It Never Rains In Southern California

Album: It Never Rains In Southern California (1972)
Charted: 5
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  • Got on board a westbound 747
    Didn't think before deciding what to do
    Oh, that talk of opportunities, TV breaks and movies
    Rang true, sure rang true

    Seems it never rains in southern California
    Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
    It never rains in California
    But girl, don't they warn ya?
    It pours, man, it pours

    Out of work, I'm out of my head
    Out of self respect, I'm out of bread
    I'm underloved, I'm underfed
    I wanna go home

    It never rains in California
    But girl, don't they warn ya?
    It pours, man, it pours

    Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it?
    Had offers but don't know which one to take
    Please don't tell 'em how you found me
    Don't tell 'em how you found me
    Gimme a break, give me a break

    Seems it never rains in southern California
    Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
    It never rains in California
    But girl, don't they warn ya?
    It pours, man, it pours Writer/s: Albert Hammond, Mike Hazlewood
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 35

  • Pomdter from IdWith the weather dramatics caused by the global warming crowd, this song seems very fitting.
    Every day the news screams "California is in a drought!", until it suddenly changes to "California is flooded!"
  • Steve from Elizabethtown PaIn 1972 I was fresh out of high school, 17 years old, and working on-air at WNBT Wellsboro PA, a top 40 a.m. radio station… It was just prior to the breakout of FM and this was one of my favorite and go to songs. It's one of the songs from that area that I still have readily available in my mind, but then there was so much great music from that decade…
  • Susan Hammond from EnglandI'm sure I heard an interview with Albert Hammond about this song, and he explained that it was based on a true experience of his. I think he said that "the talk of opportunity, TV breaks and movies, rang true, sure rang true", came about when he had a psychic reading, and success was predicted for him. Whenever I hear the song,I wonder if Albert considered the song a success,and, have his songt been played on TVand in movies? From reading the above, it does seem that he considered this song to be his big break, and that his career may not have happened without it...?
  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenOne of my all-time favorite songs. I first heard it when I was 10.
  • Him from Western AustraliaI heard this song today for the first in about forty years and was transported back my early teen years when life simply sheer joy. Hot summers on the beach and good times. I wished I could got back there. Thanks
  • Susan from Atlanta, GeorgiaMarcel in Spring, TX, I hope enough time has passed that you are doing better here in the USA. I found your comments poignant and moving and hope your new home is becoming what you had hoped it would be.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 3rd 1973, Albert Hammond performed "It Never Rains in California" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at #73 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it was also its 16th and last week on the chart...
    {See the 2nd post below}
    On the same 'Bandstand' show he also performed "If You Gotta Break Another Heart"; and twenty-two days later on February 25th, 1973 it entered the Top 100 for a six week stay, reaching #63...
    Between 1972 and 1975 he had nine Top 100 records; with "It Never Rains in California" being his only Top 10 record, his next biggest hit was "The Free Electric Band", which peaked at #48 in 1973.
  • Sieg-f from Rizhao,chinaIt's just me and many people's stories.Change the Southern California to any other place you long to live but have to back home.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 10th 1972, "It Never Rains In Southern California" by Albert Hammond peaked at #5 (for 3 weeks) on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it had entered the chart on October 15th and spent 16 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #2 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    On February 19th, 1973 it peaked at #1 (for 6 weeks) on the 'Japanese Oricon International' chart...
    Mr. Hammond will celebrate his 70th birthday come next May 18th.
  • Paul from Cleveland, OhI heard a song yesterday that sounded similar to "It Never Rains In Southern California", the flute riff sounded similar and it talked about loving all the girls...I just can't find the song right now!
  • Marcel from Spring, TxI'm a 21 years old boy. My family and I immigrated to the USA couple of years ago. I relate this song a lot to my life of immigrants. The USA is not quiet what we thought it was. The night before our departure, we were so delighted, thinking we were heading to an Utopia, where everything will be just fine. I thought everybody worked in office and had big houses, nice cars, and nearly nearly everything. Conversely to our fantasies, our poor life of immigrants is paved with hardships, problems, sorrows, distress... But Boy, ever since I came across this song, I came to believe that it's never been easy for a newcomer. Albert Jr helps me take our situation with courage and a hope of a better and brighter future.
    Thanks, Of course it never rains in the USA.
  • James from Yucaipa, CaGreat song. One of my 70s favorites. 8/21/10
  • Mike from Santa Barbara, CaI'm surprised that this song was about the author's life before he got to Los Angeles. I thought it was about a struggling actor whose career is going nowhere and doesn't want anyone back home to know that he didn't make it.
  • Ai from Marikina, PhilippinesI remember a friend telling me, back in '72, how this song ought to be the year's best (in Manila, where I came from.) I don't remember making any reply but after I heard the song again a few days ago, I now wonder. Thirty-eight years after the fact. Thanks.
  • Jim from Long Beach, CaBeing born and raised in Southern California, this song hits home. I loved this song in '73 and to this day..
  • Julia from Richland, WaMy dad and I really like this song.
  • Charles from Bronxville, NyHaving basically lived this song, I can relate. I took a trip out to LA to try to get into film. I wrote several letters but only heard back from one or two studios. I ended up working the graveyard shift at a 7-11. I told my parents I'd gotten a job at at studio. Eventually I had to go home.
  • Gordon from Beijing, ChinaThis song was cutting-edge Top 40 production style and quality for the time. The hook and vocals jumped right out of the radio.
  • Bob from Kingwood, TxThe music in a recent Pine-Sol television commercial has a flute riff almost identical to the one in this song. Each time I hear it, I automatically think of "It Never Rains In Southern California." Has anyone else noticed this?
  • Michael from Sumter , ScThis song is truely one of the Classic AM songs from the 70's. This song has always had personal meaning; I have always had this rebel inside that wanted to drop everything and head to the left coast and give it a shot!
  • Farrah from Elon, NcIt's a sad and haunting song indeed, but it's also one of the best songs of the 70s.
  • Lazy from Shenzhen, ChinaI fell in love with this song when i heard it the first time. It made me smile at the very beginning,but after i listening it again and again, it made my eyes moisture.
  • Giveusakiss from Geelong, AustraliaI hate this song. Julio Iglesias gives it the treatment it deserves at the end of 'Moonlight Lady'

  • Megan from Winnipeg, CanadaI love this song, but no one in my family does for some reason.
  • Hasnat from London, EnglandI have heard this song twice now and i am totally entranced. As Mr.Hammond says it is perfect in every way. It takes me back to when things were more simple and difficult at the same time; makes me feel young, full of hope and despair at the same time. Shakes me out of my time worn cynicism to a wonderful time of discovery.
  • Paul from Sao Paulo, BrazilSou do Brasil e lembro-me de ter ouvido esta bela canção nos anos 70, quando tinha 20 e poucos anos.
    Em minha juventude, costumava passar férias no interior de São Paulo, numa cidadezinha muito agradável chamada Quatá. Esta música, naquela época, tocava a todo momento nas rádios.
    Gravamos num K7 e passamos a ouví-la no toca- fitas do carro, na rua e em todo lugar em que íamos.
    Nossa turma toda, a rapaziada e as meninas, cantavam em inglês "adaptado", mas a plenos pulmões!!
    Víamos o Sol começar a se pôr, vermelho, no horizonte, acompanhávamos a chegada da Lua enorme e clara no iníco da noite e de madrugada e víamos o Sol nascer no dia seguinte, mas a música continuava a tocar a todo volume.
    Como éramos felizes !!
    Era uma época em que se cantava sem nem mesmo saber a letra, apenas a emoção te guiava, e era o suficiente para você ser feliz...
    Nunca mais pude esquecê-la !
    É uma música sempre presente em minha vida, faz parte das minhas mais queridas lembranças.
    Através desta e de outras músicas, passei a ser fã, amar mesmo a Califórnia de maneira incondicional.
    Depois, como adulto, tive a oportunidade de estar várias vezes na Califórnia, minha paixão desde então, sempre lembrando que este verdadeiro amor começou há muitos anos atrás, por causa de uma música...
    Pode nunca chover no parte de baixo da Califórnia, mas no meu coração até hoje esta música faz chover...
    Paul
    S. Paulo
    Brasil
  • Steve from Anoka, MnThis was also covered in 2000 by semi-country act Trent Summar & The New Row Mob, with a little steel guitar thrown in.
  • Doug from Chicago, IlI remember hearing this song many times, from an AM radio in a primitive hotel in Costa Rica. I had just finished college and left the country, and its melancholy mood about a displaced person filled with longing and desire reached me, quite memorably. Rarely heard it after that, but it never lost its poignant appeal. Good song!
  • Jennifer from Los Angeles, CaI remember this one vividly from when I was a kid, but I don't think I've heard it since.
  • Garrett from Nashville, TnHammond also wrote "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" with hal david.
  • Howard from St. Louis Park, MnThe song was recorded on the Mums label and the flipside was titled "Anyone Here in the Audience?"
  • Peter from Mistelbach, AustriaLisa, Flower Mound, TX wrote "What a great and honest song! I agree her then for my it's a masterpiece.
  • Denny from Stockton, CaHeard this song on a rainy day while vacationing in Germany. Brought back great memories but could not remember who sang it until I was able to find a computer to Google it.
  • Aj from Cleveland, GaSuch a sad, haunting song.
  • John from Levittown, NyI always thought this song was about doing oneself in after failing to hit it big.
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