Don't Cry Baby

"Don't Cry Baby" is a song written by Saul Bernie, James P. Johnson, and Stella Unger. The song was originally performed in 1929 by Bessie Smith.

Cover versions

In 1943, Erskine Hawkins recorded his version, with vocals by Jimmy Mitchell. This version went to number one on the Harlem Hit Parade and number fifteen on the pop chart.^[1] With fourteen non consecutive weeks at number one, the Erskine Hawkins version was the most successful song on the Harlem Hit Parade for 1943.^[2]
In 1961, Etta James, recorded her version which reached number six on the R&B chart and number thirty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100.^[3]
In 2004 it was recorded by American jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux, in her Careless Love album.
A 1962 recording by Aretha Franklin was included in her The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin album.

Others who have recorded the song are:

The Erskine Hawkins recording of "Don't Cry Baby" is on the soundtrack to Spike Lee's 1992 film Malcolm X.

^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 248.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 798.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 290.