You See Me Crying
Encyclopedia
"You See Me Crying" is a song by American
hard rock
band Aerosmith
. It was released in 1975 as the last track on the band's breakthrough album Toys in the Attic
. It was released as the third single from the album in November 1975, but failed to chart.
brought in a symphony orchestra for the song, which was conducted by Mike Mainieri
. The song itself was written by lead singer Steven Tyler
and outside collaborator Don Solomon. Some of the band members became frustrated with the song, which took a long time to complete, due to the many complex drum and guitar parts.
The band's label, Columbia Records
, was nonetheless very impressed with the song and the recording process. Bruce Lundvall, then-president of Columbia Records walked in on the recording sessions for Toys when the band was working on the song and remarked: "You guys got an incredible thing going here. I just came from a Herbie Hancock
session and this is much more fun".
played lead guitar on this track instead of Joe Perry
, The final version of the song was taken from takes 12, 14, and 15, and the single version of the song was edited down to 3:03.
It has only been performed live once, on June 26, 2009, while in Wantagh, New York
's Jones Beach Theater, during the Aerosmith/ZZ Top Tour
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
. It was released in 1975 as the last track on the band's breakthrough album Toys in the Attic
Toys in the Attic (album)
For his review of Toys in the Attic for Allmusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album's style a mix of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones riffs and was filled with songs about sex with a different style than there ever was before. Greg Kot called the album a landmark of hard rock...
. It was released as the third single from the album in November 1975, but failed to chart.
Song Structure
The song is a complex piano ballad and was heavily orchestrated. Aerosmith and producer Jack DouglasJack Douglas (record producer)
Jack Douglas is an American record producer. He was born in New York City. Starting out as folk musician and performer, he worked on Robert Kennedy's senatorial campaign as a song-writer. Douglas then moved to England and joined a succession of bands before returning to New York to attend the...
brought in a symphony orchestra for the song, which was conducted by Mike Mainieri
Mike Mainieri
Michael T. Mainieri, Jr. is a vibraphonist best known for his work with the jazz fusion group Steps Ahead....
. The song itself was written by lead singer Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
and outside collaborator Don Solomon. Some of the band members became frustrated with the song, which took a long time to complete, due to the many complex drum and guitar parts.
The band's label, Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, was nonetheless very impressed with the song and the recording process. Bruce Lundvall, then-president of Columbia Records walked in on the recording sessions for Toys when the band was working on the song and remarked: "You guys got an incredible thing going here. I just came from a Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
session and this is much more fun".
Song Facts
Brad WhitfordBrad Whitford
Bradford Ernest Whitford is the rhythm guitarist for the hard rock band Aerosmith. He graduated Reading Memorial High School in 1970.-Career:...
played lead guitar on this track instead of Joe Perry
Joe Perry (musician)
Anthony Joseph "Joe" Perry is the lead guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist, and contributing songwriter for the rock band Aerosmith. He is influenced by many rock artists especially The Rolling Stones and The Beatles...
, The final version of the song was taken from takes 12, 14, and 15, and the single version of the song was edited down to 3:03.
It has only been performed live once, on June 26, 2009, while in Wantagh, New York
Wantagh, New York
Wantagh is a hamlet and census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, United States...
's Jones Beach Theater, during the Aerosmith/ZZ Top Tour
Aerosmith/ZZ Top Tour
The Aerosmith/ZZ Top Tour, sometimes referred to as the A to Z Tour or Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Tour, was a concert tour headlined by American hard rock bands Aerosmith and ZZ Top...
.