"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". Billboard observes an "expressive reading" on the "country-flavored ballad." 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, and Scotty Moore on guitar.
Release and reception
The song was released as a 45-rpm single by Monument Records in mid-July 1961 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. Despite not reaching the summit in the latter publication, Billboard ranked the record as the No. 4 song of 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".
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Don McLean version
Don McLean's recording of the song went to No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1981. His version of "Crying" 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 atop the UK Singles Chart. McLean issued an album in 1981; however, "Crying" was taken from his 1978 album, Chain Lightning. It became his second biggest hit in America.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Sales and certifications
Roy Orbison and k.d. lang version
Orbison rerecorded the song as a duet with k.d. lang as part of the soundtrack for 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 but was a minor US chart hit for the pair, peaking at No. 28 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and No. 42 on the Hot Country Singles chart. It was a more substantial hit in the United Kingdom and Ireland in 1992, reaching No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 9 on the Irish Singles Chart. In 1993, the song re-charted on the US Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at No. 40.
Track listings
7-inch and cassette single (1987, 1992) "Crying" (with k.d. lang) – 3:48 "Falling" – 2:22
UK CD1 and Australian CD single (1992) "Crying" (with k.d. lang) "Falling" "Oh, Pretty Woman" "She's a Mystery to Me"
UK CD2 (1992) "Crying" (with k.d. lang) "Falling" "Only the Lonely" "It's Over"
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Release history
Notable cover versions
A version by Jay and the Americans reached No. 25 in the US in 1966. Three other cover versions made country music charts over time. Charting with the song were: Del Shannon (1964) Arlene Harden (No. 28 in 1970), Ronnie Milsap (No. 79 in 1976) Stephanie Winslow (No. 14 in 1980). Rebekah Del Rio performed an a cappella Spanish language version of the song entitled "Llorando" in the 2001 David Lynch film Mulholland Drive. Waylon Jennings (1964)