calls the song a "rock-bolero" with "blaring strings, hammered tympani, a ghostly chorus, the gentle strum of a guitar, a hint of marimba". Billboard observes an "expressive reading" on the "country-flavored ballad." The personnel on the original recording included Orbison session regulars Bob Moore on bass; Floyd Cramer on piano; Buddy Harman on drums; and Boudleaux Bryant, Harold Bradley, and Scotty Moore on guitar.
Release and reception
The song was released as a 45-rpm single by Monument Records in July 1961 and reached No. 1 on the United StatesCashbox chart for a week on October 7, 1961. On the rival Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at No. 2, where "Hit the Road Jack" by Ray Charles and his Orchestra kept it from No. 1. Despite not reaching the summit in the latter publication, Billboard ranked the record as the No. 4 song of 1961. In 2002, "Crying" was honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. In 2010, Rolling Stone ranked it 69th on their list of the "500 greatest songs of all time".
Don McLean version
's recording of the song went to No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1981. His version of "Crying" also reached No. 2 adult contemporary and No. 6 Country. It fared even better in the UK, where it reached No. 1, spending three weeks atop the UK Singles Chart. McLean issued an album in 1981; however, "Crying" was taken from his 1978 album, Chain Lightning. It became his second greatest hit.
In 2011, "Crying" was featured in the American comedy-drama film50/50.
"Crying" was featured in an episode of Only Fools and Horses. The episode "Stage Fright" featured Raquel and a guest character singing this song at a function. Angelino had a rhotacism, causing him to pronounce his Rs incorrectly.
"Crying" is featured near the start of the first of the Australian telemovie trilogy Small Claims starring Rebecca Gibney and Claudia Karvan.
"Crying" was featured in the 1997 dystopian art movie Gummo. After huffing glue, Tummler remarks that his cross-dressing brother used to sing "Crying". Tummler then proceeds to weakly sing parts of the song. The original version of the song is used during the last scenes of the movie.
The song is featured in the 1999 filmPaperback Hero, sung by Hugh Jackman and Claudia Karvan.
"Llorando" was featured in a famous scene in Mulholland Drive and during the closing scenes of Prison Break in season 3.
In Ally McBeal, season 2 episode 6 "Worlds Without Love", "Crying" is sung by Vonda Shepard.
In Sports Night, season 2, episode 14, Casey McCall wears sunglasses during the course of a day following an eye exam. His colleagues ridicule him for this, one of them saying, "Hit the high note in 'Crying' and I'll be impressed," in reference to Orbison and his trademark sunglasses.
In Castle Rock, Season 1, episode 4, the song plays over character Dennis Zalewski's shooting rampage through Shawshank Prison.
In AMC's The Walking Dead, "Crying" is used to psychologically break down Daryl Dixon in the Season 7 Episode, The Cell.
In Bates Motel, "Crying" is played over the end scene in Season 5 Episode 6, Marion.
In Mindhunter, "Crying" is played in episode 1, season 1.
