Cry Baby (Garnet Mimms song)

Last updated
"Cry Baby"
Cry-baby-garnet-mimms-enchanters-cd-cover-art.jpg
Single by Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters
from the album Cry Baby
ReleasedAugust 5, 1963
Genre Soul blues
Length3:22
Label United Artists
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Bert Berns

"Cry Baby" is a song originally recorded by Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters, in 1963, and later recorded by rock singer Janis Joplin in 1970. 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] paving the way for soul hits by Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding later in the decade. [2] The third verse was spoken by Mimms until the repeated refrain of the repeated song title. [3]

Contents

Janis Joplin version

"Cry Baby"
Janiscrybaby.jpg
Single by Janis Joplin and Full Tilt Boogie Band
from the album Pearl
B-side "Mercedes Benz"
Released1971
Recorded1970
Genre Soul [4]
Length3:55
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Bert Berns
Jerry Ragovoy
Producer(s) Paul A. Rothchild

In September and October 1970, Janis Joplin recorded it for her album Pearl , posthumously released in 1971. The song was in more of a blues-rock style and produced by Paul A. Rothchild. Her rendition reached #42 on the US Billboard Hot 100, [5] and #20 on Cash Box. On the single, the B-side was the track, "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. [6]

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References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 403.
  2. Steve Huey. "Garnet Mimms | Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved 2016-06-21.
  3. Bruce Pollock Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs . - 2014- Page 67 1135462968 "CRY BABY Artist: Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters Written by: Jerry Ragovoy (Norman Meade), Bert Berns (Bert Russell) From the album: Cry Baby and 11 Other Hits Label: United Artists Produced by: Jerry Ragovoy Year: 1963 #1 R&B/Top .."
  4. Molanphy, Chris (September 10, 2021). "Spirit of '71 Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate . Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  5. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 447.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)