Tuesday, December 1, 2020

"Don't Shed a Tear" by Paul Carrack

Top 10 Alert!
Song#:  3335
Date:  11/14/1987
Debut:  72
Peak:  9
Weeks:  24
Genre:  Pop, Rock



Pop Bits:  The last time Carrack recorded a solo album was in 1982 with Suburban Voodoo, which featured the #37 Pop entry "I Need You." After that LP, Carrack mainly worked with Nick Lowe, but ended up scoring hits as a member of Mike + the Mechanics, whose 1985 debut album featured a pair of Top 10's including the Carrack-led #6 "Silent Running." With his profile raised thanks to the hit, Carrack signed a deal with Chrysalis Records and recorded his third solo album One Good Reason. This first single was released and it did well at Rock reaching #5 while becoming Carrack's first (and only) solo song to reach the Pop Top 10. It also got to #36 at AC. The hit helped the album peak at #67.

ReduxReview:  The hooky little stop/start guitar riff at the top of this song immediately got my attention and the tune just got better from there. The verse had a great melody and groove. Then there was the cool little transition section that led to the explosive chorus. Carrack sounded fantastic and the production was beefy and perfect for a late 80s pop/rock track. I loved the song right off the bat and immediately bought the single. The song has held up well and I enjoy it just as much today as I did when it first came out.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  This song was co-written by Eddie Schwartz and Rob Friedman. Schwartz started his solo recording career with a 1979 debut LP, but it was a song he wrote and gave to another artist that really kicked things off for  him. In 1980, Pat Benatar got her first Top 10 hit with Schwartz's "Hit Me with Your Best Shot." Thanks to that hit, Schwartz got a major label deal and released his second solo album in 1981. It featured the #28 Pop entry "All Our Tomorrows." At some point during this successful period, Schwartz wrote "Don't Shed a Tear" with Friedman. Schwartz intended to record it with a new band he was forming, but that project fell through and the song was never recorded. The tune somehow ended up over in Carrack's camp and he turned it into a hit. Schwartz's solo career cooled off quick, but he continued writing songs for other artists and would earn another Top 10 later in 1989 with the Doobie Brothers' "The Doctor."

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