Peak
4
Weeks
19
Score
3,515
Chart Year
1958
The first and best-selling single for Little Anthony & the Imperials, "Tears On My Pillow" used the same backing tracks as the Penguins' "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)." This was done as an economy move as the record company barely had enough money for the session tape. Little Anthony is a sobbing mess in this song, where he can't deal with a heartbreak: Tears on my pillow, pain in my heart Caused by you The song was written by Sylvester Bradford and Al Lewis; this team also wrote the Fats Domino song "I'm Ready." Kylie Minogue covered this in 1990 for the soundtrack of the movie The Delinquents. Her version hit #1 in the UK. Other artists who have covered this song include Vikki Carr, Lou Christie, Chuck Jackson, Martha & the Vandellas, Gwen McCrae, Reba McEntire, Lorrie Morgan, New Edition, S Club 8, Neil Sedaka, Johnny Tillotson, and Bobby Vee. >> This was featured in the 1995 Sliders episode "The Weaker Sex." When the Sliders land in an alternate world and need to find jobs, Rembrandt Brown (Cleavant Derricks) takes up busking and sings the tune for passersby. It's the perfect song choice for Rembrandt - back home he's a popular doo-wop singer known as Crying Man. Sha Na Na, as the fictional '50s band Johnny Casino & The Gamblers, performed this in Grease (1978) at the school dance. Their version was also included on the movie's hit soundtrack, which topped the album charts in the US and UK.
(Oh oh oh) You don't remember me, but I remember you 'Twas not so long ago, you broke my heart in two Tears on my pillow, pain in my heart Caused by you, you If we could start anew, I wouldn't hesitate I'd gladly take you back, and tempt the hand of fate Tears on my pillow, pain in my heart, caused by you Love is not a gadget, love is not a toy When you find the one you love She'll fill your heart with joy If we could start anew, I wouldn't hesitate I'd gladly take you back, and tempt the hand of fate Tears on my pillow, pain in my heart, caused by you You (oh oh oh) You (oh oh oh) you (oh oh oh) You (oh oh oh) you (oh oh oh)
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 11, 1958 | 73 | 53 |
| 2 | Aug 18, 1958 | 63 | 63 |
| 3 | Aug 25, 1958 | 26 | 100 |
| 4 | Sep 1, 1958 | 24 | 102 |
| 5 | Sep 8, 1958 | 13 | 113 |
| 6 | Sep 15, 1958 | 9 | 117 |
| 7 | Sep 22, 1958 | 7 | 119 |
| 8 | Sep 29, 1958 | 6 | 120 |
| 9 | Oct 6, 1958 | 6 | 120 |
| 10 | Oct 13, 1958 | 4 | 122 |
| 11 | Oct 20, 1958 | 7 | 119 |
| 12 | Oct 27, 1958 | 6 | 120 |
| 13 | Nov 3, 1958 | 9 | 117 |
| 14 | Nov 10, 1958 | 14 | 112 |
| 15 | Nov 17, 1958 | 26 | 100 |
| 16 | Nov 24, 1958 | 33 | 93 |
| 17 | Dec 1, 1958 | 50 | 76 |
| 18 | Dec 8, 1958 | 74 | 52 |
| 19 | Dec 15, 1958 | 86 | 40 |