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Mick Jagger: vocals Keith Richards: lead guitar, backing vocals Brian Jones: rhythm guitar Bill Wyman: bass Charlie Watts: drums Guest musicians: Ian Stewart (piano); Jack Nitzsche (organ)
Cry to Me captures the raw pulse of early ’60s soul, driven by the vision of Bert Berns. Before shaping hits at Atlantic Records, Berns poured deep emotion into this timeless piece, first recorded by Solomon Burke. From its 1962 release, the track fused gospel intensity with rhythm and blues, creating a sound that didn’t just chart—it lingered, resonating with anyone who’s felt heartbreak echo a little too loudly.
Its emotional pull soon crossed the Atlantic, catching the attention of The Rolling Stones. Their version wasn’t just a tribute—it was a transformation, injecting a rough-edged, bluesy swagger into Berns’ soulful blueprint while preserving its vulnerability.
Fronted by a young Mick Jagger, the band turned it into something looser, moodier, and unmistakably their own—a moment where soul met rock, and both came out changed.
More about The Rolling Stones‘ take on Cry to Me
*By Marcelo Sonaglioni
Bert Berns and the Soul Behind Cry to Me
Before becoming a key figure at Atlantic Records, Bert Berns—also known as Bert Russell—was already making waves in the music world. His breakout moment came with the electrifying success of Twist and Shout, but his soulful touch was felt even earlier with the creation of Cry to Me. Written for the legendary Solomon Burke, who recorded it in 1962, the song channeled raw emotion and heartfelt longing, laying the groundwork for Berns’ signature style.
The track was brought to life on December 6, 1961, in a recording session that featured Berns himself as producer and Claus Ogerman handling the arrangement and conducting duties. Released in early 1962 with I Almost Lost My Mind as its B-side, Cry to Me didn’t just hit the airwaves—it resonated.
The Rolling Stones and the Soulful Echoes of Cry to Me
Before the British Invasion stormed the airwaves, Cry to Me had already carved out its place as a cornerstone of Southern soul. It’s a song steeped in solitude—its emotional heartache rendered through a musical blend of rhythm ’n’ blues and gospel that would become a defining sound of the sixties. With its raw vulnerability and spiritual undercurrents, Cry to Me didn’t just belong to one genre—it stood at the crossroads of several, embodying the very essence of Southern soul’s rise.
The song was first brought to life by Solomon Burke in 1962, under the masterful guidance of writer and producer Bert Berns. It wasn’t long before other artists were drawn to its aching brilliance, including Betty Harris in 1963, who delivered her own stirring rendition. But the magic of Cry to Me didn’t stop there—it soon found its way across the Atlantic and into the hearts of The Rolling Stones.
Already enamored with American soul and R&B, the Stones had previously paid tribute to Berns with their cover of Everybody Needs Somebody to Love, which famously kicked off their second LP. But it was their take on Cry to Me that truly showcased their ability to channel deep emotion through raw, unpolished energy. Their version didn’t just cover the song—it reimagined it for a new audience, layering their rock ‘n’ roll grit over Berns’ gospel-tinged soul, keeping the emotional weight intact while pushing its boundaries.
Mick Jagger’s Soulful Mastery and the Stones’ Reimagining of Cry to Me
When the Stones took on Cry to Me they didn’t just cover it—they reshaped it into something uniquely theirs. Slowing the tempo down compared to Solomon Burke’s original, the band infused the song with a deeper emotional weight, drawing comparisons to the soul-stirring sound of Otis Redding’s A Change Is Gonna Come. The result was a version steeped in longing and reflection, yet filled with that unmistakable Stones edge.
From the very first bars, it’s clear that this isn’t Burke’s rendition—it’s something looser, more interpretative. Mick Jagger dives headfirst into the role of a soul singer, blurring the lines between restraint and power. He shifts seamlessly between soft tenderness and rock-charged vocal grit, offering an early glimpse of the vocal versatility that would come to define his legacy. Within just two years, Jagger had evolved into a frontman capable of navigating both the raw and the refined with ease.
Instrumentally, the band matches Mick’s nuanced delivery with rich, expressive playing. Brian Jones’s rhythm guitar, likely a vibrato-laden Vox “Teardrop,” adds texture and atmosphere, while Keith Richards takes center stage with a bluesy, lyrical solo in the coda that elevates the track to a new level. Richards also lends his voice to the backing vocals, joined by Bill Wyman, whose punchy bassline (played with a pick) only kicks in after the intro, giving it a dramatic sense of entry and prominence.
Ian Stewart returns on piano, grounding the track with subtle but effective touches, and he’s likely accompanied by Jack Nitzsche on organ, though the latter’s presence is more felt than heard. Together, they round out a band performance that’s both understated and emotionally resonant.
The Stones last performed Cry to Me on Ready, Steady, Go! on October 22, 1965, but their interpretation still stands as a testament to their early ambition—not just to emulate American soul, but to absorb it, reshape it, and make it roar with British grit and feeling.
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