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I Wish It Would Rain
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Wikipedia article
"'I Wish It Would Rain'" is a 1967 song recorded by the Temptations for the Motown label (under the "Gordy" imprint) and produced by Norman Whitfield.
Overview
Background
The song is one of the most melancholy in the Temptations repertoire, with lead singer David Ruffin delivering, in a pained voice, the story of a heartbroken man who wants to hide his sorrow. His woman has just left him, and he wishes that it would start raining, to hide the tears falling down his face because "a man ain't supposed to cry". Accompanying Ruffin's mourning vocal are the vocals of his bandmates (Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, and Otis Williams) alongside the subdued instrumentation of The Funk Brothers studio band, and, courtesy of Whitfield, sound effects depicting the "sunshine and blue skies", with the sound of chirping seagulls, and the sound of thunder and rain described in the song. Producer Norman Whitfield devised much of the musical structure of the song, with former Motown artist Barrett Strong composing the song's signature piano intro on a piano with only ten working keys.Bowman, Rob (2006). Liner Notes for 'Get Ready: Definitive Performances'. Reelin' in the Years Productions/Universal Music. Motown staff writer Rodger Penzabene provided the song's lyrics.More so than a number of other Motown songs, there is real sentiment and pain behind the song's words. Lyricist Penzabene had just found out his wife was cheating on him with another man. Unable to deal with the pain and unable to stop loving his wife, Penzabene expressed his pain in the lyrics of this song and its follow-up on the Temptations' release schedule, "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)". The distraught Penzabene committed suicide on New Year's Eve 1967, a week after the single's release.
Release
Issued with the Melvin Franklin-led "I Truly, Truly Believe" as its B-side, "I Wish It Would Rain" peaked for three weeks in February and March 1968 at number four on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 pop singles chart and at the number-one position on the 'Billboard' R&B singles chart. The single was the focal point of the Temptations' 1968 album 'The Temptations Wish It Would Rain'.'Billboard' described the single as an "easy beat blues rocker" that "will soar to the top in short order." 'Cash Box' said that "touches of Bacarachian style add a refreshingly new dimension to the terrific sound of the Temptations" and that "hard percussion and coasting strings give a solidity and gentleness to the soul vocal."
Personnel
* Lead vocals by David Ruffin
* Background vocals by Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, and Otis Williams
* Written by Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, and Rodger Penzabene
* Produced by Norman Whitfield
* Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers.
Cover versions
"I Wish It Would Rain" has been covered by a number of artists, including:
* The Faces, recorded a 1973 cover and was a hit in the United Kingdom.
* Gladys Knight & the Pips (peaking in the US at number 41 pop and 15 R&B).
* Aretha Franklin, on 1983's Get It Right (album).
* New Zealand singer songwriter, Jon Stevens recorded and released a version of the song in 1994, with money raised benefiting drought-stricken farmers. The song peaked at number 49 in New Zealand.
Notes
Category:1967 singles
Category:1968 singles
Category:1973 singles
Category:1994 singles
Category:2007 singles
Category:The Temptations songs
Category:Marvin Gaye songs
Category:Gladys Knight & the Pips songs
Category:Jon Stevens songs
Category:Rene Geyer songs
Category:Ike & Tina Turner songs
Category:Songs written by Barrett Strong
Category:Songs written by Norman Whitfield
Category:Songs written by Rodger Penzabene
Category:Song recordings produced by Norman Whitfield
Category:Gordy Records singles
Category:1967 songs
Category:Songs about loneliness
Category:Songs about infidelity
Category:Songs about heartache
Category:Songs about weather
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