Don't Shed a Tear explained

Don't Shed a Tear
Cover:DontShedATear.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Paul Carrack
Album:One Good Reason
B-Side:Merilee
Released:1987
Studio:Comforts Place (Lingfield, Surrey)
Genre:
Length:4:57 (full-length album version)
3:42 (single version)
Label:Chrysalis
Producer:Christopher Neil
Prev Title:When You Walk in the Room
Prev Year:1987
Next Title:One Good Reason
Next Year:1988

"Don't Shed a Tear" is a song by the English singer-musician Paul Carrack from his third solo studio album, One Good Reason (1987). It was released as a single in 1987 and became his biggest US hit, peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.

Background

The tune was written by Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Eddie Schwartz, along with fellow songwriter Rob Friedman. Schwartz, who was fresh off writing "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" for Pat Benatar, later decided to record the song with a new band he had formed with Lenny Zakatek and Dave Tyson. However, the entire project was ultimately scrapped after failed negotiations with potential manager Tommy Mottola. Some years later, the song reached the hands of Paul Carrack's producer, and Carrack ultimately recorded the song.

Release and reception

"Don't Shed a Tear" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 72 on the chart dated 14 November 1987. It was the highest new entry that week.[1] It peaked at number nine for three weeks in February 1988, becoming Carrack's biggest US hit as a solo artist.[2] It spent 23 weeks on the Hot 100, including 13 weeks inside the top 40 section of the chart, and appeared in Billboards 1988 year-end chart at number 83. It also reached number five on the Album Rock Tracks chart,[3] and number six on the Singles Sales chart.

Elsewhere, the song peaked at number 20 in the Netherlands,[4] but was not successful in the UK, reaching number 60 in March 1989.[5] Mike DeGagne of AllMusic called "Don't Shed a Tear" a highlight of the One Good Reason album, and said the song is "bolstered by its subtle, laid-back groove with a start-and-stop tempo."[6]

Music video

A music video was made for the song. The video, directed by Peter Care and starring model and actress Kendall Conrad,[7] features a woman (Conrad) at the beach looking for someone. As she drives, Paul Carrack sings as video of him is projected against a variety of backgrounds.

Track listing

7" Vinyl (US, UK)

  1. "Don't Shed a Tear" – 3:42
  2. "Merrilee" – 3:52

7" Vinyl (Japan)

  1. "Don't Shed a Tear" – 3:42
  2. "When You Walk in the Room" – 3:31

12" Vinyl (UK, Germany, the Netherlands)

  1. "Don't Shed a Tear" – 4:14
  2. "Merrilee" – 3:52
  3. "All Your Love Is in Vain" – 3:34

Chart performance

Chart (1987–1989)Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] 34
Dutch Top 4020
UK Singles Chart60
US Billboard Hot 1009
US Billboard Album Rock Tracks5
US Billboard Adult Contemporary36
US Cash Box Top 40[9] 9

Year-end charts

References

http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1988/02-20.htmhttp://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1988/top100a.htm

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=paul carrack|chart=all}} 'Don't Shed a Tear' – Paul Carrack ]. Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). 29 August 2009.
  2. Book: Whitburn , Joel . The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. 8th . Billboard Books. 53. New York. 2004 . 978-0-8230-7499-0.
  3. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p3847|pure_url=yes}} Paul Carrack – Charts & Awards – ''Billboard'' Singles ]. Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). 29 August 2009.
  4. Web site: Dutch Top 40 – 'Don't Shed a Tear'. hitparade.ch. 29 August 2009.
  5. Web site: The Official Charts Company – Paul Carrack – 'Don't Shed a Tear'. Official Charts Company. 29 August 2009.
  6. Web site: DeGagne. Mike. [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r3380|pure_url=yes}} ''One Good Reason'' – Overview ]. Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). 29 August 2009.
  7. Web site: Paul Carrack: Don't Shed a Tear (Music Video 1987) - "Cast" credits - IMDb. 2022-03-16.
  8. http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0926&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0926.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0926 Canadian peak
  9. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 2/13/88 . . 4 August 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091215142301/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19880213.html . 15 December 2009.
  10. 24 December 1988 . 1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles . Y-20 . Billboard . 100 . 52 .
  11. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1988. 3 October 2016.