Rain (The Beatles song) 1327328 224840774 2008-07-10T17:31:27Z J Milburn Bot 7423137 All Music Guide has now been rebranded to Allmusic {{Infobox Song <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs --> | Name =Rain | Cover =Rain-Paperback Writer US aa sleeve.jpg | Caption =U.S. single sleeve | Type =[[B-side]] to "[[Paperback Writer]]" | Artist =[[The Beatles]] | Released =[[30 May]] [[1966]] ([[United States|U.S.]])<br />[[10 June]] [[1966]] ([[United Kingdom|UK]]) | Recorded =[[Abbey Road Studios]]<br/>[[14 April]] [[1966]] | Genre =[[Psychedelic rock]] | Length =2:59 | Writer =[[Lennon/McCartney]] | Label =[[Parlophone]] R5452 (UK)<br />[[Capitol Records|Capitol]] 5651 (U.S.) | Producer =[[George Martin]] }} "'''Rain'''" is a song by the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Rock music|rock]] band [[The Beatles]], credited to [[Lennon/McCartney]]. It was first released in June 1966 as the [[B-side]] of the "[[Paperback Writer]]" single.<ref name="Steve_Rain"> {{cite web|url=http://www.stevesbeatles.com/songs/rain.asp|title=Steve's Beatles Page: Rain|last=Hamel|first=Stephen|publisher=Stephen Hamel|accessdate=2008-03-03}}</ref> Both songs were recorded during the sessions for ''[[Revolver (album)|Revolver]]'' but neither appears on that album. Written primarily by [[John Lennon]], "Rain" has been called The Beatles' finest B-side, especially notable for its heavy sonic presence and backwards vocals, both of which were a hint of things to come on ''Revolver'', released two months later.<ref name="sheff1p197">Sheff (2000), p197.</ref><ref name="lewisohn1p74">Lewisohn (1988), p74.</ref><ref name="macdonald2p196">MacDonald (2005), p196.</ref> A promotional film was made for the song "Rain", starring the Beatles. This video, along with other Beatles videos at the time, sparked George Harrison to say during the ''[[Beatles Anthology]]'', "So I suppose, in a way, we invented [[MTV]]."<ref name=”TheBeatlesAnthologyDVD5”> ''The Beatles Anthology'' DVD 2003 (Episode 5 “Rain” - 0:53:19) Harrison talking about inventing MTV.</ref> ==Recording== The inspiration for "Rain" is agreed on by [[Neil Aspinall]], the Beatles' [[roadie]], and John Lennon. They both described the band's arrival in [[Australia]], marked by rain and poor weather.<ref name="Anthology140">Beatles (2000), p140</ref> Lennon said, "I've never seen rain as hard as that, except in [[Tahiti]]", and later explained that "Rain" was "about people moaning about the weather all the time".<ref name="Anthology Book">Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Ringo (2000), p212.</ref> Recording began on [[14 April]] [[1966]], in the same session as "Paperback Writer", and concluded on [[April 16]], with a series of [[overdubs]] before mixing on the same day.<ref name="lewisohn1p74"/><ref name="AboutComRain">{{cite web |first=Robert |last=Fontenot |url=http://oldies.about.com/od/thebeatlessongs/a/rain.htm |title=The history of this classic Beatles song |publisher=[[The New York Times Company]] |accessdate=2008-03-05}}</ref> At that time, The Beatles were enthused about experimenting in the studio to achieve new sounds and effects.<ref name="lewisohn1p70">Lewisohn (1988), p70.</ref> These experiments were showcased in their influential seventh album, [[Revolver (album)|''Revolver'']]. [[Geoff Emerick]], who was the engineer for both sessions, described one technique he used to alter the sonic texture of the track by recording the backing track "faster than normal." After playing the tape normally, "the music had a radically different tonal quality.<ref name="emerick1p116">Emerick (2006), p117</ref> A similar technique was used to alter the tone of Lennon's lead vocal. It was recorded with the tape machine being slowed down, so making Lennon's voice sound higher when played back at normal speed.<ref name="lewisohn1p83">Lewisohn (1988), p83.</ref> The last verse of "Rain" includes backwards vocals, which was one of the first uses of this technique on a record.<ref name=”TheBeatlesAnthologyDVD5”> ”The Beatles Anthology” DVD 2003 (Episode 5 “Rain” - 0:55:48) Lennon talking about the first reverse vocal ever recorded.</ref><ref name="amg-rain">{{cite web |url=http://wm10.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=33:wjfuxqwrldfe |title=Song Review of Rain |last=Unterberger |first=Richie |authorlink=Richie Unterberger |publisher=[[Allmusic]] |accessdate=2007-12-22}}</ref> The backwards vocals are Lennon singing the first lyrics of the song: "When the rain comes, they run and hide their heads."<ref name="Rain-songfacts">{{cite web |url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=100 |title=Rain by the Beatles |accessdate=2008-03-01}}</ref> Both Lennon and producer [[George Martin]] have claimed credit for the idea; Lennon said: {{cquote|After we'd done the session on that particular song—it ended at about four or five in the morning—I went home with a tape to see what else you could do with it. And I was sort of very tired, you know, not knowing what I was doing, and I just happened to put it on my own tape recorder and it came out backwards. And I liked it better. So that's how it happened.<ref name="interviewdb">{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/~beatleboy1/dba07revol.html |publisher=The Beatles Interview Database |title=Rain |accessdate=2007-12-22}}</ref>}} Emerick confirms Lennon's creative accident, but Martin remembers it differently:{{cquote|I was always playing around with tapes and I thought it might be fun to do something extra with John's voice. So I lifted a bit of his main vocal off the four-track, put it on another spool, turned it around and then slid it back and forth until it fitted. John was out at the time but when he came back he was amazed.<ref name="lewisohn1p74"/><ref name="emerick1p116"/>}} The "Paperback Writer"/"Rain" single was the first release to use a new device invented by the maintenance department at [[Abbey Road Studios|Abbey Road]] called "ATOC" for "Automatic Transient Overload Control". The new device allowed the record to be cut at a louder volume, louder than any other single up to that time.<ref name="emerick1p117">Emerick (2006), p117.</ref> On the final mix of the single, Lennon was on [[lead vocal]] and [[rhythm guitar]] (1964 Gretsch 6120 "Nashville"). [[Paul McCartney]] was on backing vocal as well as [[bass guitar]] (1964 Rickenbacker 4001S). [[George Harrison]] was on backing vocal and [[lead guitar]] (1962 Gibson Les Paul (SG) Standard). Finally, [[Ringo Starr]] played [[drums]] ([[Ludwig]]) and [[tambourine]].<ref name="macdonald2p196"/><ref name="AboutComRain"/> ==Credits== *[[John Lennon]]: double tracked [[lead vocal]] and [[rhythm guitar]]. *[[Paul McCartney]]: [[Bass guitar|bass]] and [[backing vocal]]. *[[George Harrison]]: [[lead guitar]] and backing vocal. *[[Ringo Starr]]: [[drums]] and [[tambourine]]. ==Musical structure== While technologically elaborate, "Rain" has a simple musical structure. Set in the key of [[G major]], it begins with what [[Alan W. Pollack]] calls, "a ra-ta-tat half-measure's fanfare of solo [[snare drum]]s", followed by a guitar intro of the first chord. The verses are nine measures long, and the song is in [[Time signature|4/4 time]]. Each verse is based on the G, C, and D chords (I, IV, and V). The refrain contains only I and IV chords, and is twelve measures long (the repetition of a six-measure pattern). The first two measures are the G chord. The third and fourth measures are the C chord, with the third measure in 6/4 time instead of the regular 4/4 time. The fifth and sixth measures return to the G chord. The [[refrain]], though seemingly slower than the verse, is at the same tempo. Pollack says this illusion is achieved by "the change of beat for the first four measures from its erstwhile bounce to something more plodding and regular". After four verses and two refrains, a short solo for guitar and drums is played, with complete silence for one beat. What is heard next is what Pollack calls "historically significant" reverse lyrics.<ref name="Rain Notes">{{cite web|url=http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/pw_and_r.shtml#q2|title=Alan W. Pollack's Notes on "Paperback Writer" and "Rain"|last=Pollack|first=Alan W.|accessdate=2008-03-01}}</ref> ==Release== [[Image:Beat_rain.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Lennon and McCartney in the grounds of Chiswick House, London, in the "Rain" video.]] It was released as a B-side to "Paperback Writer" in the [[United States]] (Capitol 5651) on [[30 May]] [[1966]], and in the UK on [[10 June]] [[1966]] (Parlophone R5452). It later appeared on the [[compilation album|compilations]] ''[[Hey Jude (album)|Hey Jude]]'' in the U.S. and ''[[Rarities (Beatles compilation)|Rarities]]'' in the UK. It also appeared on the ''[[Past Masters Volume Two]]'' CD (Parlophone CDP 7 90044 2).<ref name="AboutComRain"/> The Beatles created a promotional film for "Rain", which is considered one of the early precursors of [[music video]]s.<ref name="BirthofVideos">{{cite web |first= |last= |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A3404611 |title=The Beatles and the Birth of the Music Video |publisher=[[BBC]] |accessdate=2008-03-01}}</ref> The film was directed by [[Michael Lindsay-Hogg]]—who had worked with them before on the pop 1960 [[television]] program ''[[Ready Steady Go!]]''<ref name="milesdiary">Miles (1998).</ref>—and features The Beatles walking and singing in a garden and a [[greenhouse]], and performing on a soundstage.<ref name="anthology-dvd">{{cite video |people=The Beatles |title=The Beatles Anthology, DVD #3, "Rain" |medium=DVD |publisher=[[Apple Records|Apple Corps Limited]] |date = 2003}}</ref> The video was filmed at [[Chiswick House]] in [[London]].<ref name="Rain Video">{{cite web |url= http://www.ready-steady-go.org.uk/beatles_tv.htm|title="The Beatles Rain Video |accessdate=2008-02-27}}</ref> McCartney was injured in a [[moped]] accident on [[26 December]] [[1965]], and closeups in the film reveal a scarred lip and a chipped tooth.<ref name="milesdiary"/><ref name="anthology-dvd"/> McCartney's appearance in the film played a role in the "[[Paul is dead]]" rumors from 1969. <ref name="Paul is Dead">{{cite web |url=http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:hJ2WpDnRaksJ:www.recmusicbeatles.com/public/files/faqs/pid.html+Rain+Paul+is+Dead&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us&client=firefox-a|title=Paul is Dead??|first=Saki|publisher=Rec.Music.Beatles |accessdate=2008-03-01}}</ref> ==Reception== Its highest chart positions was #23 in the U.S. ([[11 June]] [[1966]]) and #1 in the UK (for two weeks starting on [[23 June]] [[1966]]).<ref name="AboutComRain"/> It is one of the Beatles's most critically-acclaimed songs, appearing on a number of best-of lists, including ''Rolling Stone'' magazine's ''[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]'' (#463).<ref name="rs500">{{cite web |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/5 |title=The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time |publisher=[[Rolling Stone]] |accessdate=2007-12-22 |date=2004-12-09}}</ref> AcclaimedMusic.net, a site which combines hundreds of such lists from around the world, ranks "Rain" at #557 on the Top 3000 Songs, the 22nd highest-rated Beatle song on the site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/1966s.htm |title=Top 3000 Songs: The Top Songs from 1966 |publisher=[[Acclaimed Music]] |accessdate=2007-12-22 |date=2007-07-31}}</ref><ref name="ac2">{{cite web |url=http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/The%20Beatles.htm |title=Top Artists: The Beatles |publisher=[[Acclaimed Music]] |accessdate=2007-12-22 |date=2007-07-31}}</ref> Notable in "Rain" is [[Ringo Starr]]'s drumming, which Starr himself rates as his best performance.<ref name="miles1p280">Miles (1997), p280.</ref> Critics agreed; both [[Ian MacDonald]] and ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' said his drumming was "superb," and [[Richie Unterberger]] of [[Allmusic]] praised his "creative drum breaks."<ref name="amg-rain"/><ref name="macdonald2p198">MacDonald (2005), p198.</ref><ref name="rs-rain">{{cite web |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6596308/rain |title=Rain |publisher=[[Rolling Stone]] |accessdate=2007-12-22 |date=2004-12-09}}</ref> "Rain" has been covered numerous times since its release as a single, including by [[Ibex (Queen)|Ibex]], [[Humble Pie (band)|Humble Pie]], Shonen Knife, *[[The Punkles]] and [[The Allman Brothers]]. The [[Grateful Dead]] performed the song numerous times throughout the 1990s; often as an encore. Australian band [[The Church]] played the song at MTV [[Unplugged]], with [[Marty Willson-Piper]] sharing vocals with [[Jules Shear]]. British band [[Kula Shaker]] covered the song live at [[Reading Festival]] in 1996. [[U2]] and [[Todd Rundgren]] have also covered the song.<ref name="AboutComRain"/> ==Notes== {{reflist|2}} ==References== * {{cite book |last=Beatles|authorlink=The Beatles|title=The Beatles Anthology|year=2000|publisher=Chronicle Books |location=San Francisco |isbn=0-811-83636-3}} * {{cite book |first=Geoff |last=Emerick |authorlink=Geoff Emerick |coauthors=Massey, Howard |title=Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles |year=2006 |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |location=New York |isbn=1-592-40179-1}} * {{cite book |first=Mark |last=Lewisohn |authorlink=Mark Lewisohn |title=The Beatles Recording Sessions |year=1988 |publisher=Harmony Books |location=New York |isbn=0-517-57066-1}} * {{cite book |first=Ian |last=MacDonald |authorlink=Ian MacDonald |title=Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties |year=2005 |edition=Second Revised Edition |publisher=Pimlico (Rand) |location=London |isbn=1-844-13828-3}} * {{cite book |first=Barry |last=Miles |authorlink=Barry Miles |title=Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now |year=1997 |publisher=[[Henry Holt and Company]] |location=New York |isbn=0-8050-5249-6}} * {{cite book |first=Barry |last=Miles |authorlink=Barry Miles |title=The Beatles: A Diary |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |location=London |year=1998 |isbn=0-7119-6315-0}} * {{cite book |first=David |last=Sheff |title=All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono |year=2000 |publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]] |location=New York |isbn=0-312-25464-4}} * {{cite book | author= The Beatles | authorlink=The Beatles| title=[[The Beatles Anthology]] (DVD) | publisher=[[Apple records]] | year=2003 | id=ASIN: B00008GKEG}} ==External links== * [http://www.reasontorock.com/tracks/rain.html "Reason to Rock" review] * [http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/pw_and_r.shtml#q2 Alan W. Pollack's Notes On Rain] * [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A3404611 "The Beatles and the Birth of the Music Video"] {{The Beatles singles}} {{The Beatles}} [[Category:1966 singles]] [[Category:The Beatles songs]] [[Category:Parlophone singles]] [[Category:Songs produced by George Martin]] [[es:Rain (canción de The Beatles)]] [[fr:Rain (chanson)]] [[hu:Rain]] [[ja:レイン (ビートルズ)]]