Rain (Beatles song)
John Lennon described the song Rain as being about people moaning because they do not like the weather. He stated this in an interview where he discussed the lyrical themes of the track released on the 30th of May 1966. Another interpretation suggests the rain and sun represent phenomena experienced during a benign LSD trip. Author Nicholas Schaffner recognized it as the first Beatles song to portray the material world as an illusion. This theme was explored at length by Lennon and George Harrison during the band's psychedelic period. In an early-1970s article, Lennon claimed he wrote the song alone. Paul McCartney recalled in his 1997 biography Many Years from Now that the pair collaborated on it. McCartney estimated the authorship split as 70, 30 to John. The song addresses the idea that there is no greater feeling than rain dripping down your back.
Musicologist Alan Pollack noted the recording has no sitars or other ethnic world music instruments. Yet the song strongly evokes the style of Indian classical music through its droning harmony. Ethnomusicologist David Reck called it a more subtle absorption of Orientalism compared to Tomorrow Never Knows. The song is set in the key of G major though the final mix pitches it about a quarter of a semitone below this. The backing track was taped in A flat major. The verses are nine measures long and the song is in common time. Each verse is based on the G, C and D chords which function as I, IV, and V. The refrain contains only I and IV chords and is twelve measures long. The first two measures use the G chord while the third and fourth measures use the C chord in second inversion. Allan Kozinn described McCartney's bass as an ingenious counterpoint that takes him all over the fretboard. McCartney hammered on a high G approached with a quick slide from F natural just below it. He played it steadily on the beat for twenty successive beats.
The Beatles began recording Rain at EMI Studios in London on the 14th of April 1966. They completed the track on the 16th of April with a series of overdubs before mixing on the same day. Engineer Geoff Emerick altered the sonic texture by taping the backing track faster than normal. When played back slightly slower than usual speed the music had a radically different tonal quality. Lennon recorded his lead vocal with the tape machine slowed down to make his voice sound higher when played back. McCartney played a 1964 Rickenbacker 4001S bass through a loudspeaker reconfigured by Ken Townsend to serve as a microphone. This technique was used only on the two songs selected for the standalone single. The increased volume contravened EMI regulations which were born out of concern that the powerful sound would cause a record buyer's stylus to jump. The Paperback Writer and Rain single became the first release to use Automatic Transient Overload Control or ATOC. This new device allowed the record to be cut at a louder volume than any other single up to that time.
Rain was released as the B-side to Paperback Writer in the United States on the 30th of May 1966. It appeared in the UK on the 10th of June as Capitol 5651. In the United States the song peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the 9th of July 1966. Rolling Stone ranked Rain 469th in its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2010. Music critic Jim DeRogatis described the track as the Beatles' first great psychedelic rock song. Simon Philo recognized its release as marking the birth of British psychedelic rock. Ian MacDonald and Rolling Stone both described Ringo Starr's drumming on the track as superb. Richie Unterberger of AllMusic praised his creative drum breaks. In 1984 Starr said he thought it was the best out of all the records he had ever made. Alexis Petridis of The Guardian called the song simultaneously thunderous and dreamy psych. Mojos editors credited it with launching a countercultural downpour when they ranked it 20th in their list of The 101 Greatest Beatles Songs.
The Beatles created three promotional films for Rain following on from their first attempts with the medium for December 1965. Authors Mark Hertsgaard and Bob Spitz recognized the 1966 promos as the first examples of music videos. One film shows the band walking and singing in the gardens and conservatory of Chiswick House in west London. It was filmed on the 20th of May while another two clips feature the band performing on a sound stage at EMI Studios on the 19th of May. McCartney appeared in close-ups revealing a chipped tooth from an injury sustained in a moped accident on the 26th of December 1965. His appearance played a role in the Paul is dead rumors from 1969. Harrison later stated in The Beatles Anthology that they invented MTV in a way. The new edit combining footage employs rhythmic fast cuts though some backwards effects are actually 1990s creations. Unterberger wrote this creates an impression that the 1966 promos were more technically complex than was the case.
Petula Clark covered Rain on her 1966 album I Couldn't Live Without Your Love. Dan Ar Braz covered it on his 1979 album The Earth's Lament. Polyrock covered the song on their second album Changing Hearts in 1981. Todd Rundgren has also covered the song alongside the late Dan Fogelberg who reprised it as part of his own cover of Rhythm of the Rain. Shonen Knife covered the song on their 1991 album 712. Andy Partridge of XTC said Rain was an inspiration for his 1980 song Towers of London. U2 played the song throughout many of their tours usually during outdoor concerts when it started to rain. Pearl Jam improvised Rain into their song Jeremy during their 1992 Pinkpop Festival show. Oasis first named themselves the Rain after the Beatles track. Chris Ingham viewed that Oasis went on to add a dash of Slade to Rain and base their entire style on it. A Beatles tribute act derives its name from the song.
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Common questions
What is the meaning of the Beatles song Rain according to John Lennon?
John Lennon described the song Rain as being about people moaning because they do not like the weather. He stated this in an interview where he discussed the lyrical themes of the track released on the 30th of May 1966.
When was the Beatles song Rain recorded and mixed at EMI Studios?
The Beatles began recording Rain at EMI Studios in London on the 14th of April 1966. They completed the track on the 16th of April with a series of overdubs before mixing on the same day.
How did The Beatles create the unique sound effects for the song Rain?
Engineer Geoff Emerick altered the sonic texture by taping the backing track faster than normal so that when played back slightly slower it had a radically different tonal quality. Lennon recorded his lead vocal with the tape machine slowed down to make his voice sound higher when played back.
Where can I find information about the promotional films made for the Beatles song Rain?
One film shows the band walking and singing in the gardens and conservatory of Chiswick House in west London while another two clips feature the band performing on a sound stage at EMI Studios on the 19th of May. Authors Mark Hertsgaard and Bob Spitz recognized the 1966 promos as the first examples of music videos.
Which artists have covered the Beatles song Rain since its release?
Petula Clark covered Rain on her 1966 album I Couldn't Live Without Your Love and Shonen Knife covered the song on their 1991 album 712. U2 played the song throughout many of their tours usually during outdoor concerts when it started to rain.