Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Encyclopedia
"Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" is a song written by songwriter Fred Rose
. Originally performed by Roy Acuff
, the song was later recorded by Willie Nelson
as part of his 1975
album Red Headed Stranger
. Both the song and album would become iconic in country music history, and jump start Nelson's success as a singer and recording artist. (He had thus far been primarily successful as a songwriter for other artists.)
recorded the song on 15 October 1958. The song was later recorded by Willie Nelson as part of his concept album, Red Headed Stranger, about a fugitive preacher on the run from the law after killing his wife.
Nelson's rendition, wrote country music historian Bill Malone
, was "a fine example of clean, uncluttered country music, (with) a spare arrangement that could have come straight out of the 1940s." Rolling Stone
noted the song was delivered with his "jazz-style phrasing" and was "the beating heart of Red Headed Stranger."
the Jungle Room at Graceland
on 7 February 1976.
This was the last known song that Elvis Presley
sang (at the piano in the rest area of his Racquetball Court located to the rear of Graceland) before his death on August 16, 1977.
chart just twice; it had happened in 1962, once as a solo artist ("Touch Me") and again as part of a duet with Shirley Collie ("Willingly"). Thereafter, Nelson had approached the Top 20 on occasion, but went 13 years without a Top 10 hit.
In October 1975, the song became Nelson's first No. 1 hit as a singer, and at year's end was the third-biggest song of 1975 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. In addition, the song gained modest airplay on Top 40 radio, reaching number twenty one on the Billboard Hot 100
.
In 2004, Rolling Stone
ranked "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" #302 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Fred Rose (musician)
Fred Rose was an American Hall of Fame songwriter and music publishing executive.-Biography:Born in Evansville, Indiana, Fred Rose started playing piano and singing as a small boy. In his teens, he moved to Chicago, Illinois where he worked in bars busking for tips, and finally vaudeville...
. Originally performed by Roy Acuff
Roy Acuff
Roy Claxton Acuff was an American country music singer, fiddler, and promoter. Known as the King of Country Music, Acuff is often credited with moving the genre from its early string band and "hoedown" format to the star singer-based format that helped make it internationally successful.Acuff...
, the song was later recorded by Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
as part of his 1975
1975 in country music
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1975.-Events:*March 13 — The rocky marriage of George Jones and Tammy Wynette ends in divorce....
album Red Headed Stranger
Red Headed Stranger
Red Headed Stranger is a 1975 album by American outlaw country singer Willie Nelson. After the wide success of his recordings with Atlantic records, Nelson signed a contract with Columbia Records, a label that gave him total creative control over his works...
. Both the song and album would become iconic in country music history, and jump start Nelson's success as a singer and recording artist. (He had thus far been primarily successful as a songwriter for other artists.)
Song history
Originally recorded in 1945 by Acuff, the song was later recorded by Hank Williams in 1951 for the Mother's Best Flour Hour. Gene VincentGene Vincent
Vincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
recorded the song on 15 October 1958. The song was later recorded by Willie Nelson as part of his concept album, Red Headed Stranger, about a fugitive preacher on the run from the law after killing his wife.
Nelson's rendition, wrote country music historian Bill Malone
Bill Malone
Bill C. Malone is an American historian specializing in country music and other forms of traditional American music. He is the author of the 1968 book Country Music, U.S.A., the first definitive academic history of country music...
, was "a fine example of clean, uncluttered country music, (with) a spare arrangement that could have come straight out of the 1940s." Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
noted the song was delivered with his "jazz-style phrasing" and was "the beating heart of Red Headed Stranger."
Elvis Presley
Presley finally recorded the song (having sung it privately with friends and family for years while accompanying himself on piano) inthe Jungle Room at Graceland
Graceland
Graceland is a large white-columned mansion and estate that was home to Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. It is located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard in the vast Whitehaven community about 9 miles from Downtown and less than four miles north of the Mississippi border. It currently serves as...
on 7 February 1976.
This was the last known song that Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
sang (at the piano in the rest area of his Racquetball Court located to the rear of Graceland) before his death on August 16, 1977.
Chart success and legacy
Prior to the success of "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," Nelson had enjoyed widespread success primarily as a songwriter, with such songs as "Crazy" (Patsy Cline) and "Hello Walls" (Faron Young). As a performer, meanwhile, Nelson had hit the Top 10 of the Billboard magazine Hot Country SinglesHot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart just twice; it had happened in 1962, once as a solo artist ("Touch Me") and again as part of a duet with Shirley Collie ("Willingly"). Thereafter, Nelson had approached the Top 20 on occasion, but went 13 years without a Top 10 hit.
In October 1975, the song became Nelson's first No. 1 hit as a singer, and at year's end was the third-biggest song of 1975 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. In addition, the song gained modest airplay on Top 40 radio, reaching number twenty one on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
In 2004, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
ranked "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" #302 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Chart performance
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 21 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 2 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 40 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 9 |
| Australian Kent Music Report | 57 |
See also
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs: 1944-2005," 2006.
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Pop Singles: 1955-2006," 2007.