"It Hit Me Like a Hammer" is a song by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News, released in 1991 by EMI USA as the second single from their sixth album, Hard at Play (1991). The song was co-written by band leader Huey Lewis and songwriter/producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange. The song peaked at No. 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming their final top-40 hit in the US, and No. 9 on Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. The single release contains a remix of the song with a saxophone solo that did not appear on the album.

Track listings

  • 7-inch and cassette single

A. "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" – 4:01

B. "Do You Love Me, or What?" – 3:46

  • 12-inch and CD single
  1. "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" (remix sax solo version) – 4:02
  2. "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" – 4:01
  3. "Do You Love Me, or What?" – 3:46
  • Japanese mini-album
  1. "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" (single remix)
  2. "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" (album version)
  3. "Do You Love Me, or What?"

Charts

Chart (1991)Peak position
Weekly charts Chart (1991) Peak position Australia (ARIA) 106 Canada Top Singles (RPM) 9 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) 8 Europe (European Hit Radio) 7 Germany (GfK) 51 Spain (Top 40 Radio) 12 UK Airplay (Music Week) 24 US Billboard Hot 100 21 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 10Year-end charts Chart (1991) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM) 77 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) 70 Europe (European Hit Radio) 66
Australia (ARIA)106
Canada Top Singles (RPM)9
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)8
Europe (European Hit Radio)7
Germany (GfK)51
Spain (Top 40 Radio)12
UK Airplay (Music Week)24
US Billboard Hot 10021
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)10
Chart (1991)Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)77
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)70
Europe (European Hit Radio)66

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United States1991CassetteEMI USA
AustraliaAugust 12, 19917-inch vinylCDcassette
JapanSeptember 20, 1991Mini-CD