Oct 292012
As those of us in the northeast region of the United States hope Hurricane Sandy doesn’t spoil our enjoyment of rain-related songs, what’s your favorite rain-related song?
Unless you’re a frequent passenger in the RTH Cop-Out Mobile, “favorite” connotes a clear-cut winner. For me, The Temptations‘ “I Wish It Would Rain” edges out The Beatles‘ “Rain.”
No contest…clear cut winner for me: “I Like Rain” by the Jean-Paul Sartre Experience.
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/i-like-rain-1987
“A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall,” whether the original Freewheelin’ recording, the great Concert for Bangladesh version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syZkAlVvw0M or the great Rolling Thunder Revue rock version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sGXr7OCjJM or this remarkable version with an orchestra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCGoOPM2_x0&feature=related or for that matter Bryan Ferry’s version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zwBHd4kll0
I still like Clapton’s “Let It Rain”
http://youtu.be/ifff5NbKQZI
I’d vote for “Rain” by the Beatles. But “I Think It’s Going To Rain Today” by Dusty Springfield is an incredible song too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcbzR2QwXBc
Despite the somewhat cheesy lyrics, I like Feels Like Rain by John Hiatt a lot, mostly because of the guitar. But my favorite is probably Singing In the Rain. That song is easy to take for granted because it is so ubiquitous but it really is fantastic.
“Settled Down Like Rain” by the Jayhawks. Excellent song right in the middle of one of those increasingly rare, play all the way through albums.
The Dramatics “I Want to Go Outside in the Rain”, probably.
“A Rainy Night in Soho” by the Pogues. The original version from the Poguetry in Motion EP, not the one from the video with loads of glossy strings layered on top.
What about Edie Brickell’s version?
I Can’t Stand the Rain on Ron Wood’s Kilburn Theater show bootleg. That was a really good show. I think it was officially released on DVD, but I don’t have it.
I love I Wish It Would Rain too. Other great ones:
Ann Peebles, Can’t Stand the Rain
Randy Newman, I Think It’s Going to Rain Today
Madness, The Sun and the Rain
Sir Douglas Quintet, The Rains Came (Rain, Rain, Rain, Rain)
Irma Thomas, It’s Raining
Lovin’ Spoonful, Rain on the Roof
Ronettes, Walking in the Rain
Vern Gosdin, Is It Raining at Your House?
Tony Joe White, Rainy Night in Georgia
Faust, It’s a Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl
Go-Betweens, Spring Rain
Kinks, Rainy Day in June
Jimi Hendrix, Still Raining, Still Dreaming
Capt. Beefheart, My Head Is My Only House Unless It Rains
[compiling a list and trying not to worry about friends in harm’s way]
You included two of mine: “Spring Rain” and “I Can’t Stand the Rain.”
Best wishes to you and your friends, BigSteve.
Big Steve’s list certainly includes some fine tunes. I can only add a song Taj Mahal put me on to when he selected some favourites for a UK radio station. The Rance Allen Group’s “Ain’t No Need Of Crying (When It’s Raining)”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1DIRqta9sU
Rock Town Hall’s Hurricane Czar has spoken!
Good to have the one and only Mod check in on the morning after.
(gagging noises)
Neil Young’s “Like A Hurricane”
From the vantage point of central Connecticut, Sandy was only like a hurricane with no damage or power loss at Chez Al. Glad I’m not on the coast.
I’ve always been a big fan of “Only Happy When It Rains” from Garbage. I like the way Shirley chaffs, “You’ll get the message by the time I’m through.”
aloha
LD