Rhythm of the Rain

"En écoutant la pluie"
"En écoutant la pluie"
Single by Sylvie Vartan
from the album Twiste et chante
B-side	"Let Me Be"
Released	1963
Genre	yé-yé
Length	2:28
Label	RCA Victor
Songwriter(s)	John C. Gummoe, Richard Anthony
Sylvie Vartan singles chronology

"Rhythm of the Rain"
"Rhythm of the Rain"
Single by The Cascades
from the album Rhythm of the Rain
B-side	"Let Me Be"
Released	November 1962 (US); January 25, 1963 (UK)
Recorded	1962
Genre	Pop, doo-wop
Length	2:28
Label	Valiant Records 6026
Songwriter(s)	John Claude Gummoe
Producer(s)	Barry De Vorzon
The Cascades singles chronology

"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]

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 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.^[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[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1963)	Peak position
Australia (Sydney)	3
Belgium (Flanders)^[7]	14
Belgium (Wallonia)^[8]	23
Canada (CHUM Hit Parade)	1
Ireland (IRMA)^[9]	1
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)^[10]	2
Norway (VG-lista)^[11]	7
UK Record Retailer^[12]	5
US Billboard Hot 100^[13]	3
US Billboard Middle-Road Singles^[14]^[15]	1
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles^[16]^[17]	7
US Cash Box Top 100^[18]	2

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1963)	Rank
US Billboard Hot 100^[19]	4
US Cash Box ^[20]	7

Sylvie Vartan version (in French)[]

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.^[21]^[22]^[23]

Track listings[]

7" single RCA Victor 45.277 (1963, France)

A. "En écoutant la pluie (Rhythm of the Rain)

B. "Jamais (Late Date Baby)^[24]

7" EP Sylvie à l'Olympia RCA 86.007 (1963, France)

A1. "En écoutant la pluie"

A2. "Jamais"

B1. "Avec moi"

B2. "Mon ami"^[25]

Charts[]

Charts (1963)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[26]	11
France^[23]	1

Other charting versions[]

Dutch teen idol Rob de Nijs covered the song in 1963 as "Ritme van de regen". Though originally a B side, the song kick started his career and remains popular today.^[27]
Gary Lewis & the Playboys released a version of the song in 1969 that reached No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.^[28]
Pat Roberts released a version of the song in 1972 that reached No. 34 on the Country chart.^[29]
Jacky Ward released a version of the song in 1978 that reached No. 11 on the Country chart.^[30]
Neil Sedaka released a version of the song in 1984 that reached No. 37 on the adult contemporary chart.^[31]
Dan Fogelberg released a version of the song in 1990 that reached No. 3 on the adult contemporary chart.^[32]
Jason Donovan also released a version of the song on 20 August 1990 that reached No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart.^[33] Donovan re-recorded the song for his 2008 album Let It Be Me.

References[]

^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 49.
^ Top 5 Songs of Each Year Retrieved May 8, 2015
^ Hall, Ron (1984). The Chum Chart Book. Rexdale (Toronto): Stardust Productions. p. 27. ISBN 0920325157.
^ Top 100 Songs of the Century Retrieved September 21, 2011
^ IMDB Quadrophenia Entry
^ Walter Everett (2008). The Foundations of Rock : From "Blue Suede Shoes" to "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes": From "Blue Suede Shoes" to "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes. Oxford University Press. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-1953-1023-8.
^ The Cascades - Rhythm of the Rain, Ultratop. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
^ The Cascades - Rhythm of the Rain, Ultratop. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Cascades". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
^ Flavour of New Zealand, 18 April 1963
^ The Cascades - Rhythm of the Rain, norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
^ Cascades - Full Official Chart History, Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
^ Hot 100 - The Cascades Rhythm of the Rain Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
^ Adult Contemporary - The Cascades Rhythm of the Rain Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
^ "Middle-Road Singles", Billboard, March 2, 1963. p. 55. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
^ Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - The Cascades Rhythm of the Rain Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
^ "Hot R&B Singles", Billboard, March 16, 1963. p. 20. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, March 16, 1963
^ Musicoutfitters.com
^ Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 28, 1963
^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (6 July 1963). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 31–. ISSN 0006-2510.
^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (13 July 1963). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 30–. ISSN 0006-2510.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (27 July 1963). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 42–. ISSN 0006-2510. Sylvie Vartan EN ECOUTANT LA PLUIE.
^ "ultratop.be - Sylvie Vartan - Petit rainbow". Retrieved 2017-11-23.
^ "ultratop.be - Sylvie Vartan - Sylvie à l'Olympia". Retrieved 2017-11-23.
^ "Ultratop.be – Sylvie Vartan – En écoutant la pluie" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
^ Vic van de Reijt, booklet to De Nederlandstalige cover top 100, Universal Music 984 333-6
^ Gary Lewis & The Playboys, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015
^ Pat Roberts, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015
^ Jacky Ward, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015
^ Neil Sedaka, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015
^ Dan Fogelberg, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015
^ Jason Donovan, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015

External links[]

[1] Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 49.

[2] Top 5 Songs of Each Year Retrieved May 8, 2015

[3] Hall, Ron (1984). The Chum Chart Book. Rexdale (Toronto): Stardust Productions. p. 27. ISBN 0920325157.

[BMI-4] Top 100 Songs of the Century Retrieved September 21, 2011

[5] IMDB Quadrophenia Entry

[6] Walter Everett (2008). The Foundations of Rock : From "Blue Suede Shoes" to "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes": From "Blue Suede Shoes" to "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes. Oxford University Press. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-1953-1023-8.

[7] The Cascades - Rhythm of the Rain, Ultratop. Retrieved May 15, 2018.

[8] The Cascades - Rhythm of the Rain, Ultratop. Retrieved May 15, 2018.

[sc_Ireland2_The_Cascades-9] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Cascades". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 15, 2018.

[10] Flavour of New Zealand, 18 April 1963

[11] The Cascades - Rhythm of the Rain, norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.

[12] Cascades - Full Official Chart History, Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 15, 2018.

[13] Hot 100 - The Cascades Rhythm of the Rain Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.

[14] Adult Contemporary - The Cascades Rhythm of the Rain Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.

[15] "Middle-Road Singles", Billboard, March 2, 1963. p. 55. Retrieved May 15, 2018.

[16] Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - The Cascades Rhythm of the Rain Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.

[17] "Hot R&B Singles", Billboard, March 16, 1963. p. 20. Retrieved May 15, 2018.

[18] Cash Box Top 100 Singles, March 16, 1963

[19] Musicoutfitters.com

[20] Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 28, 1963

[Billboard_6_Jul_1963-21] Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (6 July 1963). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 31–. ISSN 0006-2510.

[Billboard_13_Jul_1963-22] Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (13 July 1963). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 30–. ISSN 0006-2510.

[Billboard_27_Jul_1963-23] Jump up to: ^a ^b Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (27 July 1963). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 42–. ISSN 0006-2510. Sylvie Vartan EN ECOUTANT LA PLUIE.

[24] "ultratop.be - Sylvie Vartan - Petit rainbow". Retrieved 2017-11-23.

[25] "ultratop.be - Sylvie Vartan - Sylvie à l'Olympia". Retrieved 2017-11-23.

[ultratop.be_-_Sylvie_Vartan_-_En_écoutant_la_pluie-26] "Ultratop.be – Sylvie Vartan – En écoutant la pluie" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2017-11-23.

[27] Vic van de Reijt, booklet to De Nederlandstalige cover top 100, Universal Music 984 333-6

[28] Gary Lewis & The Playboys, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015

[29] Pat Roberts, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015

[30] Jacky Ward, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015

[31] Neil Sedaka, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015

[32] Dan Fogelberg, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015

[33] Jason Donovan, "Rhythm of the Rain" chart position Retrieved May 9, 2015

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show v t Sylvie Vartan
Studio albums	Sylvie Twiste et chante Sylvie Vartan (Ta sorcière bien-aimée)
Singles and EPs	"Le Loco-motion" "Tous mes copains" "Chance" "En écoutant la pluie" "I'm Watching" "Si je chante" "La plus belle pour aller danser" "Sha La La" "Par amour, par pitié" "Comme un garçon" "Irrésistiblement" "La Maritza" "J'ai un problème" (with Johnny Hallyday) "Qu'est-ce qui fait pleurer les blondes?" "Petit rainbow" "Georges"
Related topics	Discography Johnny Hallyday David Hallyday

show v t Jason Donovan
Studio albums	Ten Good Reasons Between the Lines All Around the World Let It Be Me Soundtrack of the 80s
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits (1991) Greatest Hits (2006)
Singles	"Especially for You" "Too Many Broken Hearts" "Sealed with a Kiss" "Every Day (I Love You More)" "When You Come Back to Me" "Rhythm of the Rain" "Any Dream Will Do" "Happy Together" "As Time Goes By"
Related topics	Stock Aitken Waterman Scott Robinson The Viper Room

show v t Dan Fogelberg
Studio albums	Home Free Souvenirs Captured Angel Nether Lands Phoenix The Innocent Age Windows and Walls High Country Snows Exiles The Wild Places River of Souls Love in Time
Collaboration albums	Twin Sons of Different Mothers No Resemblance Whatsoever
Live albums	Dan Fogelberg Live: Greetings from the West Live at Carnegie Hall
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits Love Songs The Very Best of Dan Fogelberg
Singles	"To the Morning" "Longer" "Heart Hotels" "Same Old Lang Syne" "Hard to Say" "Leader of the Band" "Run for the Roses" "Missing You" "Make Love Stay" "Believe in Me" "Rhythm of the Rain"
Songs	"Lovers in a Dangerous Time" "Stars"
Related articles	Discography Tim Weisberg