You probably found this because of a crackling old vinyl or a random YouTube algorithm deep-dive. Or maybe you're a die-hard Bert Kaempfert fan. Honestly, A Laugh A Kiss A Cry is one of those tracks that feels like a ghost. It’s a song that exists in the periphery of the "Easy Listening" golden age, yet it carries a weight that most elevator music lacks.
It’s weird.
Most people associate the 1960s with the British Invasion or the rise of Motown. But tucked away in the 1964 release schedules was this instrumental-first piece that eventually got lyrics and became a minor obsession for vocalists looking for something "classy." It’s not just a tune. It’s a cycle. The title itself—A Laugh A Kiss A Cry song—tells you exactly what’s going to happen to your nervous system over the course of two and a half minutes.
The Bert Kaempfert Connection
Let’s be real: Bert Kaempfert basically owned the airwaves in the early sixties. He was the guy who gave the Beatles their first professional recording session in Hamburg, but his own music was something else entirely. He had this "crackly" bass sound—the "Knackbass"—that made his orchestra sound punchier than his rivals.
When he released the album Blue Midnight in 1964, "A Laugh, A Kiss, A Cry" was a standout. It wasn't "Strangers in the Night" (which he also wrote, by the way), but it had this melancholic, swaying rhythm. It’s the kind of music that makes you want to drink a martini in a room full of wood paneling while staring out a rainy window.
Kaempfert was a master of the "Happy-Sads." That’s not a technical term, but it fits. His arrangements often featured a bright trumpet lead—usually played by Fred Moch—that sounded triumphant even when the melody was devastatingly lonely. In "A Laugh, A Kiss, A Cry," the trumpet doesn't just play notes; it sighs.
The Anatomy of the Melody
Musically, the song relies on a descending progression that mimics a literal fall from grace.
You start with the "Laugh"—bright, major chords.
Then the "Kiss"—sustained, romantic notes.
Finally, the "Cry"—a shift into a minor resolution that feels like a door closing.
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It’s simple. Devastatingly so.
Who Actually Sang It?
While the instrumental version is the blueprint, the lyrics added another layer of melodrama. Various artists tried to capture the magic, but it remained a niche favorite.
One of the most notable versions came from Vikki Carr. If you haven't heard her voice, you're missing out on some of the most controlled power in 20th-century pop. She took the song and turned it into a theatrical narrative. When she sings the word "cry," she doesn't belt it; she lets it tremble. That’s the secret sauce.
Then there are the international versions. In the 60s, a hit wasn't just a hit in English. You had Italian crooners and French chanteuses picking up Kaempfert’s melodies and rebranding them for their own markets. This led to a bit of a "telephone game" with the meaning of the lyrics, but the core emotion—the trio of laughter, affection, and grief—remained universal.
Why It Didn't Become a "Standard"
Why isn't this as famous as "My Way"?
Timing.
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By the mid-60s, the "Lounge" sound was being pushed out by rock and roll. The A Laugh A Kiss A Cry song was a bit too sophisticated for the teenagers and a bit too sad for the cocktail parties. It sat in this middle ground of "Musician's Music." It’s the song other songwriters talk about when they want to discuss perfect structure, but it’s rarely the one that gets played at weddings.
Also, it’s short. Most versions clock in under three minutes. In an era where "Hey Jude" was about to change the length of pop songs, this brief emotional snapshot felt like a relic from a faster-paced, yet more emotionally reserved, time.
The "Easy Listening" Misconception
People use "Easy Listening" as an insult. They think it's boring.
They're wrong.
The production on these records was insane. We're talking about world-class session musicians in high-end German studios using top-tier Neumann microphones. When you listen to a high-quality press of the A Laugh A Kiss A Cry song, you can hear the room. You can hear the wooden floor of the studio vibrating under the double bass.
There is a technical precision here that modern digital production often loses. It’s "easy" to listen to because the engineers worked incredibly hard to make it sound effortless. It’s like a swan swimming—graceful on top, but paddling like hell underneath.
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The Emotional Arc
The song follows a very specific psychological pattern:
- Memory Induction: The opening bars trigger nostalgia.
- The Peak: The middle eight where the strings swell.
- The Dissolve: The fade-out that leaves you feeling slightly emptier than when you started.
It’s basically a three-act play condensed into a single track. If you’re looking for a song to score a film about a missed connection or a long-lost summer love, this is the one.
Where to Find the Best Version Today
If you want the "pure" experience, go find the original Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra recording from the Blue Midnight LP.
Don't settle for the low-bitrate rips on some of the sketchier streaming playlists. Look for the remastered Decca recordings. The brass should sound crisp, not tinny. The bass should feel like a heartbeat.
If you prefer vocals, search for the Vikki Carr version on her It Must Be Him album. It’s 1967 at its most polished. She manages to bridge the gap between the big band era and the more modern, soulful pop that was starting to take over.
Practical Steps for the Modern Listener
The A Laugh A Kiss A Cry song isn't just a piece of history; it's a mood-setter. If you're building a playlist or trying to understand the evolution of mid-century pop, here is how to engage with it:
- Listen to the "Knackbass": Focus specifically on the bass guitar in the Kaempfert version. It’s played with a plectrum (a pick) and heavily equalized to give it that "click" sound. This influenced countless producers later on.
- Compare the Covers: Listen to the instrumental, then find a vocal version. Notice how the lyrics change the "timing" of the emotion. Words force you to feel a certain way, whereas the instruments let your mind wander.
- Check the Credits: Look for the name Herb Rehbein. He was Kaempfert’s right-hand man and co-writer. Most of the "Kaempfert sound" was actually a deep collaboration between these two geniuses.
- Use it for Sampling: If you’re a producer, the intro of this song is a goldmine. It has clean, melodic phrases that are perfect for lo-fi beats or cinematic textures.
Ultimately, this song serves as a reminder that the most powerful emotions don't need complex metaphors. Sometimes, life really is just a laugh, a kiss, and then, eventually, a cry. It’s a cycle we all go through, and Bert Kaempfert just happened to set it to a really good beat.
To truly appreciate the depth of this era, don't stop here. Look into the rest of the Blue Midnight album. It’s a masterclass in 1960s orchestration that proves "background music" can actually be the most foreground thing in the room if you just pay attention.