"Crying": Lap and Pedal Steel

[Kay Das]

A Roy Orbison tune that could have been written for steel guitar. This is a second version, the older version on Soundcloud has been replaced. Different modulation from G to C and addition of a pedal steel track No crying tune should be without one.

http://soundcloud.com/kay-das/crying

With its sometimes static chord structure punctuated by augmenteds and minors, "Crying" was first released in July 1961 and quickly rose to the top of the US charts. In 1987, Orbison rerecorded the song as a duet with K.D. Lang as part of the soundtrack for the motion picture, Hiding Out. Their collaboration won the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. In 2002, "Crying" was honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked it #69 on their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

Several cover versions have been recorded, from Hank Marvin's instrumental to vocal versions by BJ Thomas, Don McLean ( #1 hit in the UK JUn/July1980), Dottie West, Lynn Anderson, and others. He is quoted as having written this as the result of an encounter he had with an old flame with whom he still was in love with.

I first heard it played on steel guitar by the late great Jeff Newman, a beautiful pedal steel version at a live performance, I think it might have been 1984...

Played here on the Steelocaster lap steel and MSA pedal steel, , key of G/C. All accompaniments by me.

Enjoy!

Kay