- Included among the Record Descriptions of Favorite Albums (Part 1).
- Named after the second line in Lesley Gore’s first hit single “It’s My Party”, I’ll Cry If I Want To is Lesley Gore’s first album and includes “Judy’s Turn to Cry”.
Lesley Gore – I’ll Cry If I Want To (1963): Named after the second line in Lesley Gore’s first hit single “It’s My Party”, I’ll Cry If I Want To is Lesley Gore’s first album and includes the follow-up single, “Judy’s Turn to Cry”. Most of the songs are about crying, which detracts somewhat from the enjoyment of the record. As is usual for albums made in the early 1960’s, there are many classic pop songs included here, such as “Cry Me a River”, “Misty”, “The Party’s Over”, and “What Kind of Fool Am I?”. Lesley Gore’s throaty voice is well suited for the material that was given to her. Plus, the album’s producer is Quincy Jones, one of the best in the business; and the arrangements are top notch.
You never know with debut albums; sometimes that first flag in the sand is the best that a recording artist can do, while other times it is just the beginning. As it turned out, Lesley Gore carved out an enviable career by successfully recording some of the smartest pop songs of that era, despite the fact that the British Invasion was right around the corner when “It’s My Party” came out. The proto-feminist anthem “You Don’t Own Me” is the peak, but there are plenty more where that came from. In light of her later singles, I’ll Cry If I Want To sounds much better in retrospect.