So Very Hard to Go

"So Very Hard to Go" is a torch song performed by American rhythm and blues band Tower of Power, issued as the second single from their eponymous third album. It was produced by the band and written by band members Emilio Castillo and Stephen Kupka,^[3][2] with Lenny Williams performing the vocals. The song is the band's biggest hit to date in the United States, peaking at No. 17 on the Hot 100 on 28 July 1973^[4] and No. 4 on KHJ on 31 July 1973.^[5]

"So Very Hard to Go"
Single by Tower of Power
from the album Tower of Power
B-side	"Clean Slate"[1]
Released	April 1973 (1973)
Recorded	1972 (1972)
Genre	R&B
Length	3:37
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Emilio Castillo Stephen Kupka[2]
Producer(s)	Tower of Power[3]
Tower of Power singles chronology
"You're Still a Young Man" (1972) "So Very Hard to Go" (1973) "What Is Hip?" (1973)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1973)[4]	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100	17
US R&B Singles (Billboard)	11
US Easy Listening (Billboard)[6]	36

Year-end charts

Chart (1973)	Position
US Billboard Hot 100[7]	76

Cover versions

• "So Very Hard to Go" was covered by Filipino singer Martin Nievera for his 1999 album Return to Forever.^[8][9]
• "So Very Hard to Go" was covered by Dave Koz on his album Dave Koz and friends, with Michael McDonald on vocals.
• ”So Very Hard to Go" was covered in April 2022 by the Moscow-based Chicago tribute band Leonid and Friends featuring new singer Michael Puntov

Popular culture

• The song appears in the 2016 video game Watch Dogs 2.
• The song also appears in the Academy Award Nominated 2002 Brazilian film City of God.
• The song also appears in the 2008 film Semi-Pro.

References

1. "Tower Of Power - So Very Hard To Go / Clean Slate at Discogs". Discogs. Zink Media. 1973. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
2. "So Very Hard to Go - Tower of Power | Listen, Appearances, Song Review | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
3. "Tower Of Power - So Very Hard To Go / Clean Slate (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Zink Media. 21 March 1973. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
4. "Tower of Power | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
5. "Thirty". KHJ. 1973-07-31. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
6. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. __.
7. Pedro. "Longbored Surfer - 1973". LongboredSurfer.com. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
8. "So Very Hard to Go - Tower of Power | WhoSampled". WhoSampled. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
9. "Return to Forever - Martin Nievera | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 13, 2015.

^ "Tower Of Power - So Very Hard To Go / Clean Slate at Discogs". Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved August 13, 2015. 2.^ Jump up to: a b "So Very Hard to Go - Tower of Power | Listen, Appearances, Song Review | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 10, 2015. 3.^ Jump up to: a b "Tower Of Power - So Very Hard To Go / Clean Slate (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved August 13, 2015. 4.^ Jump up to: a b "Tower of Power | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 13, 2015. 5.^ "So Very Hard to Go - Tower of Power | WhoSampled". WhoSampled. Retrieved August 13, 2015. 6.^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. __. 7.^ Pedro. "Longbored Surfer - 1973". LongboredSurfer.com. Retrieved August 13, 2015.

External links

• "So Very Hard to Go" at AllMusic
• "So Very Hard to Go" at Discogs (list of releases)