Out of Tears

The song was recorded in 1993 and 1994 at Ronnie Wood's Ireland home, Windmill Lane Recording Studios, in Dublin and A&M Recording Studios in Los Angeles.^[1] The song features Mick Jagger on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Wood and Keith Richards on electric guitars, Wood performs the guitar solo, Charlie Watts on drums, Darryl Jones on bass, Chuck Leavell on piano, Benmont Tench on organ, and percussion by Lenny Castro.^[1]

The song is credited to Jagger and Richards, but is largely the work of Jagger.^[1] According to Jagger: "I used to say, 'Now we're writing songs. I'm gonna sit at my desk.' 'Out of Tears' was a little bit like that, where I'm sitting at the piano in Ronnie [Wood]'s studio going 'Da da ding, da da ding.' Then you go and listen to it, and it's got this really good mood because it's you on your own. No one else is there, and you're creating the mood. There's a very sad mood to that song. The Stones are mainly a guitar band, but I think with a ballad sometimes it's nice to move away from that. And when a song is written on a keyboard, you get a different sort of melodic structure."^[1]

Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Second single from Voodoo Lounge is an extremely pop-friendly rock ballad that shows Mick Jagger in a sweet, sensitive light. Driven by delicate piano lines instead of trademark guitars, single has lilting melody that draws you in before the end of the first verse. Easily the band's most viable top 40 competitor in a long time."^[2] Music Week stated, "Another well-timed track from Voodoo Lounge, 'Out of Tears' has an unmistakable 'last dance' feel to it which should make it ideal for Christmas parties. The obligatory solo guitar slot ensures diehard fans won't be disappointed."^[3]

The music video for "Out of Tears" was directed by British director Jake Scott and produced by June Gulerman for Black Dog Films. It was released on 28 November 1994 and features a dark and moody prowl through a Chicago apartment.^[4]

• UK, Australian, and Japanese maxi-CD single^[5][6]

1. "Out of Tears" (Don Was edit) – 4:21
2. "I'm Gonna Drive" – 3:41
3. "Sparks Will Fly" (radio clean) – 3:14
4. "Out of Tears" (Bob Clearmountain remix edit) – 4:21

• UK 7-inch and cassette single^[7][8]
• European CD single^[9]
• Japanese mini-CD single^[10]

1. "Out of Tears" (Don Was edit) – 4:21
2. "I'm Gonna Drive" – 3:41

• US and Canadian maxi-CD single^[11]

1. "Out of Tears" (Don Was edit) – 4:12
2. "Out of Tears" (Bob Clearmountain remix edit) – 4:12
3. "I'm Gonna Drive" – 3:41
4. "So Young" – 3:20

• US 7-inch and cassette single^[12][13]

A1. "Out of Tears" (Don Was edit) – 4:12

B1. "Out of Tears" (Bob Clearmountain remix edit) – 4:12

B2. "I'm Gonna Drive" – 3:41

The Rolling Stones

• Mick Jagger – vocal, acoustic guitar
• Keith Richards – electric guitar
• Ronnie Wood – slide guitar
• Charlie Watts – drums

Additional performers

• Darryl Jones – bass
• Chuck Leavell – piano
• Benmont Tench – Hammond B-3 organ
• Lenny Castro – percussion
• David Campbell – string arrangement