"Rain"
International version:
new drummer, Terry Chambers (second from left), was not used for original recording
Single by Dragon
from the album Body and the Beat
B-side"It's Too Late"
ReleasedJuly 1983 (1983-07)
Recorded1983
StudioRhinoceros Studios, Sydney
GenreRock
Length3:33
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)Johanna Pigott, Todd Hunter, Marc Hunter
Producer(s)Alan Mansfield
Dragon singles chronology
"Ramona"
(1982)		 "Rain"
(1983)		 "Magic"
(1983)

"Rain" is a song by New Zealand rock group Dragon released in July 1983 as the first single ahead of their seventh studio album, Body and the Beat (June 1984). It is co-written by the group's brothers, Marc and Todd Hunter, with Johanna Pigott, Todd's then-domestic partner. "Rain" peaked at number 2 and stayed in the Kent Music Report singles chart for 26 weeks. The song reached number 88 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 charts in mid-1984. For the original single version the group's Kerry Jacobson had provided drums and percussion; he left the group in September 1983 and was replaced by Terry Chambers, who is shown in promotional material including cover art and music videos.

At the 1983 Countdown Music Awards, the song was nominated for Best Australian Single.[1]

Background

Dragon issued "Rain" in July 1983 almost a year after the group had reconvened in the previous August with the line-up of Marc and Todd Hunter, Robert Taylor, Paul Hewson and Kerry Jacobson.[2][3]

They undertook the Class Reunion tour in late 1982,[4] which was "ostensibly run to pay off outstanding debts, the tour proved so successful that the band re-formed on a permanent basis", according to Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane.[3] In October of that year they issued a single, "Ramona", which did not reach the top 50 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart.[3][5]

The group's bass guitarist, Todd, had started writing the instrumental portion of "Rain" at his home in Bondi when his domestic partner, Johanna Pigott, jokingly sang, "It's raining, it's pouring" from the children's nursery rhyme over the top of it.[2] This provided the lyrical focus for the work.[2] Pigott recalled, "[it] was written before Dragon even reformed. I didn't think it'd be a hit but Todd always thinks all his songs are hits."[6]

American producer Alan Mansfield, who had worked with the group's lead singer, Marc, on his solo material, was invited to work with Dragon.[3][7] At the first recording session, Jacobson, their drummer had a headache and took some over-the-counter medication. Together with Todd and Taylor, Jacobson, "laid down an aggressive bed to which overdubs could be added" on their third take.[2]

Mansfield told Jacobson to go home to recover while Todd, Marc and Pigott were asked to finish off the lyrics.[2] Meanwhile, Mansfield recorded Hewson's "low, menacing synthesiser parts."[2] The producer also provided his own keyboards, guitar and backing vocals. Upon hearing their work, after the first day's sessions, the Hunter brothers told Mansfield, "If this song doesn't make it to number one you'll have to join the band."[2]

"Rain" first charted in Australia on 15 August 1983, peaked at number 2 and stayed in the Kent Music Report singles chart for 26 weeks.[5][8] In September Jacobson injured his right index finger, he was temporarily replaced by Brent Eccles (on loan from The Angels) for two weeks of gigs in Sydney and Melbourne.[2] Jacobson left the group and was replaced by Terry Chambers (ex-XTC) on drums, soon after Mansfield joined the band on keyboards, guitar and vocals.[3][2]

Three music videos were filmed for the track – in the first, Marc's infant son appears below Hewson's keyboards.[2] For its United States release their label, PolyGram International, made a second version with the new band members, Chambers and Mansfield, appearing – the group disapproved of its "post-apocalyptic scenario" and a third one was commissioned.[2] This version also has Chambers and Mansfield as band members.[9] The song peaked at number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts in mid-1984.[10][11]

The new line-up recorded a single, "Magic" (December 1983), which was also produced by Mansfield – it reached the top 40 in Australia.[3][5] Both singles were included on Dragon's seventh studio album, Body and the Beat (June 1984), with Carey Taylor as producer for the new tracks.[3]

Track listings

7" Australian version on Mercury Records (812 763-7)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Rain"Johanna Pigott, Marc Hunter, Todd Hunter[12]3:33
2."It's Too Late"B. Hamilton, M. Hunter, P. Grinwood3:03
7" International version on Polydor Records (817 292-7)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Rain"Pigott, M. Hunter, T. Hunter3:33
2."Moroxy Bind" (a.k.a. "Dreaded Moroczy Bird")Paul Hewson, M. Hunter, Robert Taylor, Neil Storey, T. Hunter3:19
12" Maxi version on Polydor Records (881 328-1)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Rain" (dance mix)Pigott, M. Hunter, T. Hunter6:45
2."Rain" (dub mix)Pigott, M. Hunter, T. Hunter6:52

Personnel

Dragon

Additional musicians

  • Alan Mansfield – keyboards, guitar, vocals

Recording details

  • Steve Bywaters – audio engineer
  • Alan Mansfield – producer at Rhinoceros Studios, Sydney
  • Otto Ruiter – mastering engineer at EMI Studios 301, Sydney for "It's Too Late"
  • Carey Taylor – mixing engineer at Fast Forward Recorders, Melbourne for "Rain"

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Rain"
Chart (1983–1984) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 88

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Rain"
Chart (1983) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[13][14] 15

The Drought Breakers version

In 2018, Australian musician Scott Darlow enlisted the help of Australian musicians to re-record the track with all net proceeds from the sale to go towards to the Buy-a-bale program in support of Australian farmers suffering from the Australian drought. The musicians include Darlow, Sarah McLeod, Adam Brand, Jack Jones and Todd Hunter.[15] The track was released on 14 September 2018.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Australian Music Awards". Ron Jeff. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Moffatt, Glen (21 July 2014). "Dragon – Body and the Beat". Audio Culture: The Noisy Library of New Zealand Music. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Dragon'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004.
  4. ↑ Apter, Jeff (2011). Chasing the Dragon: The Life and Death of Marc Hunter. Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-742701-30-1.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives: Australian Chart Book. p. 94. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 19 June 1988.
  6. ↑ Nichols, David (11 October 2016). Dig: Australian Rock and Pop Music, 1960–85. Verse Chorus Press. pp. 509–510. ISBN 978-1-891241-61-1.
  7. ↑ "Marc Hunter". Bruce Sergent. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  8. ↑ Harrop, Nicky (8 August 2015). "Weekend rewind: Five greats from Dragon – Entertainment". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  9. ↑ "'Rain': Dragon, Music Video, 1983". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Chart History Dragon". Billboard. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  11. ↑ Miller, Chuck (25 February 2010). "Albums I Want to Be Buried With: Dragon, Body and the Beat". Blog.timesunion.com. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "Rain". ACE Repertory, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  13. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 19 June 1988.
  14. ↑ "Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via Imgur.com.
  15. ↑ "Welcome To The Drought Breakers- Australia's Newest Band Raising Money For The Farmers". Triple M. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  16. ↑ "Rain by Drought Breakers". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
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