Drown in My Own Tears

Not to be confused with Drown in My Own Tears (The Smithereens song).

"Drown in My Own Tears", originally credited as "I'll Drown in My Tears", is a blues song written by Henry Glover. It is best known in the version released as a single in 1956 by Ray Charles on the Atlantic record label.

History

"Drown in My Own Tears" was first recorded in 1951 by Lula Reed, on the King label (King 4527) as part of a split-single 78rpm; blues pianist Sonny Thompson was featured on the A-side with the instrumental track, "Clang, Clang, Clang". The record was a No.5 hit on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Ray Charles' recording featured his lead vocal and piano, with instrumentation by his band. It was his fourth number-one single on the Billboard R&B singles chart. It was one of his most important singles during his Atlantic period, where he dominated the R&B singles chart, and influenced him to recruit a singing group he later called the Raelettes.

Other recordings include one by Dinah Washington, released in 1956 on the EmArcy label. The song was performed by Simply Red in 1991 at the Montreux Jazz Festival, featuring on the live album of the event.

Cover versions

• Jeff Beck
• Chuck Brown
• Jeff Buckley
• Eva Cassidy
• David Clayton-Thomas
• Joe Cocker
• The Cockroaches
• Floyd Cramer
• Bobby Darin
• Spencer Davis Group
• Jackie DeShannon
• Ronnie Earl

• Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967)
• Earl Grant
• Richie Havens
• Billy Hawks
• Shirley Horn
• Humble Pie
• Etta James - Etta, Red-Hot & Live (1982)
• Norah Jones
• Janis Joplin
• Michael Kaeshammer
• Jack McDuff
• Jimmy McGriff
• Aaron Neville

• Houston Person
• Billy Preston
• The Righteous Brothers
• Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women
• Don Shirley
• Simply Red
• Percy Sledge
• The Smithereens
• The Derek Trucks Band with Gregg Allman
• Johnnie Taylor
• Dinah Washington
• Charles Williams (1972)
• Johnny Winter
• Stevie Wonder

See also

• List of number-one rhythm and blues hits (United States)