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Don't Let the Rain Come Down (Crooked Little Man)
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Wikipedia article
'"Don't Let the Rain Come Down (Crooked Little Man)"' was a folk music single, the debut recording of the Serendipity Singers in 1964. The song was based on the English nursery rhyme "There Was a Crooked Man".
The song was first recorded as "'Crooked Little House'" by Jimmie Rodgers in 1960, on his album 'At Home with Jimmie Rodgers - An Evening of Folk Songs', on which the songwriting was credited to Ersel Hickey and Ed E. Miller.[https://secondhandsongs.com/release/22598 "At Home with Jimmie Rodgers - An Evening of Folk Songs ", 'SecondhandSongs.com']. Retrieved 18 March 2018
In 1964, it was recorded by the Serendipity Singers in a calypso music-based adaptation and arrangement by the group's musical director Bob Bowers, with group members Bryan Sennett and John Madden. In the midst of Beatlemania, the record reached #2 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart and #6 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 in May 1964. "Don't Let the Rain Come Down" (Phillips 40175) was the #1 song on the April 17, 1964 WLS Silver Dollar Survey, and also topped surveys in Louisville, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and elsewhere. It was released on their premiere album, 'The Serendipity Singers'. Later reissues of the Serendipity Singers' recording credited Hickey and Miller as the song's writers.[https://www.allmusic.com/album/dont-let-the-rain-come-down-the-best-of-the-serendipity-singers-mw0000034763 Bruce Eder, Review of 'Don't Let The Rain Come Down: The Best of the Serendipity Singers', 'Allmusic.com']. Retrieved 18 March 2018 In a "My Music, Folk Rewind" video, the group's nine members appear as three groups of three, with each group singing its particular verse; all nine members sing in each repetition of the chorus.
The song was also covered by The Brothers Four on their album 'More Big Folk Hits'; Trini Lopez on 'The Folk Album' (1965);[https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/226801/versions "Crooked Little Man (Don't Let the Rain Come Down) ", 'SecondhandSongs.com']. Retrieved 18 March 2018 and Ronnie Hilton, whose version was a hit in the UK, peaking at #21 in 1964.
References
Category:1964 singles
Category:American folk songs
Category:Songs written by Ersel Hickey
Category:1960 songs
Category:Philips Records singles
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