Released April 1964 Recorded 1964 Length 2:38 | Format 7" single Genre Merseybeat, pop | |
B-side "Show Me That You Care" (UK and Canada)
"Away from You" (US) | ||
"Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" is a song written and originally performed by British beat group Gerry and the Pacemakers. The songwriting is credited to Gerry Marsden and the other band members, Freddie Marsden, Les Chadwick and Les Maguire. It was first recorded by Louise Cordet, and then recorded by the group themselves in early 1964.
Contents
History
The song was given first to Louise Cordet, a singer who had previously toured with the group as well as with The Beatles. Her version was produced by Tony Meehan and released on Decca Records in February 1964. The group then decided to issue their own version. The record, like the group's earlier releases, was produced by George Martin.
It was released in April 1964 as Gerry and the Pacemakers' fifth single in Britain, and spent 11 weeks on the United Kingdom's Record Retailer chart, reaching No. 6. In the US, it was the breakthrough single for the group, spending 12 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 4. The song debuted at No. 4 in the first issue of Canada's RPM "Top Forty-5s" chart, while reaching No. 5 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade, and No. 6 on New Zealand's "Lever Hit Parade".
Gerry and the Pacemakers performed the song on their first US television show, The Ed Sullivan Show on 3 May 1964. The group's earlier UK hit singles - "How Do You Do It?", "I Like It", "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "I'm the One" - were then reissued in the US to follow up its success, but "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" remained their biggest hit in the United States.
Cover versions
The song has been recorded by many other singers, including Steve Lawrence (1964), José Feliciano (1968), Rickie Lee Jones (1989), Gloria Estefan (1994), Paul Carrack (2010), and Nellie McKay (2015).