Lonely Teardrops
Encyclopedia
"Lonely Teardrops" is a song recorded and released as a single in 1958 by R&B singer Jackie Wilson
on the Brunswick
label. It is a 1999 Grammy Hall of Fame Inductee. The song is ranked #308 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
, Gwendolyn Gordy (Berry's sister) and Roquel "Billy" Davis, going under the pseudonym Tyran Carlo, the single, alongside Wilson's debuting five consecutive singles between 1957–58, turned Wilson into an R&B superstar and influenced the later careers of Davis, who joined the staff of Chess Records
while Gordy used the money from the song's success to form Motown Records
within a year. The song raced up to number-one on the Billboard R&B chart
and became Wilson's first top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100
, eventually peaking at number seven. The hit's success helped land Wilson on American Bandstand
and The Ed Sullivan Show
performing to receptive audiences on the respective shows.
. His version was released in 1976 and reached #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles
chart that June. Jay and the Americans
covered the song on their 1970 album, Wax Museum, Vol. 1
. Brian Hyland
also recorded a version of the song that reached #54 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. Michael McDonald
covered the song in the early 1990s and his version was used in a scene in the film Leaving Las Vegas
. It was also covered by Howard Huntsberry
for the 1987 biographical movie about Ritchie Valens
, La Bamba
. In 2010, Cee Lo Green covered the song on Later... with Jools Holland featuring Holland
on piano.
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
on the Brunswick
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
label. It is a 1999 Grammy Hall of Fame Inductee. The song is ranked #308 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Song information
Written by Berry GordyBerry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
, Gwendolyn Gordy (Berry's sister) and Roquel "Billy" Davis, going under the pseudonym Tyran Carlo, the single, alongside Wilson's debuting five consecutive singles between 1957–58, turned Wilson into an R&B superstar and influenced the later careers of Davis, who joined the staff of Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
while Gordy used the money from the song's success to form Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
within a year. The song raced up to number-one on the Billboard R&B chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
and became Wilson's first top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, eventually peaking at number seven. The hit's success helped land Wilson on American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
and The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
performing to receptive audiences on the respective shows.
Cover versions
The biggest hit cover version was recorded by country music singer Narvel FeltsNarvel Felts
Narvel Felts is an American country music singer. Known for his soaring tenor and high falsetto, Felts enjoyed his greatest success during the 1970s, most famously 1975's "Reconsider Me."-Career:...
. His version was released in 1976 and reached #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart that June. Jay and the Americans
Jay and the Americans
Jay and the Americans was a pop music group popular in the 1960s. Their initial lineup consisted of John "Jay" Traynor, Howard Kane , Kenny Vance and Sandy Deanne , though their greatest success on the charts came after Traynor had been replaced as lead singer by Jay Black.-Early years:They were...
covered the song on their 1970 album, Wax Museum, Vol. 1
Wax Museum, Vol. 1
Wax Museum, Vol. 1 is the eighth studio album by Jay and the Americans released on February 28, 1970. The album went to #105 on The Billboard 200. It reached #68 on the Cashbox charts...
. Brian Hyland
Brian Hyland
Brian Hyland is an American pop recording artist who was particularly successful during the early 1960s. He continued recording into the 1970s...
also recorded a version of the song that reached #54 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald (singer)
Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
covered the song in the early 1990s and his version was used in a scene in the film Leaving Las Vegas
Leaving Las Vegas
Leaving Las Vegas is a 1995 romantic drama film directed and written by Mike Figgis, based on a semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by John O'Brien. Nicolas Cage stars as a suicidal alcoholic who has ended his personal and professional life to drink himself to death in Las Vegas...
. It was also covered by Howard Huntsberry
Howard Huntsberry
Howard Stafford Huntsberry is an American R&B singer and actor from Pacoima, California. He was the lead singer of the group Klique from 1981 to 1985, and then had a solo career that produced two minor hits on the Billboard R&B chart...
for the 1987 biographical movie about Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist....
, La Bamba
La Bamba
La Bamba may refer to:*La Bamba , a 1987 film based on the life and death of Ritchie Valens*"La Bamba" , a folk song best known from a 1958 adaptation by Ritchie Valens*"La Bomba" , a 2000 Latin pop song by King Africa...
. In 2010, Cee Lo Green covered the song on Later... with Jools Holland featuring Holland
Jools Holland
Julian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, and television presenter. He was a founder of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Who, David Gilmour and Bono.Holland is a...
on piano.
Charts
| Chart | Date | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
March 1958 | 7 |
| R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
March 1958 | 1 |
See also
- Shout (Isley Brothers song), a call and responseCall and response (music)In music, a call and response is a succession of two distinct phrases usually played by different musicians, where the second phrase is heard as a direct commentary on or response to the first...
answer to the song. - List of number-one R&B singles of 1958 (U.S.)