The song was given first to
Louise Cordet, a singer who had previously toured with the group as well as with
the Beatles. Her version was produced by
Tony Meehan and released on
Decca Records in February 1964. The record, like the group's earlier releases, was produced by
George Martin. In the US, it was the breakthrough single for the group, spending 12 weeks on the
Billboard Hot 100 and reaching No. 4. The song debuted at No. 4 in the first issue of Canada's
RPM Top Forty-5s chart, while reaching No. 5 on Canada's
CHUM Hit Parade and No. 6 on New Zealand's Lever Hit Parade.
Cash Box described it as "an extremely pretty soft Latin beat romancer that really grows on you with each listen." Gerry and the Pacemakers performed the song on their first US television show,
The Ed Sullivan Show on 3 May 1964. The group's earlier UK hit singles – "
How Do You Do It?", "
I Like It", "
You'll Never Walk Alone" and "I'm the One" – were then reissued in the US to follow up its success, but "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" remained their biggest hit in the United States. ==Chart history==