The Tune in Dan's Cafe

[Glenn Suchan]

Do Y'all remember the television series, Rod Serling's Night Gallery? If so, do you remember an episode which aired January 5, 1972. That episode featured a story called "The Tune in Dan's Cafe"? The story told the tale of a jukebox which only played one song and it would play that song randomly. Even if someone selected a different song. The tune was called "If You Leave Me Tonight, I'll Cry", and was written for the episode by the show's script editor, Gerald Sanford and music director, Hal Mooney. Jerry Wallace was hired to sing the song for the episode. After the show aired, many people called radio stations requesting the song. Consequently, Jerry Wallace rerecorded it and it became a hit for him. I remember hearing the hit version and didn't make the connection to the Night Gallery song (I guess I just wasn't paying close enough attention).

Anyway, a few years later, I was trying to remember the song from THAT Night Gallery episode with the hope of buying a CD that contained it. I thought it was an existing tune that was borrowed for the show. So, since that time, I would search periodically, but never could find it. I didn't know the name of the song. Well, not too long ago, I discovered the "Tune in Dan's Cafe" and the Jerry Wallace hit, "If You Leave Me Tonight, I'll Cry" were the same song.

I have question: The version which aired for the show was done in a style indicative of a small honky-tonk band. It featured a guitar, a single fiddle, bass and drums backing up Jerry Wallace's vocal. The rerecorded version, as you may know, was a full blown production with a string section and multiple backup vocalists. That version is readily found on Jerry Wallace CD's available from Amazon.com, iTunes, etc. I'm looking for the version that was recorded for Night Gallery. Does anyone know if that version was ever released for sale and where it can be purchased?

Here's a link to the original from the sound track of the episode called "The Tune in Dan's Cafe":
http://www.nightgallery.net/music15.html

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

[Jerry Overstreet]

Well, I don't have an answer for you Glenn, but that song has haunted me ever since I first saw the Night Gallery airing. It's the sort of tune that just rattles around in your head forever, compounded by the desperation and anguish in the story line.

I did some research on the tune and posted a thread here about it several years ago, but I can't find it now. I was only able to find the JW rerecording that you found.

[Paul Norman (RIP)]

I have written to you about this. Check your emails.

[Glenn Suchan]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the email and for helping me with this. Happy Friday!

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn