Rhythm Of The Rain

Album: Rhythm of the Rain (1962)
Charted: 5 3
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Songfacts®:

  • "Rhythm Of The Rain" was written by The Cascades lead singer John Gummoe, who told Songfacts the story in October 2008: "I wrote 'Rhythm of the Rain' over a period of time, but the lyrics began while I was serving in the US Navy aboard the USS Jason AR8. I was standing a mid watch on the bridge while we were underway to Japan. We were sailing up in the north pacific and it was raining heavily and the seas were tossing.

    The title came to me first and I liked the 'ring' of it, the way it flowed, and that night I wrote down most of the lyrics. It was like the rain was talking. It was later on that I sat down at a piano and was fooling around with the black keys and started playing a sequence from E flat down to F sharp, well, if you do it you'll see it's the melody that is now stuck in the heads of millions of people around the world. Later on, when we did a demo on the song, that great little ding ding thing that goes FC-FC, DA, DA came to be. The great arranger Perry Botkin Jr. enhanced that little hook and it was producer Barry De Vorzon who came up with the idea of opening the song with that famous burst of thunder."
  • Hundreds of artists have covered this song, including Lawrence Welk, Bobby Darin, Dan Fogelberg, Jan & Dean, Neil Sedaka and Jerry Jeff Walker. A huge worldwide hit, BMI named "Rhythm of the Rain" the 9th most performed song of the 20th century.
  • This was recorded at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, which is where Phil Spector produced many of his hits. Some of the elite west coast studio musicians played on this song, including the legendary session drummer Hal Blaine and guitarist Glen Campbell.
  • The Cascades' next singles, "Shy Girl" and "Last Leaf," failed to chart, and Gummoe left the band in 1967, because he was "mainly just tired of being on the road and our career was going downhill instead of up."

    Gummoe adds: "Most of the guys though were together on into the mid '70s. We then reformed for a one night reunion at the Greek theater in Los Angeles in 1995. Next was in 2004 when I was contacted by Danee Samonte (AKA Steve O'Neal) a DJ and promoter in Manila. I contacted Gabe Lapano and Tony Grasso who had at different times been members of the group and we then did four tours of The Philippines which also included a gig in Maylaysia and a gig in Japan. We are blessed by our popularity in The Philippines and we love the Philippine people. We've met Gloria, the president and have been to Imelda's mansion for a party which she threw for us two years ago. We meet mayors, congressmen and other government dignitaries on a regular basis when we are there."
  • Gummoe explained to Songfacts in 2008: "A few years ago, I was asked to be a part of a great book that was put together by the legendary Graham Nash. It's called Off the Record and it contains stories about many famous songs and famous songwriters. The book includes CDs with live interviews with each of the featured songwriters. In conjunction with this, I was asked to do an original piece of art using my song and that is included in the book. In the last four years, I've been to Asia on four occasions for concert tours, mainly in The Philippine Islands. During this period, The Cascades and I have done a couple of new CDs which are available on itunes for download. One CD is called All the Way to Yesterday and the other is called We've still Got the Magic."
  • Former Neighbours actor and late 1980s teen pop star, Jason Donovan, had a #9 in the UK in 1990 with his cover.

Comments: 8

  • Harry from Brenham TexasThis song came out when I moved to Hawaii. I was just a kid and it rained a lot there. Beautiful song.
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaThese guys were from my birthplace San Diego Calif. There were groups who made records that came from there but these guys had a hit that went far. Thanks guys. How did they do the rain part?
  • Shandroise De Laeken from Davao City, PhilippinesI really love this song very much and I sing this randomly - most especially when the rains pour down! And I've been a fan of The Cascades since I was 3 years old back in 1996! Songs way back then are the BEST!
  • Don from Willoughby, OhThis was the very first 45 I ever owned. I remember saving up to buy it at the Woolworths dime store at Five Points in Collinwood (Cleveland, Ohio).
    I took it to Memorial School, (on Fridays we had a dance in the gym for 6th. graders) and it was a hit.
    Over the next few months I wore it out.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 3rd 1963, "Rhythm of the Rain" by the Cascades peaked at #3 (for 1 week) on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart (See post below)...
    In 1969 Gary Lewis and the Playboys covered it; their version reached #63 on the Top 100...
    On Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart Jack Warden took his version to #11 in 1978...
    The late Dan Fogelberg combined it with the Beatles' "Rain" and that version peaked at #3 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    R.I.P. Mr. Fogelberg (1951 - 2007).
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyI must be getting old (Hey! wait a minute; I'm 69, I am old!!!)
    Forget to add to my post below that on February 24th, 1963 it peaked at #1 (for 2 weeks) on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    Actually in 1963 it was known as 'Middle-Road Singles' chart.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 6th 1963, "Rhythm of the Rain" by the Cascades entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on March 3rd it peaked #3 (for 1 week) and spent *16 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #5 in the United Kingdom...
    * Of the sixteen weeks on the Top 100, nine weeks were spent on the Top 10.
  • Barry from New York, NcThis song is a mainstay of oldies radio everywhere!! Actually the rain sound effects evokes an exquisite vibe that is perfect for listening during a dark and rainy day.
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