A Tear Dropped By

1964 single by Jean Shepard

"A Tear Dropped By"

Single by Jean Shepard
from the album  Heart, We Did All That We Could
B-side| "He Plays the Bongo (I Play the Banjo)"
Released| October 1964
Recorded| January 27, 1964
Studio| Columbia (Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre| Country[1]
Length| 2:20
Label| Capitol
Songwriter(s)|

* Larry Lee
* Rusty Adams

Producer(s)| Marvin Hughes
Jean Shepard singles chronology
| "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)"
(1964)  | "A Tear Dropped By"
(1964)  | "Someone's Gotta Cry"
(1965)

|
|

"A Tear Dropped By" is a song originally recorded by American country singer Jean Shepard. Composed by Larry Lee and Rusty Adams, it was released as a single in 1964, reaching the top 40 of the US country chart that year. It was one of 30 top 40 singles Shepard had in her career. It was given positive reviews from critics following its release.

## Background, content and recording

[edit]

Jean Shepard first found success in the 1950s honky tonk era of country music with top ten singles like "A Satisfied Mind" and "Beautiful Lies". As the decade progressed and honky tonk fell out of fashion, Shepard's popularity declined. Then in 1964, she had a comeback with the top te single "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)". This would start a series of chart singles for Shepard during the 1960s.[2] "A Tear Dropped By" was among her charting singles that followed.[3] Composed by Larry Lee and Rusty Adams,[4] the song was described by Cash Box as a "weeper".[1] It was recorded on August 29, 1963, at the Columbia Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. The session was produced by Marvin Hughes. Three additional sides were cut at the same session.[5]

## Release, critical reception and chart performance

[edit]

"A Tear Dropped By" was issued as a single by Capitol Records in October 1964. It was distributed as a seven-inch vinyl record, with "He Plays the Bongo (I Play the Banjo)" on the B-side.[4] Billboard magazine praised the song, commenting, "Tender ballad in fine Shepard style. Plenty of sales potential. Fans will be happy to have her back."[6] Cash Box found the song to have "a real pretty chorus" combined with "an infectious repeating melodic riff."[1] "A Tear Dropped By" rose into the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at the number 38 position. It was one of 30 singles by Shepard to reach the country top 40 in her career.[3] It was eventually included on her 1967 studio album Heart, We Did All That We Could.[7]

## Track listings

[edit]

7" vinyl single[4]

* "A Tear Dropped By" – 2:20
* "He Plays the Bongo (I Play the Banjo)" – 2:01

## Charts

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Weekly chart performance for "A Tear Dropped By"  Chart (1964)  | Peak
position

|

US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] | 38

## References

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1. ^ a b c "COUNTRY REVIEWS" (PDF). Cash Box. November 7, 1964. p. 82. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
2. ^ Cooper, Dan. "Jean Shepard Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
3. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research.
4. ^ a b c Shepard, Jean (October 1964). ""A Tear Dropped By"/"He Plays the Bongo (I Play the Banjo)" (7" vinyl single)". Capitol Records. 5304.
5. ^ Skinker, Chris (1995). "The Melody Ranch Girl (box set biography book)". Bear Family Records: 34. BCD-15905-EI.
6. ^ "Country & Western Spotlights" (PDF). Billboard. November 7, 1964. p. 16. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
7. ^ Shepard, Jean (January 1967). "Heart, We Did All That We Could (Liner Notes)". Capitol Records. ST-2690.
8. ^ "Jean Shepard Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Jean Shepard

* Discography

Studio albums|

* Songs of a Love Affair
* Lonesome Love
* Got You on My Mind
* Heartaches and Tears
* Lighthearted and Blue
* It's a Man Every Time
* Many Happy Hangovers
* I'll Take the Dog (with Ray Pillow)
* Heart, We Did All That We Could
* Your Forevers Don't Last Very Long
* Heart to Heart
* A Real Good Woman
* Seven Lonely Days
* Best by Request
* A Woman's Hand
* Here & Now
* Just as Soon as I Get Over Loving You
* Just Like Walkin' in the Sunshine
* Slippin' Away
* I'll Do Anything It Takes
* Poor Sweet Baby...And Ten More Bill Anderson Songs
* I'm a Believer
* Mercy, Ain't Love Good
* Stars of the Grand Ole Opry

Compilation albums|

* The Best of Jean Shepard

Songs|

* "A Dear John Letter"
* "Forgive Me, John"
* "A Satisfied Mind"
* "Take Possession"
* "I Thought of You"
* "Beautiful Lies"
* "I Want to Go Where No One Knows Me"
* "Have Heart, Will Love"
* "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)"
* "Two Little Boys"
* "A Tear Dropped By"
* "Someone's Gotta Cry"
* "Many Happy Hangovers to You"
* "I'll Take the Dog"
* "If Teardrops Were Silver"
* "Heart, We Did All That We Could"
* "Your Forevers (Don't Last Very Long)"
* "I Don't See How I Can Make It"
* "A Real Good Woman"
* "Seven Lonely Days"
* "Then He Touched Me"
* "A Woman's Hand"
* "I Want You Free"
* "Another Lonely Night"
* "With His Hand in Mine"
* "Slippin' Away"
* "Come on Phone"
* "At the Time"
* "I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Stay with You)"
* "Poor Sweet Baby"
* "The Tip of My Fingers"
* "Another Neon Night"

See also|

* Hawkshaw Hawkins

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