Cry Me a River

This article is about the torch song written by Arthur Hamilton. For the 2002 song recorded by Justin Timberlake, see Cry Me a River (Justin Timberlake song). For other uses, see Cry Me a River (disambiguation).
"Cry Me a River"
Song
Published 1953
Writer(s) Arthur Hamilton

"Cry Me a River" is a popular American torch song, written by Arthur Hamilton, first published in 1953 and made famous in 1955 with the version by Julie London.

Origins and early recordings

Arthur Hamilton later said of the song: "I had never heard the phrase. I just liked the combination of words... Instead of 'Eat your heart out' or 'I'll get even with you,' it sounded like a good, smart retort to somebody who had hurt your feelings or broken your heart." He was initially concerned that listeners would hear a reference to the Crimea, rather than "..cry me a...", but said that "..sitting down and playing the melody and coming up with lyrics made it a nonissue."[1]

A jazzy blues ballad, "Cry Me a River" was originally written for Ella Fitzgerald to sing in the 1920s-set film, Pete Kelly's Blues (released 1955), but the song was dropped. Fitzgerald first released a recording of the song on Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! in 1961. The song was also offered to Peggy King, but Columbia Records A&R chief Mitch Miller objected to the word "plebeian" in the lyric[2] and its first release was by actress/singer Julie London on Liberty Records in 1955, backed by Barney Kessel on guitar and Ray Leatherwood on bass. A performance of the song by London in the 1956 film The Girl Can't Help It helped to make it a bestseller (reaching nr. 9 on US and nr. 22 on UK charts). London's recording was later featured in the soundtracks for the movies Passion of Mind (2000), and V for Vendetta (2005). It became a gold record, and in 2016, it was inducted by the Library of Congress in the National Recording Registry.[3]

Later recordings

Other recordings include a version by Shirley Bassey on her third album, The Fabulous Shirley Bassey, her debut for Columbia in 1959; a version by Barbra Streisand on her 1963 debut album as the opening track of Side 1; and a version by British rocker Joe Cocker, who made the chart in 1970 with an upbeat rock rendition on the album, Mad Dogs and Englishmen. Crystal Gayle recorded the song in 1978, and it was the B-side of her number-one Country hit, "Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For". In 1995, British actress Denise Welch's double A-side "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" / "Cry Me a River" spent three weeks in the UK Singles Chart, reaching #23. Canadian jazz pianist and singer Diana Krall recorded the song on her 2001 album, The Look of Love. In 2009, Canadian singer Michael Bublé entered the charts with a big-band jazz version, which is also the opening track of his fourth album Crazy Love. This adaption of the song was used in the BBC's advertising for, and theme music for coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Date Artist Album Notes
1955Eileen BartonSingleCoral Records
1955Jill CoreySingle Columbia Records[4]
1955Dexter GordonDexter Blows Hot and Cool
1955Julie LondonJulie Is Her NameAlso rel. as 10" shellac and 7" single with George and Ira Gershwin's "'S Wonderful" on B-side; both on Liberty[5]
1956Maire Ojonen (Harmony Sisters)Finnish version "Joet tulvimaan itke"
1957J. J. JohnsonFirst Place
1958Annie FratelliniFrench version "Pleure"
1959Shirley BasseyThe Fabulous Shirley Bassey
1959Davy GrahamThe Guitar Player (1963)Instrumental version orig. for BBC's Monitor
1959Dinah WashingtonWhat a Diff'rence a Day Makes!
1961Roberto CarlosLouco Por VocêBrazilian Portuguese version "Chore Por Mim"; debut album on Columbia
1961Ella FitzgeraldClap Hands, Here Comes Charlie!
1962Dexter GordonCry Me a Riverrecorded live at Jazzhus Montmartre with the Atli Bjorn Trio[6]
1963Steve AlaimoEveryday I Have to Cry
1963Sam CookeMr. Soul
1963Lesley GoreI'll Cry If I Want ToDebut album
1963Barbra StreisandThe Barbra Streisand Album
1964Ray CharlesSweet & Sour Tears
1964Gene KrupaThe Great New Gene Krupa Quartet Featuring Charlie Ventura
1965Sammy Davis, Jr.When the Feeling Hits You!
1965Marie Knightsingle
1966Lorraine EllisonHeart & SoulDebut album
1970Joe CockerMad Dogs & Englishmen
1975CherThe Cher Show
1977Joan BaezBlowin' Away
1978Crystal GayleWhen I Dream
1978Giorgio MoroderO.S.T. of Midnight ExpressMoroder used the 6 notes corresponding to the line "Now you say you love me"
1982AerosmithRock in a Hard Place
1983ChristopheFrench version "Noir est ta couleur"
1983Mari WilsonShowpeopleDebut album; the song scored #27 in the UK. It was later featured as the theme music for the British television series, McCallum (1995–96).
1985Viktor LazloSheFrench version "Pleurer des rivières", translated by Boris Bergman
1986Aaron NevilleMake Me Strong
1986CarolaFinnish version by Saukki, "Joet tulvimaan itke"
1988Patti AustinThe Real MeArranged and conducted by Marty Paich
1988Diane SchuurTalkin' 'Bout You
1988Kate Ceberano and Wendy MatthewsYou've Always Got the Blues
1988SwansWorld of Skin
1990BjörkCover MeLive rec. with Tríó Gudmundur Ingolfssonar at Hotel Borg in Reykjavik on unofficial compilation
1991Mari WilsonRhythm Romance
1992Maná¿Dónde Jugarán los Niños?Spanish version "Te lloré un río"
1993Natalie ColeTake a Look
1993Anne MurrayCroonin'
1994Combustible EdisonI, Swinger
1995Lisa EkdahlWhen Did You Leave Heaven
1995Ithamara KooraxRio Vermelho
1996Benny GolsonBenny Golson Tenor Summit[7]
1996Alexia (Vassiliou)In a Jazz MoodDebut album, featuring Chick Corea
1997Sue RaneyBreathless
1997JaiHeaven
1999Susan BoyleI Dreamed a Dream (2009)Orig. issued on a charity single. After Boyle's performance on Britain's Got Talent generated global interest in her, her performance of this song was uploaded onto YouTube and quickly became an internet sensation.[8]
1999Harry Connick Jr.Come by Me
2000John Martyn Glasgow Walker
2001Etta JamesBlue Gardenia
2001Diana KrallThe Look of Love
2001Brad MehldauProgression: The Art of the Trio, Vol. 5
2003Jeff Beck, Van MorrisonRed, White and BluesDirected by Mike Figgis, one of seven films in the Martin Scorsese series, The Blues
2004Alison MoyetVoice
2004Olivia Newton-JohnIndigo: Women of SongProduced by Phil Ramone
2004Linda RonstadtHummin' to MyselfAlbum hit #2 on Billboard's Jazz Albums chart.
2005Rick AstleyPortrait
2006Fourplay QuartetNow to the Future
2006Norah JonesHeaven in Creepyfrom album by Jim Campilongo Electric Trio
2006Frank Sinatra, Jr.That Face
2007Cynthia BasinetSingle
2008China MosesThis One's for DinahDinah Washington tribut album, with pianist Raphaël Lemonnier
2009Sylvia BrooksDangerous Liaisons
2009Michael BubléCrazy Love
2009Lynda CarterAt Last Potomac Productions
2009Eddy MitchellFrench version "Pleurer des rivières", translated by Boris Bergman
2010Liam PayneX Factor UK audition(Member of English boy band One Direction)
2011Jeff Beck with Imelda MayRock 'n' Roll Party (Honoring Les Paul)
2011Lana Del ReyAn unreleased cover of the song leaked on August 6, 2015.
2012Tina ArenaSymphony of Life
2013Angie MillerOne Hit Wonder theme portion of American Idol season 12 on April 24
?Nina Simone?
?Gene Bertoncini?
?Harry JamesHarry James & His New Jazz Band, Vol 2
?Cote de Pablo?singer on Roberto Pitre's Vivo en vida where she sings "Samba in Prelude" and "Cry Me a River"
?Mari WilsonShowpeopleSpanish version "Tu no me llores"

References

  1. ↑ John Berlau, "Crying a River for Years", The Wall Street Journal, December 15, 2010. Retrieved January 14, 2016
  2. ↑ "PEGGY KING & ANDY KAHN - "Cry Me A River" at Metropolitan Room NYC 2-23-14". YouTube. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  3. ↑ https://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2016/16-056.html
  4. ↑ "Miss Jill Corey: Discography". Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Cry Me a River" at Discogs
  6. ↑ Cry Me a River - Dexter Gordon | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic
  7. ↑ Benny Golson Catalog
  8. ↑ "Cry Me A River Songfacts". Retrieved 4 October 2014.

External links

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