“If You Leave Me Tonight I’ll Cry”
Jerry Wallace
Written by Hal Mooney and Gerald Sanford
Billboard
#1 (1 week)
August 26, 1972
So why this song?
Jerry Wallace had a lengthy career, starting as a mid-level pop act and transitioning into a mid-level country act.
Then he exploded in popularity in 1972 on the strength of “If You Leave Me Tonight I’ll Cry.” It may be his only number one country hit, but it raised his profile enough to produce two number one country albums in its wake.
But why this song?
It’s a fine composition that he sings beautifully over a staid and dated production. The background singers are so loud that they threaten to drown him out, but he has enough strength as a vocalist to stay in control.
I still can’t tell you why this song. It’s a fine effort that somehow became a career record for him. I like it just fine, but it’s a great example of how the charts measure a specific moment in time. He has several other hits that didn’t top the charts but are streamed far more often than this one.
I’m happy that he had a number one record to show for his long and underrated run as a recording artist.
So in the end, why not this song?
“If You Leave Me Tonight I’ll Cry” gets a B+.
Every No. 1 Single of the Seventies
Previous: Freddie Hart, “Bless Your Heart”|
Next: Don Gibson, “Woman, Sensuous Woman”
I’m going to agree with the why this song. After that absolute classic by Charley Pride it’s hard to see or hear why this song would get a B+. Subjective I know but I listened and was surprised. Nice song but I wouldn’t call it great or anything.
This would have been fine for an album cut but it surprises me that this song would go to #1 at a time when there were so many great country songs released. Grade “C”.