Don't Shed a Tear

"Don't Shed a Tear" is a song by the English singer-musician Paul Carrack from his third solo studio album, One Good Reason (1987). It was released as a single in 1987 and became his biggest US hit, peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Don't Shed a Tear"
Single by Paul Carrack
from the album One Good Reason
B-side"Merilee"
Released1987
StudioComforts Plac (Lingfield, Surrey)
Genre
Length4:57 (full-length album version)
3:42 (single version)
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Christopher Neil
Paul Carrack singles chronology
"When You Walk in the Room"
(1987)		 "Don't Shed a Tear"
(1987)		 "One Good Reason"
(1988)
Music video
"Don't Shed a Tear" on YouTube

Background

The tune was written by Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Eddie Schwartz, along with fellow songwriter Rob Friedman. Schwartz, who was fresh off writing "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" for Pat Benatar, later decided to record the song with a new band he had formed with Lenny Zakatek and Dave Tyson. However, the entire project was ultimately scrapped after failed negotiations with potential manager Tommy Mottola. Some years later, the song reached the hands of Paul Carrack's producer, and Carrack ultimately recorded the song.

Release and reception

"Don't Shed a Tear" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 72 on the chart dated 14 November 1987. It was the highest new entry that week.[1] It peaked at number nine for three weeks in February 1988, becoming Carrack's biggest US hit as a solo artist.[2] It spent 23 weeks on the Hot 100,[1] including 13 weeks inside the top 40 section of the chart,[2] and appeared in Billboard's 1988 year-end chart at number 83. It also reached number five on the Album Rock Tracks chart,[3] and number six on the Singles Sales chart.[2]

Elsewhere, the song peaked at number 20 in the Netherlands,[4] but was not successful in the UK, reaching number 60 in March 1989.[5] Mike DeGagne of AllMusic called "Don't Shed a Tear" a highlight of the One Good Reason album, and said the song is "bolstered by its subtle, laid-back groove with a start-and-stop tempo."[6]

Music Video

A music video was made for the song. The video, directed by Peter Care and starring model and actress Kendall Conrad,[7] features a woman (Conrad) at the beach looking for someone. As she drives, Paul Carrack sings as video of him is projected against a variety of backgrounds.

Track listing

7" Vinyl (US, UK)

  1. "Don't Shed a Tear" – 3:42
  2. "Merrilee" – 3:52

7" Vinyl (Japan)

  1. "Don't Shed a Tear" – 3:42
  2. "When You Walk in the Room" – 3:31

12" Vinyl (UK, Germany, the Netherlands)

  1. "Don't Shed a Tear" – 4:14
  2. "Merrilee" – 3:52
  3. "All Your Love Is in Vain" – 3:34

Chart performance
Chart (1987–89) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] 34
Dutch Top 40[4] 20
UK Singles Chart[5] 60
US Billboard Hot 100[2] 9
US Billboard Album Rock Tracks[3] 5
US Billboard Adult Contemporary 36
US Cash Box Top 40[9] 9

Year-end charts
Chart (1988) Position
United States (Billboard)[10][11] 83

References
  1. "'Don't Shed a Tear' – Paul Carrack". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (8th ed.). New York: Billboard Books. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-8230-7499-0.
  3. "Paul Carrack – Charts & Awards – Billboard Singles". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  4. "Dutch Top 40 – 'Don't Shed a Tear'". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  5. "The Official Charts Company – Paul Carrack – 'Don't Shed a Tear'". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  6. DeGagne, Mike. "One Good Reason – Overview". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  7. "Paul Carrack: Don't Shed a Tear (Music Video 1987) - "Cast" credits - IMDb". Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  8. Canadian peak
  9. "Cash Box Top 100 2/13/88". Cashbox Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 15 December 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  10. "1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. 24 December 1988. p. Y-20.
  11. "Billboard Top 100 – 1988". Retrieved 3 October 2016.

http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1988/02-20.htm http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1988/top100a.htm

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