"A Little Bitty Tear" by Burl Ives then Wanda Jackson
Hank Cochran, an American country songwriter, was the genius behind the song "A Little Bitty Tear". The first to make a cover of it was American recording artist, Burl Ives. Ever since, several others recorded it including Wanda Jackson, Bing Crosby, Chet Atkins, and the composer himself.
When Billboard magazine interviewed Mr. Hank in 1965, Cochran stated that he wrote many songs in his car on his way home from work. Among these are: "A Little Bitty Tear". He proudly said that there were not any inspiration for the song as it just came to his mind.
After his new studio album release in 1980, his first official version of "A Little Bitty Tear" was a cut in it. Cochran recorded the song with a friend and American country artist, Willie Nelson.
Burl Ives' Cover
In 1961, Ives' made his version which was a cut in his The Versatile Burl Ives! album. Late that year, they released the said single. Early the next year, it became one of Ives' chart-topping hits. His cover made the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1962, occupying the 9th spot. The track almost made it to the top of the Billboard country music chart, spending two weeks in the runner-up slot. Moreover, at the end of February 1962, it spent one week atop the Billboard Easy Listening chart. In Britain, the song spent two weeks at number nine on the UK Singles Chart in early 1962. Ives also earned Grammy nominations for the song. One was for Best Country & Western Recording and two was Best Male Solo Vocal Performance.
Wanda Jackson's Version
In December 1961, American rockabilly and country artist Wanda Jackson released her "A Little Bitty Tear" recording. Two months after Ives' version, Jackson's cover was recorded. Having a cut in Nashville, Tennessee in the Bradley Film and Recording Studio done on April 20, 1961. On the same session, Jackson's recorded a previous hit single, "In the Middle of a Heartache".
Its release happened a month after Ives'.
Sad to say because of intertwining chart positions, Jackson's became a minor hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
It only reached the #84 slot in 1962. The song was then issued onto Jackson's studio LP entitled, Wonderful Wanda.
a little bitty tear, Burl Ives, wanda jackson
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