"Let It Rain" is a song and single written and released by the British rock musician

Eric Clapton Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English Rock music, rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s l ...

and Bonnie Bramlett; it appears on his 1970 debut studio album ''

''. In 1972 it was released as a single as part of the promotion for his compilation album '' Eric Clapton at His Best''. Like Clapton's " Strange Brew", the song was originally recorded with other lyrics. The original version, titled "She Rides", is available on the expanded edition of the album.

Composition

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

'' writer Matthew Greenwald notes, the song is "led by a striking electric guitar riff" with "the melody eingwoven elegantly around the simple, almost folk-like chord changes". Speaking to the lyrics, the critic recalled "the clever use of "rain" and "reign" regarding the power of love is the core here" and thinks that "Clapton and Bramlett utilize it quite well.” Regarding the instrumental music work on the title, Greenwald finishes his song analysis by stating the "song has some striking instrumental sections, including a lovely, brief section by

Stephen Stills Stephen Arthur Stills (born January 3, 1945) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Crosby, Stills & Nash; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and Manassas (band ...

". The song is in the key of

D major D major is a major scale based on D (musical note), D, consisting of the pitches D, E (musical note), E, F♯ (musical note), F, G (musical note), G, A (musical note), A, B (musical note), B, and C♯ (musical note), C. Its key signature has two S ...

. The melody has a strong resemblance to that of Stills's own song "Questions", recorded by both

Buffalo Springfield Buffalo Springfield was a Canadian-American Rock music, rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1966 by Canadians Neil Young, Bruce Palmer and Dewey Martin (musician), Dewey Martin and Americans Stephen Stills and Richie Furay. The group, widely know ...

and

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) was a folk rock Supergroup (music), supergroup comprising the American singer-songwriters David Crosby and Stephen Stills and the English-American singer-songwriter Graham Nash. When joined by the Canadian singer-so ...

, and Clapton himself acknowledged its influence on "Let It Rain".

Release

The song was released with the B-side of "Easy Now" in 1972 on a 7" vinyl

gramophone A phonograph, later called a gramophone, and since the 1940s a record player, or more recently a turntable, is a device for the mechanical and analogue reproduction of sound. The sound vibration waveforms are recorded as corresponding physic ...

record. Besides being released as a single in 1972 and on the original album in 1970, the song is featured on various

compilation albums A compilation album comprises tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from one artist, then generally the tracks we ...

, including '' Eric Clapton at His Best'' (1972), '' Backtrackin''' (1984), '' Crossroads'' (1988), '' The Cream of Clapton'' (1995) and '' Complete Clapton'' (2007). A live interpretation of the track can be found on the video album '' Live at Montreux 1986'', released on September 19, 2006. In total, the track has been released on over 15 albums. Live concert versions by Derek & the Dominoes are featured on their albums '' In Concert'' (1973) and '' Live at the Fillmore'' (1994).

Critical reception

In his review of Clapton's debut album, ''

'' critic

Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and former senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of multiple artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance ...

likes that the title "features extended solos.” He also notes, that the song consists of a "pop element.” Fellow critic Greenwald recalls the piece as "one of Eric Clapton's first self-written classics" and goes on to say the song "showcased the influence that Delaney Bramlett" had on Clapton at the time.

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and later became a ...

finds in his album review that "Let It Rain" deserves a "classic status.” ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' described it as a "strong rhythm ballad."

Musicians

– lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar *

Delaney Bramlett Delaine Alvin "Delaney" Bramlett (July 1, 1939 – December 27, 2008) was an American singer and guitarist. He was best known for his musical partnership with his wife Bonnie Bramlett in the band Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, which included a ...

– rhythm guitar, backing vocals *

– guitar solo (bridge), bass guitar *

Leon Russell Leon Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges; April 2, 1942 – November 13, 2016) was an American musician and songwriter who was involved with numerous bestselling records during his 60-year career that spanned multiple genres, including rock a ...

– piano *

Bobby Whitlock Robert Stanley Whitlock (born March 18, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as a member of the blues-rock band Derek and the Dominos, with Eric Clapton, in 1970–71. Whitlock's musical career began with Memph ...

–

organ Organ and organs may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a group of tissues organized to serve a common function * Organ system, a collection of organs that function together to carry out specific functions within the body. Musical instruments ...

, backing vocals * Jim Gordon – drums *

Jerry Allison Jerry Ivan Allison (August 31, 1939 – August 22, 2022) was an American musician. He was best known as the drummer for the Crickets and co-writer of their hits "That'll Be the Day" and "Peggy Sue", recorded with Buddy Holly. His only solo cha ...

– backing vocals * Bonnie Bramlett – backing vocals *

Rita Coolidge Rita Coolidge (born May 1, 1945) is an American recording artist. During the 1970s and 1980s, her songs were on ''Billboard'' magazine's pop, country, adult contemporary, and jazz charts, and she won two Grammy Awards with fellow musician and th ...

– backing vocals *

Sonny Curtis Sonny Curtis (born May 9, 1937) is an American singer and songwriter. Known for his collaborations with Buddy Holly, he was a member of the Crickets and continued with the band after Holly's death. Curtis's best known compositions include " Wa ...

– backing vocals

Chart positions

Weekly charts

References

{{authority control 1972 singles 1970 songs Eric Clapton songs Songs written by Eric Clapton Polydor Records singles Song recordings produced by Delaney Bramlett