Loving You's a Dirty Job but Somebody's Gotta Do It

"Loving You's a Dirty Job but Somebody's Gotta Do It" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler and American singer Todd Rundgren. Written and produced by Jim Steinman, the track was released as the lead single from Tyler's sixth studio album, Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire (1986), in November 1985.

The single artwork featured paintings by the British artist Edward Burne-Jones. 12-inch editions feature the cover painting The Beguiling of Merlin, while 7-inch editions feature Phyllis and Demophoon. Some territories feature a photograph of Tyler.

Music video
The official music video of the song was directed by Tim Pope. Todd Rundgren was unable to appear in the video, and Tyler was frustrated that most directors wanted him to feature as a silhouette. Tyler stated that Pope was the only director who suggested using a stand-in actor. Rundren's lines were subsequently mimed by Welsh actor Hywel Bennett.

After the single was released, Tyler and Pope appeared on an episode of Saturday Superstore, where they hosted a giveaway for the original canvas painting of Tyler and Hywel Bennett, which features in the music video.

Credits and personnel

 * Roy Bittan – piano, synthesizer
 * Jimmy Bralower – drums, percussion
 * Steve Buslowe – bass guitar
 * Larry Fast – synthesizer
 * Eddie Martinez – guitar
 * Sid McGinnis – guitar
 * Max Weinberg – drums
 * Bonnie Tyler – vocal
 * Rory Dodd – background vocal
 * Todd Rundgren – featured artist, background vocal
 * Eric Troyer – background vocal

Track listings

 * 7-inch single
 * 1) "Loving You's a Dirty Job but Somebody's Gotta Do It" (Jim Steinman) — 5:40
 * 2) "Under Suspicion" (B. Tyler, P. Hopkins, P. Oxendale) — 4:24


 * 12-inch maxi
 * 1) "Loving You's a Dirty Job but Somebody's Gotta Do It" (long version) (Jim Steinman) — 7:48
 * 2) "Under Suspicion" (B. Tyler, P. Hopkins, P. Oxendale) — 4:24
 * 3) "It's a Jungle Out There" (Dennis Polen, Paul Pilger, William Moloney) — 3:57

Meat Loaf version
The song was re-recorded by Meat Loaf on his 2016 album Braver Than We Are, as a duet with Stacy Michelle, under the slightly modified title of "Loving You Is a Dirty Job (But Somebody's Gotta Do It)". This version has the male and female vocals reversed, with the male vocal being the lead. The song was not issued as a single.