Rhythm of the Rain

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"Rhythm of the Rain"
Rhythm of the Rain - The Cascades.jpg
Single by The Cascades
from the album Rhythm of the Rain
B-side "Let Me Be"
Released November 1962 (US)
January 25, 1963 (UK)
Recorded1962
Genre Pop
Length2:28
Label Valiant 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

"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]

Contents

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"
Released 1963
Genre yé-yé
Length2:28
Label RCA 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]

Other charting versions

See also

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References

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  2. Top 5 Songs of Each Year Retrieved May 8, 2015
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  4. Top 100 Songs of the Century Retrieved September 21, 2011
  5. IMDB Quadrophenia Entry
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