"In the Rain" is a 1972 soul single by American vocal group The Dramatics, from their first album, Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get. It was written by Tony Hester[1] and released in February 1972. The track is notable for its use of sounds of rain and thunder, first heard before the song's introduction, then throughout the instrumental and chorus sections. The rhythm charts, strings and horns were arranged by Johnny Allen. The tracks were recorded at United Sound Recording Studio in Detroit, Michigan.

"In the Rain"
Single by The Dramatics
from the album Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get
B-side"(Gimme Some) Good Soul Music"
ReleasedFebruary 1972
GenreSoul
Length5:08
3:15 (edit)
LabelVolt/Stax
Songwriter(s)Tony Hester
Producer(s)Don Davis
The Dramatics singles chronology
"Get Up and Get Down"
(1971)
"In the Rain"
(1972)
"Toast to the Fool"
(1972)

Chart performance

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"In the Rain" reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart.[2] It sold over one million copies and is the group's biggest hit.[3] Billboard ranked it as the No. 53 song for 1972.[4]

Song background

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The song's lyrics state that, because of a broken love relationship, the singer wants to go out and stand in the rain so that no one can see him cry.

"Once the rain starts falling on my face,
You won't see a single trace,
Of the tears I'm crying,
Because of you I'm crying.
Don't want you to see me cry.
Let me go, Let me go
Let me go!"

Chart positions

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Chart (1972) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 5
U.S. Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles 1
Canada (RPM)[5] 31

Cover versions

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Sampling

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The song has been sampled by many hip hop artists such as Wu-Tang Clan, Jadakiss, Big L, and Lil Wayne. As of 2022, music data website WhoSampled lists that it has been used in sampling over 90 times.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978) The Book of Golden Discs. Barrie & Jenkins:p. 312. ISBN 0-214-20480-4
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 172.
  3. ^ Warner, Jay (2006). American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today. Hal Leonard. ISBN 0-634-09978-7 p. 486
  4. ^ Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972
  5. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - May 6, 1972" (PDF).
  6. ^ "Samples of In the Rain by The Dramatics on WhoSampled". WhoSampled. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
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