Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying

For the 1946 song by Louis Jordan, see Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'.
"Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying"
Single by Gerry and the Pacemakers
B-side "Show Me That You Care" (UK and Canada)
"Away from You" (US)
Released April 1964
Format 7" single
Genre Merseybeat, pop
Length 2:38
Label EMI Columbia (UK)
Laurie (US)
Capitol (Canada)
Writer(s) Gerry Marsden, Freddie Marsden, Les Chadwick, Les Maguire
Producer(s) George Martin
Gerry and the Pacemakers singles chronology
"I'm the One"
(1964)
"Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying"
(1964)
"It's Gonna Be Alright"
(1964)

"Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" is a song written and originally performed by British beat group Gerry and the Pacemakers. The songwriting is credited to Gerry Marsden and the other band members, Freddie Marsden, Les Chadwick and Les Maguire. It was first recorded by Louise Cordet, and then recorded by the group themselves in early 1964.

History

The song was given first to Louise Cordet, a singer who had previously toured with the group as well as with The Beatles. Her version was produced by Tony Meehan and released on Decca Records in February 1964.[1] The group then decided to issue their own version.[2] The record, like the group's earlier releases, was produced by George Martin.[1]

It was released in April 1964 as Gerry and the Pacemakers' fifth single in Britain, and spent 11 weeks on the UK singles chart, reaching No. 6.[3] In the US, it was the breakthrough single for the group, spending 12 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 4.[4] The song debuted at No. 4 in the first issue of Canada's RPM "Top Forty-5s" chart,[5] while reaching No. 5 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade,[6] and No. 6 on New Zealand's "Lever Hit Parade".[7]

Gerry and the Pacemakers performed the song on their first US television show, The Ed Sullivan Show on 3 May 1964.[8] The group's earlier UK hit singles - "How Do You Do It?", "I Like It", "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "I'm the One" - were then reissued in the US to follow up its success, but "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" remained their biggest chart hit.

Cover versions

The song has been recorded by many other singers, including Steve Lawrence (1964), José Feliciano (1968), Rickie Lee Jones (1989), Gloria Estefan (1994), Paul Carrack (2010), and Nellie McKay (2015).[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" at Secondhandsongs. Accessed 14 November 2012
  2. Biography of Louise Cordet by Bruce Eder, Allmusic.com. Accessed 14 November 2012
  3. Gerry and the Pacemakers - Full Official Chart History, Official Charts Company. Accessed September 27, 2015
  4. Gerry and the Pacemakers - Chart History - The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed September 27, 2015
  5. "Top Forty-5s", RPM Weekly, Volume 1, Ed. 18, June 22, 1964. Accessed September 27, 2015
  6. CHUM Hit Parade – Week of June 22, 1964 at the Wayback Machine (archived November 7, 2006). Chart No. 380. CHUM. Accessed December 17, 2015.
  7. "Lever Hit Parade" 30-Jul-1964, Flavour of New Zealand. Accessed October 16, 2015
  8. "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" at SongFacts.com. Accessed 14 November 2012

External links

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