What Becomes of the Brokenhearted

• Lead vocals by Jimmy Ruffin • Background vocals by the Originals (Freddie Gorman, Walter Gaines, Hank Dixon, C.P. Spencer) and the Andantes (Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, Louvain Demps) • Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers • String arrangements by Paul Riser ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications==

Film and television In 1990, the song was used in The Wonder Years Season 3 episode "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre", where Kevin Arnold picks up a Valentine's Day card meant for Winnie Cooper and realises he has genuine feelings for her. In the military procedural series JAG (Season 3, Episode 15 – February 1998) this song was used at the end of the episode, as Mac, Harm and Bud all sing it together at a pub. In 2009, the song was used during the closing credits of the French film La Famille Wolberg. In 2019 HBO's Big Little Lies used the song in the first episode of the second season. In 2019 Apple TV+’s For All Mankind used the song during the first episode of the first season. In 2026, the song was used in the official trailer for DC Studios' Supergirl. ==Paul Young version==

A 1991 cover by Paul Young was featured in the film Fried Green Tomatoes. During the winter of 1992, his version reached No. 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 Cash Box, becoming Young's third No. 1 song on the US adult contemporary chart (following "Everytime You Go Away" and "Oh Girl"). It was a bigger hit in Canada, reaching No. 6 pop and No. 1 Adult Contemporary. Chart history Weekly charts Year-end charts ==Other versions==

• Tom Jones recorded the song for his 1979 album Rescue Me. • Ruffin recorded an Italian version of the song, titled "Se decidi così" ("If You Decide So"). • A 1981 version by Dave Stewart on synth and vocals by Zombies singer Colin Blunstone on Stiff reached No. 13 in the UK. • Robson & Jerome's version spent two weeks at number-one on the UK Singles Chart in 1996. • Pop group Westlife also covered the song. It was released as the B-side of the single "What Makes a Man" in December 2000. • Singer Joan Osborne recorded the song with the Funk Brothers for the soundtrack of the 2002 film Standing in the Shadows of Motown. The track also appeared on Osborne's 2007 album Breakfast in Bed. • Singer Frankie Valli recorded and released his version of the song on his 2007 album Romancing the 60s. • Singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen recorded the song for his 2022 album, Only the Strong Survive. • Musician Russell Hitchcock of Australian duo Air Supply recorded the song for his 1988 debut solo album, Russell Hitchcock. ==References==