10 May 1963
Proving my point made about ‘From A Jack To A King’ and the world-crushing dominance of simpering ballads, ‘Rhythm Of The Rain’ was the 9th most-played song on American TV and radio in the 20th century. Its estimated eight million plays were more than every Beatles song bar ‘Yesterday’, every Motown song except The Four Tops’ ‘Baby I Need Your Loving’, and every song sung by a woman. Eight million back-to-back repeat plays of this two-and-a-half-minute song would add up to 20 years.
Song aside, as a record ‘Rhythm Of The Rain’ has a certain appeal. That opening thunderclap certainly made me sit up and listen, the pitter-patter percussion is almost diegetic, and the music-box keyboard sparkles. Otherwise, this is simpering mainstream ’50s US pop of the most saccharine and formulaic kind. Eight million plays: God, the 20th century was bleak.
