"A Tear Dropped By" | ||||
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Single by Jean Shepard | ||||
from the album Heart, We Did All That We Could | ||||
B-side | "He Plays the Bongo (I Play the Banjo)" | |||
Released | October 1964 | |||
Recorded | January 27, 1964 | |||
Studio | Columbia Studio | |||
Genre | Country [1] | |||
Length | 2:20 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Marvin Hughes | |||
Jean Shepard singles chronology | ||||
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"A Tear Dropped By" is a song originally recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard. Composed by Larry Lee and Rusty Adams, it was released as a single in 1964, reaching the top 40 of the US country chart that year. It was one of 30 top 40 singles Shepard had in her career. It was given positive reviews from critics following its release.
Jean Shepard first found success in the 1950s honky tonk era of country music with top ten singles like "A Satisfied Mind" and "Beautiful Lies". As the decade progressed and honky tonk fell out of fashion, Shepard's popularity declined. Then in 1964, she had a comeback with the top te single "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)". This would start a series of chart singles for Shepard during the 1960s. [2] "A Tear Dropped By" was among her charting singles that followed. [3] Composed by Larry Lee and Rusty Adams, [4] the song was described by Cash Box as a "weeper". [1] It was recorded on August 29, 1963, at the Columbia Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. The session was produced by Marvin Hughes. Three additional sides were cut at the same session. [5]
"A Tear Dropped By" was issued as a single by Capitol Records in October 1964. It was distributed as a seven-inch vinyl record, with "He Plays the Bongo (I Play the Banjo)" on the B-side. [4] Billboard magazine praised the song, commenting, "Tender ballad in fine Shepard style. Plenty of sales potential. Fans will be happy to have her back." [6] Cash Box found the song to have "a real pretty chorus" combined with "an infectious repeating melodic riff." [1] "A Tear Dropped By" rose into the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at the number 38 position. It was one of 30 singles by Shepard to reach the country top 40 in her career. [3] It was eventually included on her 1967 studio album Heart, We Did All That We Could . [7]
Chart (1964) | Peak position |
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US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [8] | 38 |
Jean Shepard was an American honky-tonk singer who is often acknowledged as a pioneer for women in country music. Shepard released a total of 73 singles to the Hot Country Songs chart, one of which reached the number-one spot. She recorded a total of 24 studio albums between 1956 and 1981, and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1955.
The discography of American country singer Jean Shepard contains 29 studio albums, 12 compilation albums, two live albums, 1 box set album, 72 lead and collaborative singles, four promotional singles, two other charted songs and nine album appearances. Her first singles were released by Capitol Records in 1953, beginning with "Crying Steel Guitar Waltz". Her next two releases featured vocals by Shepard and a recitation by Ferlin Husky. The first was "A Dear John Letter", Shepard's only number one single on the US Hot Country Songs chart. It also reached number four on the US pop chart and number three in Australia. The second was "Forgive Me, John", which reached the US country top five, the US pop top 30 and the Australia top 20. In 1955, her solo singles "A Satisfied Mind" and "Beautiful Lies" both reached number four on the US Hot Country Songs chart. Their B-sides also charted on the US country chart: "Take Possession" and "I Thought of You". The latter peaked in the US country top ten.
"Beautiful Lies" is a song written by Jack Rhodes and recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released in September 1955 by Capitol Records as a single. It became Shepard's fifth top ten single on the US country chart in her career and was given positive reception by critics.
"I Want to Go Where No One Knows Me" is a song written by Kenneth Grant and Jerry Jericho. It was originally recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard. Released as a single in 1958, it reached the top 20 of the US country chart.
"I Thought of You" is a song composed by Jimmy Rollins that was recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard. Released as a single in 1955, it became a top ten song on the US country chart in 1955, becoming Shepard's fourth top ten recording in her career. It was given positive reviews by publications following its release.
"Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)" is a song written by Betty Amos that was originally recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released as a single by Capitol Records in 1964, reaching the top five of the US Country chart. The song featured Shepard yodeling and was her first top ten single in ten years. The song would later be nominated by the Grammy Awards.
"Many Happy Hangovers to You" is a song written by Johnny MacRae that was originally recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released as a single by Capitol Records in 1966, reaching the US country top 20 that year. It received a positive review from Billboard magazine following its release and was included on her 1966 studio album of a similar name.
"If Teardrops Were Silver" is a song written by Don Wayne that was originally recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released as a single by Capitol Records in 1966, reaching the US country top ten that year. It received positive responses from Cashbox and Record World magazines. It was included on her 1967 studio album of a Heart, We Did All That We Could.
"Heart, We Did All That We Could" is a song written by Ned Miller that was originally recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released as a single in 1967 and reached the top 20 of the US country songs chart. It received positive reviews from music publications was included on Shepard's studio album of the same name. The song has been performed routinely in the Country Bear Jamboree entertainment attraction at Walt Disney World.
"Your Forevers (Don't Last Very Long)" is a song originally recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was written by Wes Buchanan, Cliffie Stone and Scott Turner. Released as a single by Capitol Records in 1967, it reached the top 20 of the US country songs chart. It received a positive review from Cash Box magazine and appeared on a studio album of Shepard's with a Your Forevers Don't Last Very Long.
Heartaches and Tears is a studio album by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released by Capitol Records in March 1962 with a total of 12 tracks. The tracks mixed both new material and cover tunes. Among its new tracks was the single "How Long Does It Hurt ". It was the fourth studio album of her career and fifth overall. The album was met with positive reviews from publications.
It's a Man Every Time is a studio album by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released in November 1965 by Capitol Records and featured 12 tracks. The album's title track was its only single. It was given a positive reception by Billboard magazine following its release and was her second album to make the US country chart.
Many Happy Hangovers is a studio album by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released in July 1966 by Capitol Records and contained 12 tracks. The album's concept was centered on songs about an evening out followed by songs about the morning after. Among them was the album's title track. Released as a single, it reached the top 20 of the US country chart in 1966. The album was given a positive reception by Billboard, Cashbox and AllMusic.
"Two Little Boys" is a song written by Marty Robbins that was recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard. It served as the B-side to her top ten US country single "Second Fiddle ". While Robbins composed the track, the original single release is credited to Shepard's two sons Don and Harold Hawkins. The song is about the two boys left behind after Shepard lost her husband Hawkshaw Hawkins in a plane crash. The song was met with positive reception from writers in later years.
I'll Take the Dog is a studio album by American country artists Jean Shepard and Ray Pillow. It was released in November 1966 by Capitol Records and was a collection of duets between the duo. The album's songs focused on marital conflicts and other themes. Its title track was a top ten single on the US country chart in 1966. The album itself reached the top 20 of the US country chart. The album was met with positive reviews from Cash Box and Record World.
Heart, We Did All That We Could is a studio album by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released in March 1967 by Capitol Records and featured 12 tracks. The album's material centered on heartbreak and despair. Six of the tracks were originally singles released between 1963 and 1967. Both "Second Fiddle " and "If Teardrops Were Silver" reached the US country top ten, while the title track reached the top 20. The album itself reached the US country top ten in 1967. The disc received positive reviews from both Billboard and Cashbox.
"Someone's Gotta Cry" is a song written by Don Bowman that was originally recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released as a single in 1965, reaching the top 40 of the US country chart that year. It was one of 30 top 40 singles Shepard had in her career. It was given positive reviews from critics following its release.
Your Forevers Don't Last Very Long is a studio album by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released in September 1967 by Capitol Records and consisted of 12 tracks. The album was both a collection of new recordings and cover tunes. Of the new recordings was the album's only single "Your Forevers ". The title track reached the top 20 on the US country chart in 1967. The album itself also reached the US country top 20 and received a positive review from Cash Box magazine.
Heart to Heart is a studio album by American country singer Jean Shepard. It was released by Capitol Records in February 1968 and contained 12 tracks. The album's material mixed ballads with uptempo material. Many of the album's songs were cover tunes. Its lead single was "I Don't See How I Can Make It", a top 40 entry on the US country chart. The album received positive reviews from publications following its release. It was the eleventh studio album in Shepard's career.
"I Don't See How I Can Make It" is a song written by George Richey that was originally recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard. Released as a single in 1967, it reached the top 40 of the US country songs chart.