John Waite — “Tears”

Entered Top 40:  November 10, 1984
4  weeks 
Peaked at: 37

John Waite figures tangentially in the Bottom Five project’s origin story, as his “Change” was a cover of a non-hit by Spider. “Tears” was Waite’s followup to his #1 “Missing You,” and it’s a cover of…a Peter Criss solo song?!

Yes, Peter Criss recorded “Tears” on his 1982 Let Me Rock You, his third solo LP (including the self-titled album that was among the four solo records the original KISS members released simultaneously in 1978). Let Me Rock You didn’t even get a US release until 1998; if “Tears” was known at all by the time Waite got hold of it, it was via a Rex Smith version from 1983. “Tears” was co-written by Vincent Cusano, AKA Vinnie Vincent, also from KISS for a time, though he and Criss never coexisted in that band. Here’s Vinnie Vincent’s version. I think Waite does the best job with “Tears;” his inflection in the chorus turns it into an actual hook.