Cry Baby (song)

"Cry Baby"
Single by Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters
from the album Cry Baby
Released August 5, 1963
Format 7"
Genre Soul, Blues
Length 3:22
Label United Artists
Writer(s) Bert Berns
Jerry Ragovoy
Producer(s) Bert Berns

"Cry Baby" is a song originally recorded by Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters, in 1963, and later covered by rock singer Janis Joplin. Bert Berns wrote the song with Jerry Ragovoy. Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters recorded it for the United Artists record label. It topped the R&B chart and went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1963,[1] and paved the way for soul hits by Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding later in the decade.[2]

Preceded by
"(Love Is Like A) Heatwave" by Martha & The Vandellas
(first run) Billboard Hot R&B Singles number-one single
October 12, 1963
Succeeded by
"Part Time Love" by Little Johnny Taylor
Preceded by
"Part Time Love" by Little Johnny Taylor
(second run) Billboard Hot R&B Singles number-one single
October 26, 1963 - November 2, 1963 (two weeks)
Succeeded by
"It's All Right" by The Impressions
"Cry Baby"
Single by Janis Joplin and Full Tilt Boogie Band
from the album Pearl
B-side Mercedes Benz
Released 1971
Format 7"
Recorded 1970
Genre Blues rock, soul
Length 3:55
Label Columbia
Writer(s) Bert Berns
Jerry Ragovoy
Producer(s) Paul A. Rothchild

Janis Joplin version

In September and October 1970, Janis Joplin recorded it for her album Pearl, posthumously released in 1971. The song was in blues-rock style and its producer was Paul A. Rothchild. On the single, the B-side was the hit "Mercedes Benz".

The song became usual in Joplin's repertoire and today is often performed by many artists such as Joss Stone, Allison Iraheta, Magdolna Rúzsa.[3] Joplin's recording is the most popular version.

Notes

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 403.
  2. Garnet Mimms at allmusic
  3. Pearl at Joplin's official site

External links