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Crying (Roy Orbison song)#Don McLean version

{{Short description|1961 song by Roy Orbison}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Crying

| cover = Crying (Roy Orbison single).jpg

| alt =

| published = {{Start date|1961|8|16}} Acuff-Rose Publications, Inc.{{Cite book|last=Library of Congress. Copyright Office.|url=http://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyrig3155libr|title=Catalog of Copyright Entries 1961 Music July-Dec 3D Ser Vol 15 Pt 5|date=1961|publisher=U.S. Govt. Print. Off.|others=United States Copyright Office|language=English}}

| type = single

| artist = Roy Orbison

| album = Crying

| B-side = Candy Man

| released = {{Start date|1961|7}}

| format =

| recorded = June 26, 1961{{Cite AV media notes |title = Orbison 1955-1965 (7-CD Deluxe Box Set) |last = Weize |first = Richard |url = https://www.bear-family.com/orbison-roy-orbison-1955-1965-7-cd-deluxe-box-set.html |date = 2001 |access-date = October 11, 2021 |type = booklet |publisher = Bear Family Records|id = BCD16423}}

| studio = RCA Victor Studio B, Nashville

| genre = {{hlist|Country|rock}}

| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=46}}

| label = Monument 447

| writer = {{hlist|Roy Orbison|Joe Melson}}

| producer = Fred Foster

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Roy Orbison

| type = single

| prev_title = Running Scared

| prev_title2 = Love Hurts

| prev_year = 1961

| title = Crying

| year = 1961

| next_title = Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)

| next_year = 1962

}}

}}

"Crying" is a song written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson for Orbison's third studio album of the same name (1962). Released in 1961, it was a number 2 hit in the US for Orbison and was covered in 1978 by Don McLean, whose version went to number 1 in the UK in 1980.

Composition

Dave Marsh calls the song a "rock-bolero" with "blaring strings, hammered tympani, a ghostly chorus, the gentle strum of a guitar, [and] a hint of marimba".{{cite book|last=Marsh|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Marsh|pages=75–76|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5t5DYDniSHEC&pg=PA75|title=The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made|publisher=Da Capo Press|year=1999|isbn=030680901X}} Billboard observes an "expressive reading" on the "country-flavored ballad."{{cite magazine|title=Spotlight Singles of the Week|magazine=Billboard|date=July 31, 1961|page=27|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DiEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27|access-date=December 18, 2012}} The personnel on the original recording included Orbison session regulars Bob Moore on bass; Floyd Cramer on piano; Buddy Harman on drums; and Boudleaux Bryant, Harold Bradley,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8-Cnr2Mc50IC&q=roy+orbison+afm&pg=PA17|title=Full Committee Hearing on Assessing the Impact of the Copyright Royalty Rates on Recording Artists and Webcasters|year=2007|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |isbn=9780160802638}} and Scotty Moore{{Cite web|url=https://royorbison.com/rip-scotty-moore/|title=RIP Scotty Moore|website=Royorbison.com|access-date=April 22, 2021}} on guitar.

Release and reception

The song was released as a 45-rpm single by Monument Records in mid-July 1961{{Cite book|last=Orbison|first=Roy Jr.|title=The Authorized Roy Orbison|publisher=Center Street|others=Orbison, Wesley,, Orbison, Alex,, Slate, Jeff|year=2017|isbn=9781478976547|edition=First|location=New York|oclc=1017566749}} and reached No. 1 on the United States Cashbox chart for a week on October 7, 1961. On the rival Billboard Hot 100 it peaked at No. 2, where "Hit the Road Jack" by Ray Charles and his Orchestra kept it from No. 1.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100|title=Top 100 Songs - Billboard Hot 100 Chart|magazine=Billboard}} Despite not reaching the summit in the latter publication, Billboard ranked the record as the No. 4 song of 1961.{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kSAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10|title=Chart Toppers |magazine=Billboard |page=10 |date=December 25, 1961 }}

In 2002, "Crying" was honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. In 2010, Rolling Stone ranked it 69th on their list of the "500 greatest songs of all time".{{cite magazine |title=Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/roy-orbison-crying-20110525 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=April 2010 |access-date=September 18, 2015}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1961)

! Peak
position

Canada (CHUM Hit Parade){{cite web |url=https://chumtribute.com/61-10-09-chart.jpg |title=CHUM Hit Parade, week of October 09, 1961}}

| style="text-align:center;"|3

{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|25|artist=Roy Orbison |artistid=16272 |refname=ukchart}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|2|artist=Roy Orbison}}
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles{{Cite web|url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/19611007.html|title=CASH BOX Top 100 Singles week ending October 7, 1961|website=cashboxmagazine.com}}

|align="center"|1

class="wikitable"
Chart (1992)

! Peak
position

{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|13|artist=Roy Orbison |artistid=16272 |refname=ukchart}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
Chart (1961)

! Position

US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine |url=http://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1962/Billboard%201962-01-06.pdf |title=Chart Toppers - Hot 100 for 1961 - Top Sides of the Year|magazine=The Billboard |date=January 6, 1962 |page=33}}

| style="text-align:center;"|4

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Roy Orbison|title=Crying|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=2016|certyear=2025|accessdate=February 3, 2025|id=1587-1872-1}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

Don McLean version

{{Infobox song

| name = Crying

| cover = Crying - Don McLean.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Don McLean

| album = Chain Lightning

| B-side = Genesis (In the Beginning)

| released = 1980

| format =

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = {{hlist|Country|easy listening}}

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=35}}

| label = Millennium

| writer = {{hlist|Roy Orbison|Joe Melson}}

| producer =

| prev_title = Since I Don't Have You

| prev_year = 1978

| next_title = It's Just the Sun

| next_year = 1981

}}

Don McLean's recording of the song went to No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1981.{{cite web|url=http://www.song-database.com/chhist.php?sid=1986&from=spu&type=ht |title=Billboard Hot 100 Chart History : "Crying" - Don McLean |publisher=Song-database.com |access-date=March 29, 2014}} It also reached No. 2 adult contemporary and No. 6 Country. It fared even better in the UK, where it reached No. 1 in 1980, spending three weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart.{{cite book

| first= David

| last= Roberts

| year= 2006

| title= British Hit Singles & Albums

| edition= 19th

| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited

| location= London

| isbn= 1-904994-10-5

| page= 382}} "Crying" was taken from his 1978 album, Chain Lightning. It became his second biggest hit in America.

=Charts=

{{col-begin|width=75%}}

{{col-2}}

==Weekly charts==

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1980–1981)

! Peak
position

Australia

| style="text-align:center;"|27

{{single chart|Flanders|1|artist=Don Mclean|song=Crying|access-date=September 9, 2016}}
Canada RPM Top Singles

| style="text-align:center;"|7

Canada RPM Country

| style="text-align:center;"|1

{{single chart|Ireland2|1|song=Crying|access-date=June 22, 2023}}
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=http://www.top40.nl/top40/1980/week-10 |title=Top 40-lijst van week 10, 1980 |access-date=March 8, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311111048/http://www.top40.nl/top40/1980/week-10 |archive-date=March 11, 2016 }}

| style="text-align:center;"|1

New Zealand{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1980-10-17 |title=NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart |website=Nztop40.co.nz |date=October 19, 1980 |access-date=September 26, 2016}}

| style="text-align:center;"|11

South Africa (Springbok){{cite web|url= http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(M).html |title= South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (M) |publisher= Rock.co.za |access-date= September 8, 2018}}

|align="center"|3

UK Singles Chart

| style="text-align:center;"|1

US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–2002

| style="text-align:center;"|5

US Billboard Adult Contemporary

| style="text-align:center;"|2

US Billboard Country

| style="text-align:center;"|6

US Cash Box Top 100{{cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19810328.html |title=Top 100 1981-03-28 |work=Cashbox Magazine |access-date=May 27, 2015 }}

| style="text-align:center;"|6

{{col-2}}

==Year-end charts==

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1980)

! Rank

Australia{{Cite web |url=https://www.australianchartbooks.com.au/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305064644/http://www.austchartbook.com.au/|url-status=dead|title=Australian Chart Books|archivedate=March 5, 2016|website=Australianchartbooks.com.au|access-date=April 22, 2021}}

| style="text-align:center;"|119

Netherlands{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1980&cat=s|title=Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl|website=dutchcharts.nl}}

| style="text-align:center;"|5

South Africa{{cite web|title=Top 20 Hit Singles of 1980|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sahits_1980.html|access-date=December 26, 2018}}

|align="center"|19

UK Singles Chart{{cite magazine |author= |title=UK Singles of the Year |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/80/Record-Mirror-1980-12-27.pdf |magazine=Record Mirror |location=London |publisher=Spotlight Publications |page=30 |date=December 27, 1980 |access-date=June 13, 2016 }}

| style="text-align:center;"|15

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1981)

! Rank

CanadaThe 1981 Top 100 Singles chart is identified by the RPM Year-End article {{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.4689&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 |title=Top 100 Singles (1981)|magazine=RPM |access-date=January 5, 2018}}

| style="text-align:center;"|49

US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1981.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1981/Top 100 Songs of 1981 |website=Musicoutfitters.com |access-date=September 26, 2016}}

| style="text-align:center;"|40

US Cash Box{{cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1981YESP.html |title=Top 100 Year End Charts: 1981 |work=Cashbox Magazine |access-date=July 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918145923/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1981YESP.html |archive-date=September 18, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

| style="text-align:center;"|52

{{col-end}}

=Sales and certifications=

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Crying"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|artist=Roy Orbison|title=Crying|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1980|certyear=1980|access-date=July 16, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Don McLean|title=Crying|award=Silver|certyear=1980|access-date=26 August 2024|relyear=1980|id=1587-2942-1}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

Roy Orbison and k.d. lang version

{{Infobox song

| name = Crying

| cover = RoyOrbisonKdlangCrying.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Roy Orbison and k.d. lang

| album = King of Hearts {{noitalic|and}} Hiding Out {{noitalic|soundtrack}}

| B-side = Falling

| released = 1987

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=48}}

| label = Virgin

| writer =

| producer =

| chronology = Roy Orbison

| prev_title = In Dreams

| prev_year = 1987

| next_title = Handle with Care

| next_year = 1988

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = k.d. lang singles

| type = single

| prev_title = Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray

| prev_year = 1987

| title = Crying

| year = 1987

| next_title = Honky Tonk Angels Medley

| next_year = 1988

}}

}}

Orbison rerecorded the song as a duet with Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang as part of the soundtrack to the motion picture Hiding Out and released it as a single in 1987. Their collaboration won the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. It reached No. 2 in Lang's native Canada, and No. 28 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and No. 42 on the Hot Country Singles chart in the US. In 1992, it reached the charts in the UK and Ireland, peaking at No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 9 on the Irish Singles Chart. It returned to the US Adult Contemporary chart in 1993, peaking at No. 40.

=Track listings=

7-inch and cassette single (1987, 1992){{cite AV media notes|title=Crying|others=Roy Orbison, k.d. lang|year=1987|type=US 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Virgin Records|id=7-99388}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Crying|others=Roy Orbison, k.d. lang|year=1992|type=UK 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VUS 63, 7243 8 90012 73}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Crying|others=Roy Orbison, k.d. lang|year=1992|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VUSC 63, 7243 8 90012 42}}

  1. "Crying" (with k.d. lang) – 3:48
  2. "Falling" – 2:22

UK CD1 and Australian CD single (1992){{cite AV media notes|title=Crying|others=Roy Orbison, k.d. lang|year=1992|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VUSCD 63, 7243 8 90012 28}}

  1. "Crying" (with k.d. lang)
  2. "Falling"
  3. "Oh, Pretty Woman"
  4. "She's a Mystery to Me"

UK CD2 (1992){{cite AV media notes|title=Crying|others=Roy Orbison, k.d. lang|year=1992|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VUSCX 63, 7243 8 90025 22}}

  1. "Crying" (with k.d. lang)
  2. "Falling"
  3. "Only the Lonely"
  4. "It's Over"

=Charts=

{{col-begin|width=75%}}

{{col-2}}

==Weekly charts==

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1988)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|2|chartid=0941|access-date=March 19, 2019}}
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|5|chartid=8898|access-date=March 19, 2019}}
{{single chart|Canadacountry|25|chartid=0945|access-date=March 19, 2019}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|47|artist=Roy Orbison with k.d. lang|song=Crying|access-date=March 19, 2019}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|28|artist=Roy Orbison|access-date=March 19, 2019}}
{{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|42|artist=Roy Orbison|access-date=March 19, 2019}}

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1992–1993)

!Peak
position

Australia (ARIA){{cite Ryan|page=161}}

|align="center"|71

Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-09-12.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=37|page=15|date=September 12, 1992|access-date=July 22, 2020}}

|align="center"|36

{{single chart|Ireland2|9|song=Crying|access-date=June 22, 2023}}
{{single chart|UK|13|date=19920829|access-date=March 19, 2019}}
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite book|first=Joel|last=Whitburn|author-link=Joel Whitburn|year=1993|title=Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993|publisher=Record Research|page=180}}

|align="center"|40

{{col-2}}

==Year-end charts==

class="wikitable"

!Chart (1988)

!Position

Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Singles of '88|magazine=RPM|volume=49|issue=10|page=9|date=December 24, 1988|access-date=March 24, 2019|url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume%2049-No.%2010-December%2024,%201988.pdf}}

|align="center"|45

{{col-end}}

=Release history=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United States

|rowspan="2"|November 1987

|rowspan="3"|7-inch vinyl

|rowspan="6"|Virgin

|

scope="row"|Canada

|

scope="row"|Australia

|February 1988

|

scope="row" rowspan="2"|United Kingdom

|August 10, 1992

|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|CD1|cassette}}

|{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=19|date=August 8, 1992}}

August 17, 1992

|CD2

|{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=21|date=August 15, 1992}}

scope="row"|Japan

|November 18, 1992

|Mini-CD

|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/185961/products/298540/1/|title=クライング {{!}} ロイ・オービソン|trans-title=Crying {{!}} Roy Orbison|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=September 14, 2023}}

Notable cover versions

Appearances in film, television and other media

{{in popular culture|section|date=July 2018}}

  • US presidential candidate Mitt Romney mentioned this song among his top 19 songs of all time in March 2012.{{cite web|url =http://www.politico.com/blogs/click/2012/03/mitt-romney-names-his-favorite-tunes-116957.html|title=Mitt Romney names the greatest tunes off all time|publisher = Politico|access-date =March 1, 2012}}
  • In 2011, "Crying" was featured in the American comedy-drama film 50/50.{{cite web|url =https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1306980/soundtrack|title=IMDB soundtrack list for the movie 50/50|publisher = IMDb.com|year = 2011|access-date=March 29, 2014}}
  • "Crying" was featured in an episode of Only Fools and Horses. The episode "Stage Fright" featured Raquel and a guest character (Tony Angelino, played by Philip Pope) singing this song at a function. Angelino had a rhotacism, causing him to pronounce his Rs incorrectly.
  • "Crying" was featured in The Walking Dead television series in season 7, episode 3, "The Cell". The song is played by Dwight for Daryl in his cell after he was given an image of Glenn Rhee's deceased body. This is done in an attempt to break Daryl's spirit so that he might switch to the Saviors.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

The song is also used in the 1997 film "Gummo".

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.allmusic.com/song/crying-mt0009045411 "Crying"] at Allmusic

{{Roy Orbison}}

{{Jay and the Americans}}

{{K.D. Lang}}

{{Don McLean}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crying (Song)}}

Category:1960s ballads

Category:1961 songs

Category:1961 singles

Category:1980 singles

Category:1987 singles

Category:1992 singles

Category:Country ballads

Category:Monument Records singles

Category:Virgin Records singles

Category:Songs written by Roy Orbison

Category:Songs written by Joe Melson

Category:Roy Orbison songs

Category:K.d. lang songs

Category:Billy Joe Royal songs

Category:Don McLean songs

Category:Jay and the Americans songs

Category:Arlene Harden songs

Category:Ronnie Milsap songs

Category:Stephanie Winslow songs

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:RPM Country Tracks number-one singles of the year

Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles

Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients

Category:Rock ballads

Category:Torch songs

Category:Male–female vocal duets

Category:Song recordings produced by Fred Foster

Category:Song recordings produced by Don Was

Category:Song recordings produced by Pete Anderson

Category:Millennium Records singles

Category:Songs about loneliness

Category:Breakup songs