Crying Time
title: "Crying Time" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1964-songs", "1965-singles", "torch-songs", "buck-owens-songs", "ray-charles-songs", "barbra-streisand-songs", "lorrie-morgan-songs", "songs-written-by-buck-owens", "abc-records-singles"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crying_Time" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Crying Time |
| cover | Crying_Time_-_Ray_Charles.jpeg |
| type | single |
| artist | Ray Charles |
| album | Crying Time |
| B-side | When My Dreamboat Comes Home |
| released | November 1965 |
| * soul blues<ref name | "Marsh 1989" |
| length | 2:53 |
| label | ABC-Paramount |
| writer | Buck Owens |
| producer | Joe Adams |
| prev_title | The Cincinnati Kid |
| prev_year | 1965 |
| next_title | Together Again |
| next_year | 1966 |
| :: |
| name = Crying Time | cover = Crying_Time_-_Ray_Charles.jpeg | alt = | type = single | artist = Ray Charles | album = Crying Time | B-side = When My Dreamboat Comes Home | released = November 1965 | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre =
- Country
- soul blues | length = 2:53 | label = ABC-Paramount | writer = Buck Owens | producer = Joe Adams | prev_title = The Cincinnati Kid | prev_year = 1965 | next_title = Together Again | next_year = 1966
"Crying Time" is a song from 1964 written and originally recorded by the American country music artist Buck Owens. It gained greater success in the version recorded by American singer, songwriter, and pianist Ray Charles, which won two Grammy Awards in 1967. Numerous other cover versions have been performed and recorded over the intervening years. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Cryintimeowens5336.jpg" caption="Original release by Buck Owens, Capitol 5336, 1964."] ::
History
Owens recorded the original version of his song and released it as the B side to the 45 single "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail" in 1964, Capitol 5336, but it failed to reach the music charts. A cover version of "Crying Time" was then recorded by R&B singer Ray Charles, and his version proved to be a hit. Featuring backing vocals by the Jack Halloran Singers and The Raelettes, the song reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1966. Charles' version of the song also peaked at number five on the R&B chart and spent three weeks at number one on the easy listening chart. In the United Kingdom, the song reached number 50 on the UK Singles Chart. In addition, Charles' version of "Crying Time" won two Grammy Awards in 1967, in the categories Best R&B Recording and Best R&B Solo Performance.
Style
Charles intended his version of Owens' song to be a tribute to the country music style he appreciated (Charles had successfully covered other country music songs in the past, such as "I Can't Stop Loving You"). He was quoted as saying that he did not record "Crying Time", and other country songs written by Owens, "out of disrespect for Buck. I'm crazy about Buck. But I heard something that fit my style. The key was keeping my style while watching my style work in different ways."
Charts
Weekly charts
::data[format=table] | Chart (1965–66) | Peak position | |---|---| | Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 4 | | UK Singles (OCC) | 50 | | US Billboard Hot 100 | 6 | | US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 1 | | US Hot R&B (Billboard) | 5 | | US Cash Box Top 100 | 6 | ::
Year-end charts
::data[format=table]
| Chart (1966) | Rank |
|---|---|
| US Easy Listening | 6 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 52 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 47 |
| :: |
Notable cover versions
- Lorrie Morgan recorded a cover of the song for the soundtrack to the 1993 film The Beverly Hillbillies. Her version peaked at number 59 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
- Bill Medley recorded a cover of the song along with Michael McDonald for his 2025 album Straight From the Heart.
- 2021 - John Greene, Crying Time Again
References
References
- "Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1966".
- Marsh, Dave. (1989). "The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made". [[Plume (publisher).
- "Crying Time - Ray Charles - Song Info - AllMusic".
- [[Joel Whitburn. Whitburn, Joel]] (1996). ''The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits'', 6th Edition (Billboard Publications)
- Hyatt, Wesley (1999). ''The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits'' (Billboard Publications)
- (2012-05-27). "Official Charts Company - Ray Charles - Cryin' Time".
- (1966-02-14). "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".
- "Cryin' Time | full Official Chart History".
- ''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990'' - {{ISBN. 0-89820-089-X
- "Contact Support".
- "Top 100 Hits of 1966/Top 100 Songs of 1966 | Music Outfitters".
- "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1966".
- Whitburn, Joel. (2013). "Hot Country Songs 1944–2012". Record Research, Inc.
- Rizik, Chris. (2025-01-10). "Michael McDonald teams with music legend Bill Medley for "Crying Time"".
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