Someone's Gotta Cry Explained

Someone's Gotta Cry
Type:single
Artist:Jean Shepard
Album:Heart, We Did All That We Could
B-Side:"Don't Take Advantage of Me"
Released:April 1965
Recorded:October 13, 1964
Studio:Columbia Studio
Genre:Country
Length:2:43
Label:Capitol
Producer:Marvin Hughes
Prev Title:A Tear Dropped By
Prev Year:1964
Next Title:It's a Man (Every Time, It's a Man)
Next Year:1965

"Someone's Gotta Cry" is a song written by Don Bowman that was originally recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released as a single in 1965, reaching the top 40 of the US country chart that year. It was one of 30 top 40 singles Shepard had in her career. It was given positive reviews from critics following its release.

Background, content and recording

During the 1950s honky tonk era of country music, Jean Shepard had risen to success with a series of top ten singles. This included "A Dear John Letter" and "A Satisfied Mind". When the country pop musical style replaced honky tonk on radio, Shepard's popularity waned. Then in 1964, she returned with the top ten single "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)".[1] "Someone's Gotta Cry" was among a series of follow-up singles that would make the country charts in the 1960s for Shepard.[2] Written by Don Bowman,[3] the song was described by Cash Box as a "weeper".[4] The song was recorded on October 13, 1964, at the Columbia Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. The session was produced by Marvin Hughes. Three additional sides were cut at the same session.[5]

Release, critical reception and chart performance

"Someone's Gotta Cry" was released as a single by Capitol Records in October 1964. It was issued by the label as a seven-inch vinyl record. On the B-side was the song "Don't Take Advantage of Me".[3] Cashbox praised the track, finding it to be "a hauntingly pretty, slow-moving tradition-styled hillbilly weeper."[4] "Someone's Gotta Cry" was among 30 songs that Shepard had in her career to make the top 40. In 1965, it reached the number 30 position on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.[2] In 1967, it was included on her studio album Heart, We Did All That We Could.[6]

Track listings

7" vinyl single[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cooper . Dan . Jean Shepard Biography . . 15 June 2024.
  2. Book: Whitburn, Joel . The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research.
  3. Shepard . Jean . "A Tear Dropped By"/"He Plays the Bongo (I Play the Banjo)" (7" vinyl single) . . October 1964 . 5304.
  4. COUNTRY REVIEWS . . March 27, 1965 . 42 . 17 June 2024.
  5. Skinker . Chris . The Melody Ranch Girl (box set biography book) . . 1995 . 34 . BCD-15905-EI . .
  6. Shepard . Jean . Heart, We Did All That We Could (Liner Notes) . . January 1967 . ST-2690.