"It's Raining" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Irma Thomas | ||||
B-side | "I Did My Part" | |||
Released | August 1962 | |||
Recorded | November 1, 1961 | |||
Studio | Cosimo (New Orleans, Louisiana) | |||
Genre | Soul, R&B | |||
Length | 2:08 | |||
Label | Minit 653 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Naomi Neville | |||
Producer(s) | Allen Toussaint | |||
Irma Thomas singles chronology | ||||
|
"It's Raining" is a soul/R&B ballad, written by Allen Toussaint under the name "Naomi Neville". It was first recorded in November 1961 by Irma Thomas, and produced by Allen Toussaint. The song has emotional ties to Louisiana, having been written and sung by people born in that state, being released on a New Orleans–based record label and enduring in the Deep South as a regional classic. [1]
"It's Raining", alongside "Ruler of My Heart" and "I Done Got Over It", remain some of Thomas' best-known recordings. [2]
Initially Thomas recorded for Ron Records but, in 1961, she left for Minit Records, feeling that her original label did not pay her due royalties. [2] This move paired her with Allen Toussaint, who both wrote and produced most of her work with Minit. As well as "It's Raining", Thomas recorded "Time Is on My Side" and "Ruler of My Heart." [3] The name "Naomi Neville" was Toussaint's mother's name, which he used on many of his early compositions. [1] Although most of her 1961–63 Minit recordings were written and produced by Toussaint, only one of these, "Two Winters Long", made the national charts. It spent three weeks on the Cashbox R&B chart in February 1963, peaking at no. 43. Her version of "It's Too Soon to Know" (Minit 633) was another that failed to chart, however all sold well regionally. [2]
The origin of the song came when Thomas visited Allen Toussaint's parents' house in New Orleans. She sat at the piano where Toussaint composed many of his early songs. Toussaint later stated "I remember when I was writing 'It's Raining,' she was sitting right there, and it began raining outside," he said. "I just wrote that song then and handed it over to her and sung a little bit of it, just to show her the melody, and it fit like a gown." [4] Toussaint captured the solitude possible in the depths of a rain sodden night. [5]
The opening falsetto harmonies captured the drip-drop of rain and tears by using a late 1950s doo-wop singing style. That it became a regional favorite is summed up by one journalist who noted that "Maybe it's because although it speaks to a universal sentimental human experience - romantic heartbreak - it does so with dignity, rather than pour on the sap." [1] Nevertheless, "It's Raining" did not reach any national chart. [1]
"It's Raining" was used in the 1986 independent film by Jim Jarmusch, Down By Law . [6] The film's actors Roberto Benigni and Nicoletta Braschi, whose characters fall in love in the movie, danced to the song.
The song later appeared on the Thomas albums Soul Queen Of New Orleans (1978) and Live! Simply The Best (1991). [7] [8]
"It's Raining" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Shakin' Stevens | ||||
from the album Shaky | ||||
B-side | "You and I Were Meant to Be" | |||
Released | 2 October 1981 | |||
Recorded | 1981 | |||
Studio | Eden Studios. London | |||
Genre | Rock and roll | |||
Length | 3:18 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Songwriter(s) | Naomi Neville | |||
Producer(s) | Stuart Colman | |||
Shakin' Stevens singles chronology | ||||
|
In 1981, Welsh singer Shakin' Stevens released a cover of the song for his album Shaky . It peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. [9]
Chart (1981–1982) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report) [10] | 75 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [11] | 11 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [12] | 9 |
Denmark (Hitlisten) [13] | 4 |
Germany (GfK) [14] | 13 |
Ireland (IRMA) [15] | 2 |
Israel (IBA) [16] | 3 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [17] | 7 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [18] | 8 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [19] | 33 |
UK Singles (OCC) [9] | 10 |
Chart (1981) | Position |
---|---|
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) [20] | 97 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [21] | 77 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [22] | 70 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [23] | Silver | 250,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
The song has been covered by a number of musicians over the years, most notably including the following:
Allen Richard Toussaint was an American musician, songwriter, arranger, and record producer. He was an influential figure in New Orleans rhythm and blues from the 1950s to the end of the century, described as "one of popular music's great backroom figures." Many musicians recorded Toussaint's compositions. He was a producer for hundreds of recordings: the best known are "Right Place, Wrong Time", by longtime friend Dr. John, and "Lady Marmalade" by Labelle.
Minit Records was an American independent record label, originally based in New Orleans and founded by Joe Banashak in 1959. Ernie K-Doe, Aaron Neville, Irma Thomas, and Benny Spellman were early artists on the label. Later artists included Bobby Womack and Ike & Tina Turner.
"This Ole House" is an American popular song written by Stuart Hamblen, and published in 1954. Rosemary Clooney's version reached the top of the popular music charts in both the US and the UK in 1954. The song again topped the UK chart in 1981 in a recording by Shakin' Stevens.
"The Green Door" is a 1956 popular song, with music composed by Bob "Hutch" Davie and lyrics by Marvin J. Moore. It was first recorded by Jim Lowe, which reached number one on the US chart in 1956. The song has been covered by a number of artists, including a version by Shakin' Stevens in 1981.
Irma Thomas is an American singer from New Orleans. She is known as the "Soul Queen of New Orleans".
The Showmen were a New Orleans–based American doo-wop and R&B group formed in 1961. They are best remembered for their track "It Will Stand", issued on Minit Records. "It Will Stand" reached No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961, and when re-released in 1964 re-charted and reached No. 80. They had another hit, the Carolina Beach Music standard "39-21-40 Shape;" the label on the single, however, was mistakenly printed "39-21-46," and this soon supplanted the official title.
"Oh Julie" was a number one hit in the UK Singles Chart for one week for Shakin' Stevens in January 1982.
"You Drive Me Crazy" is a song by Welsh rock and roll singer Shakin' Stevens, released in April 1981 from his album Shaky. It peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks behind Adam and the Ants' "Stand and Deliver".
"Breakaway" is a song written by Jackie DeShannon and Sharon Sheeley. It was originally recorded by Irma Thomas in 1964 and released as the B-side of her biggest hit, the US No. 17 single "Wish Someone Would Care". The song was later a huge success for the British singer Tracey Ullman, who had a UK Top 5 hit with it in 1983. A demo version performed by DeShannon was also recorded but remained unreleased until a 1994 compilation.
"A Letter to You" is a song written by Dennis Linde and originally recorded by Shakin' Stevens. His version of the song went to #10 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Cry Just a Little Bit" is a song and a 1983 hit single for British singer Shakin' Stevens, from his studio album The Bop Won't Stop. It reached #3 in the UK charts and #67 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
"Shirley" is a song originally released by John Fred and the Playboys in December 1958 by Montel Records. It was the band's debut single and reached number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1959. The song became an international hit in 1982 when it was covered by Shakin' Stevens, peaking at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart.
"I'll Be Satisfied" is a popular song. Recorded and released by Jackie Wilson in 1959, the single peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was a Top 10 R&B hit, peaking at # 6. It was written, like many of Wilson's early hits, by future Motown founder Berry Gordy along with Gordy's sister Gwendolyn and Roquel "Billy" Davis, writing under his songwriting alias of Tyran Carlo. This up-tempo rocker could best be described as "proto Motown", featuring many of the musical and lyrical features that Gordy would employ on his later recordings for his Motown Records label.
"It's Late" is a song written by Dorsey Burnette, who recorded it on August 28, 1958. However, it was not released and its first appearance was on a compilation album by Imperial Records in 1980. It is better known for its release as a single by Ricky Nelson in February 1959, subsequently reaching number 3 in the UK, number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 30 on the R&B chart that year. The song is featured on the 1959 album Ricky Sings Again.
This is the discography for American R&B-jazz musician Allen Toussaint.
"Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)" is a 1964 R&B song written by Jeannie Seely, Randy Newman, Judith Arbuckle and Pat Sheeran. It was recorded by Irma Thomas and released as a single the same year, with "Time Is on My Side" as the B-side. The song is about a woman who stays in a relationship with a man despite his bad behavior.
"A Love Worth Waiting For" is a song by Welsh singer Shakin' Stevens, released in March 1984 as the fourth single from his album TheBop Won't Stop. It peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks and was certified silver in the UK by the BPI.
"Teardrops" is a song by Welsh singer Shakin' Stevens, released in November 1984 as the second single from his Greatest Hits album. It peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart. The song features The Shadows' Hank Marvin on lead guitar and was later included as a bonus track on the remastered version of Lipstick, Powder and Paint on The Epic Masters box set.
"Give Me Your Heart Tonight" is a song by Welsh singer Shakin' Stevens, released in August 1982 as the third single from his album of the same name. It peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. With the release of the album, a promo single was also released, which included four songs from the album.
"Breaking Up My Heart" is a song by Welsh singer Shakin' Stevens, released in February 1985 as the third and final single from his Greatest Hits album. It peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. A limited pop-up gatefold sleeve version was also released, where Stevens pops up from the middle of the sleeve when opened.