931 and released on the Edison Bell Winner label (EBW 5358). Ted Weems version The most successful version of the song is by the American bandleader Ted Weems and his Orchestra. Weems' instrumental arrangement features a prominent whistling part by Elmo Tanner over what the bandleader described as a "corny sort-of half rhumba rhythm". The original recording was made in 1933 on Bluebird B-5131 in a novel, fast tempo to low record sales. Tanner later described this version as "before its time", stating "its beat was too fast and it was in samba time. Nobody knew the samba in those days." In 1938, Weems and his Orchestra (including Tanner) re-recorded "Heartaches" at a slightly slower "rhumba fox trot" tempo for Decca Records. Like its predecessor, this version was not a chart success upon release. Weems' career was put on hold in early 1942 when he and his entire band enlisted in the United States Merchant Marine to fight in the Second World War. In early 1947, Kurt Webster, a late-night disc jockey on WBT in Charlotte, North Carolina, a 50,000-watt station that reached across the East Coast, played Weems' 1938 version of "Heartaches". Webster enjoyed the tune and entered it into his regular rotation, leading to listeners