Rhythm of the Rain

"Rhythm of the Rain" is a song performed by The Cascades, released in November 1962. It was written by Cascades band member John Claude Gummoe. On March 9, 1963, it rose to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and spent two weeks at number 1 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.[1] Billboard ranked the record as the number 4 song of 1963.[2]

"Rhythm of the Rain"
Single by The Cascades
from the album Rhythm of the Rain
B-side"Let Me Be"
ReleasedNovember 1962 (US)
January 25, 1963 (UK)
Recorded1962
GenrePop
Length2:28
LabelValiant Records 6026
Songwriter(s)John Claude Gummoe
Producer(s)Barry De Vorzon
The Cascades singles chronology
"There's a Reason"
(1962)		 "Rhythm of the Rain"
(1962)		 "Shy Girl"
(1963)
Official audio
"Rhythm of the Rain" on YouTube

In March 1963, the song was a top 5 hit in the United Kingdom and, in May that same year, was a number 1 single in Ireland. In Australia it rose to number 2. In Canada, the song was on the CHUM Chart for a total of 12 weeks and reached number 1 in March 1963.[3] In 1999 BMI listed the song as the 9th most performed song on radio/TV in the 20th century.[4]

The Cascades' recording was used in the soundtrack of the 1979 film Quadrophenia, and included in its soundtrack album.[5]

The song arrangement features distinctive use of a celesta played by arranger, Perry Botkin Jr.[6]

The sound of rain and thunder are heard at the beginning and at the end of the song.

Theme

The lyrics are sung by a man whose lover has left him; the rain falling reminds him 'what a fool' he has been. He rhetorically asks the rain for answers, but ultimately he wishes it would 'go away' and let him cry alone.

Chart performance

Sylvie Vartan version (in French)
"En écoutant la pluie"
Single by Sylvie Vartan
from the album Twiste et chante
B-side"Jamais"
Released1963
Genreyé-yé
Length2:28
LabelRCA Victor
Songwriter(s)John C. Gummoe, Richard Anthony
Sylvie Vartan singles chronology
"Chance" / "Il revient" / "Reponds-moi" / "Il revient" / "Reponds-moi" / "Tous les gens"
(1963)		 "En écoutant la pluie"
(1963)		 "I'm watching"
(1963)

The song was adapted into French (under the title "En écoutant la pluie", meaning "Listening to the Rain") by Richard Anthony. It was recorded by Sylvie Vartan, who released it as a single in 1963.

According to the charts published by the U.S. magazine Billboard (in its "Hits of the World" section), the song "En écoutant la pluie" reached number one in France.[22][23][24]

Track listings

7-inch single RCA Victor 45.277 (1963, France)

A. "En écoutant la pluie" (Rhythm of the Rain)
B. "Jamais" (Late Date Baby)[25]

7-inch EP Sylvie à l'Olympia RCA 86.007 (1963, France)

A1. "En écoutant la pluie"
A2. "Jamais"
B1. "Avec moi"
B2. "Mon ami"[26]

Charts
Charts (1963) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[27] 11
France[24] 1

Other charting versions
  • Dutch teen idol Rob de Nijs covered the song in 1963 as "Ritme van de regen". Though originally a B side, the song kick started his career and remains popular today.[28]
  • Brazilian singer Demétrius (1942-2019) released a version of the song in Portuguese in 1964 as "O Ritmo Da Chuva".[29]
  • Gary Lewis & the Playboys released a version of the song in 1969 that reached No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[30]
  • Pat Roberts released a version of the song in 1972 that reached No. 34 on the Country chart.[31]
  • Jacky Ward released a version of the song in 1978 that reached No. 11 on the Country chart.[32]
  • Neil Sedaka released a version of the song in 1984 that reached No. 37 on the adult contemporary chart.[33]
  • Dan Fogelberg released a version of the song in 1990 that reached No. 3 on the adult contemporary chart.[34]
  • Jason Donovan also recorded a version of the song for his 1990 album Between the Lines, and released it as the fourth single on 20 August 1990.[35] It reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart,[36] number six in Ireland, number 14 in the Flanders part of Belgium, number 25 in Finland, number 38 in Germany and number 44 in Australia. Reviewing the single, David Giles of Music Week said that "SAW have managed to capture some of the original charm, without damaging [Donovan's] chances to maintaing the flow of hits".[37] Donovan re-recorded the song for his 2008 album Let It Be Me.

See also

References
  1. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 49.
  2. Top 5 Songs of Each Year Retrieved May 8, 2015
  3. Hall, Ron (1984). The Chum Chart Book. Rexdale (Toronto): Stardust Productions. p. 27. ISBN 0920325157.
  4. Top 100 Songs of the Century Retrieved September 21, 2011
  5. IMDB Quadrophenia Entry
  6. Walter Everett (2008). The Foundations of Rock : From "Blue Suede Shoes" to "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes": From "Blue Suede Shoes" to "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes. Oxford University Press. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-1953-1023-8.
  7. The Cascades - Rhythm of the Rain, Ultratop. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  8. The Cascades - Rhythm of the Rain, Ultratop. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Cascades". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  10. "Flavour of New Zealand, 18 April 1963". Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  11. The Cascades - Rhythm of the Rain, norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  12. Cascades - Full Official Chart History, Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  13. Hot 100 - The Cascades Rhythm of the Rain Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  14. "The Hot 100, Week of March 9, 1963". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  15. Adult Contemporary - The Cascades Rhythm of the Rain Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  16. "Middle-Road Singles", Billboard, March 2, 1963. p. 55. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  17. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - The Cascades Rhythm of the Rain Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  18. "Hot R&B Singles", Billboard, March 16, 1963. p. 20. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  19. Cash Box Top 100 Singles, March 16, 1963
  20. Musicoutfitters.com
  21. Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 28, 1963
  22. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (6 July 1963). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 31–. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  23. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (13 July 1963). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 30–. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  24. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (27 July 1963). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 42–. ISSN 0006-2510. Sylvie Vartan EN ECOUTANT LA PLUIE. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  25. "ultratop.be - Sylvie Vartan - Petit rainbow". Ultratop. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  26. "ultratop.be - Sylvie Vartan - Sylvie à l'Olympia". Ultratop. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  27. "Sylvie Vartan – En écoutant la pluie" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  28. Vic van de Reijt, booklet to De Nederlandstalige cover top 100, Universal Music 984 333-6
  29. Video of the song "O Ritmo Da Chuva", Brazilian version from 1964 by singer Demétrius on Youtube (original audio).
  30. Gary Lewis & The Playboys, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015
  31. Pat Roberts, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015
  32. Jacky Ward, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015
  33. Neil Sedaka, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015
  34. Dan Fogelberg, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015
  35. "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 61: Hey There Lonely Girl to Rhythm Of The Rain on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  36. Jason Donovan, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015
  37. Giles, David (25 August 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 17. Retrieved 6 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
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