Crying In The Rain

Album: The Very Best Of The Everly Brothers (1961)
Charted: 6 6
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Songfacts®:

  • Written by Howard Greenfield and Carole King, this was the Everlys' first hit with a song from the Brill Building stable of songwriters.

    King, writing with her usual partner Gerry Goffin, had just previously come from two top-charting successes: "Run To Him" and "Take Good Care Of My Baby," both for Bobby Vee. Don Kirshner, co-producer at Aldon Music, had originally intended "Run To Him" to be for the Everly Brothers, but Vee's producer had snagged that song, too. Kirshner had been eager to produce a hit for the Everlys since his first day in business, so this was a dream come true for him.
  • This was recorded shortly before Don and Phil Everly were inducted into the Marine Corps Reserves on November 25, 1961. On February 18, 1962, the duo performed the song in full uniform on The Ed Sullivan show, and on March 3, the song reached its peak of #6 on the US charts. Don and Phil got out of the Corps on May 24, after six months of service. It was the only Everly Brothers song released during their time in the military.
  • This was the Everly's first Top 10 hit song in a year. As a gesture of gratitude, they found out that producer Don Kirshner's favorite snack was peanuts, so they shipped him a fifty pound sack. Talk about working for peanuts!
  • Shortly after this song came out, the performance rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc., held their annual awards to honor the most-played songs of the year. Out of the 90 awards handed out that night, Aldon Music took home 12, four times more than any other music publisher. So this song comes from a golden age of the Brill Building music era.
  • Norwegian pop trio a-ha, of "Take On Me" fame, covered this on their 1990 album, East of the Sun, West of the Moon. Their version reached #1 in their native country and #13 in the UK.

Comments: 9

  • Robert from La Mesa CaMy favorite version is by James Taylor and Art Garfunkle. Amazing guitar work by James.
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaHave wondered if there is a story behind the writing of this song.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 13th 1962, the Everly Brothers graduated from U.S. Marine boot camp at Camp Pendleton in California; later that day in the base's chapel Don would marry Venetia Stevenson...
    At the time the duo's "Crying In the Rain" was at #9 on Billboard's Hot Top 10 chart; on February 26th it would peak at #6 {for 2 weeks} and it stayed on the chart for 13 weeks...
    And for trivia buffs; exactly one year later on February 13th, 1963 Paul Anka married Marie Ann de Zogheb, daughter of Count and Countess Charles Zogheb; the wedding took place in the Chapel of the Orly Airport in Paris, France.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 18th 1962, the Everly Brothers* performed "Crying in the Rain" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
    At the time the song was at #8 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and one week later it would peak at #6 for 2 weeks {See post below}...
    * The brothers appeared in their U.S. Marine Corps uniforms; they had joined the Reserves on November 21st, 1961 for a six-month hitch.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 25th 1962, "Crying In The Rain" by the Everly Brothers entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on February 26th, 1962 it peaked at #6 (for 2 weeks) and spent 13 weeks on the Top 100 (and 5 of those 13 weeks were on the Top 10)...
    It reached #7 on the Australian Kent Music chart...
    The band 'A-ha' covered it in 1990 and made the Top 10 in three countries; Norway (1), Germany (#6), and Ireland (#8)...
    R.I.P Phil Everly (1939 - 2014) and brother Don will celebrated his 74th birthday in one week on February 1st (2014).
  • Geir T. from UmeÃ¥, SwedenAnd that a-ha cover is one great cover version.
  • Teresa from Mechelen, Belgiumvery right, Cynthia, the Everly Brothers are still one of the bests, always a joy to listen to their songs.
  • Linda from Oudenaarde, BelgiumThis song was covered by the Norwegian band A-Ha.
  • Cynthia from Phoenix, Azthe everly bros are still one of the bests
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