albert hammond, "it never rains in southern california"

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the CVS on henry street always knows just which song i need to hear. i'm leaving for the coast tomorrow night and it's raining cats 'n' dogs in new york.

― the man from mars won't eat up bars where the tv's on (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:13 (twenty years ago)

Did I mention we got two inches of rain here last night?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:17 (twenty years ago)

but girl, don't they warn ya

― the man from mars won't eat up bars where the tv's on (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:18 (twenty years ago)

it pours, man it pours

― The Day The World Turned Dayglo Redd (Ken L), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:19 (twenty years ago)

dit's by the dude from the strokes's dad.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:20 (twenty years ago)

Talent didn't run in the family, I see.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:21 (twenty years ago)

Please forgive my old-fashioned method of getting a hold of teh oldies, but that song is another one of the ace leadoff tracks on those Rhino seventies comps.

― The Day The World Turned Dayglo Redd (Ken L), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:22 (twenty years ago)

Two others being "Dancing In The Moonlight" by King Harvest and "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)" by Looking Glass.

― The Day The World Turned Dayglo Redd (Ken L), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:24 (twenty years ago)

His big hit as an artist in Britain was the follow-up "Free Electric Band."

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:25 (twenty years ago)

i can't think of a song better suited to a '70s rhino comp. (xpost)

― the man from mars won't eat up bars where the tv's on (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:25 (twenty years ago)

There a good clip of Hammond doing this against a keyed backdrop in that Time-Life infomercial.

― Chairman Doinel (Charles McCain), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:30 (twenty years ago)

is he really a Stokes dad?...I saw that Time-Life infomercial and thought "now there's a hip-looking dude...why, he could pass for one of the Strokes, he could!"

― hank (hank s), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:34 (twenty years ago)

"It never rains" was released, and released, and released over here. Then "Free electric" was a hit, so they released it again. Never was a hit, but the radio liked it.

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:35 (twenty years ago)

he is a strokes dad! his son's name is -- go figure -- albert hammond, jr. he's the frizzy-haired lead guitarist.

― the man from mars won't eat up bars where the tv's on (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:37 (twenty years ago)

hipsterz dont ware slickerz

― Washable School Paste (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:39 (twenty years ago)

I was in a band that covered it! Once!

In the U.S. the followup was "Down by the River" - not the Neil Young one, the one about pollution!

― Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:40 (twenty years ago)

One of the follow-ups was "I'm a Train" over here.

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 14:41 (twenty years ago)

So Albert Hammond sang that song, eh? Huh, surprised I didn't know that. I kinda halfway thought it was Lobo.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 15:24 (twenty years ago)

"I'm a train I'm a chicken train."

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 15:36 (twenty years ago)

Father:

http://www.lost45.com/images/albert_hammond.jpg

Son:

http://content.clearchannel.com/Photos/musicians/strokes/albert_hammond_GI.jpg

― Chairman Doinel (Charles McCain), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 15:42 (twenty years ago)

I didn't know who did it either! Indelibly heard through WABC on my sister's Toot-a-Loop, most likely.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 15:51 (twenty years ago)

both times i've driven out to california from the east coast this song has come on the radio! and always right after the hell that is West Texas. i took it as a sign both times.

but i moved out here anyways. im waitin' on the rain.

― brontosaur, Wednesday, 5 April 2006 17:00 (twenty years ago)

west texas (at least the very small part i saw along the mother road) didn't seem that hellish.

― the man from mars won't eat up bars where the tv's on (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 17:32 (twenty years ago)

well, at that point in the drive im over 12-14 hours into the drive and getting tired, gas stations are few and far between and radio stations are sparse to nonexistant, so its either static or silence. the landscape is sorta interesting though, but samey and desolate. it is always a relief to be done with it, certainly my least favorite strech of I-10.

― brontosaur, Wednesday, 5 April 2006 18:46 (twenty years ago)

a great song. it sounds a LOT like doctor father's 'umbopo', which, from 1970, predates 'it never rains' by a few years, IIRC.

― derrick (derrick), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 23:18 (twenty years ago)

Hammond senior co-wrote the Hollies' "The Air That I Breathe" too.

― Lotta Continua (Damian), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 23:29 (twenty years ago)

a great song. it sounds a LOT like doctor father's 'umbopo', which, from 1970, predates 'it never rains' by a few years, IIRC.

slsking this i'm learning that it's on that st. etienne mario's cafe comp (which i don't have, but i probably should cuz it's got a lot of stuff i like).

― the man from mars won't eat up bars where the tv's on (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 6 April 2006 00:05 (twenty years ago)

Doctor Father of course being three-quarters of 10cc.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Thursday, 6 April 2006 08:04 (twenty years ago)

classic. forever associated in my mind w/ "Please Come To Boston" by Dave Loggins, "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues" by Danny O'Keefe and (sorry) "Come Monday" by Jimmy Buffett (before he became a human tourist attraction). Melancholy bittersweet songs about displacement, long-distance love, longing to be someplace else.

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Thursday, 6 April 2006 09:15 (twenty years ago)

west texas (at least the very small part i saw along the mother road) didn't seem that hellish.

West Texas looks like someone dumped a giant vacuum cleaner bag over it. The dust out there just has That Color to it. Other than that, I loved it despite being Texas.

― The Equator Lounge (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 6 April 2006 15:41 (twenty years ago)

http://www.soultracks.com/images/Tony%20toni%20tone.jpg

― team jaxon (jaxon), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:27 (twenty years ago)

West Texas looks like someone dumped a giant vacuum cleaner bag over it.

very true.

― the man from mars won't eat up bars where the tv's on (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 6 April 2006 16:32 (twenty years ago)

Surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet, but the other thing about Hammond's "The Air That I Breathe" -- and this pretty well known -- is that the verses to Radiohead's "Creep" pilfered the melody and bassline of the song note for note, and the company that owned the publishing (apparently, Hammond had sold the right to the song) sued the band. Radiohead had to give up a bunch of money to them and give up songwriting credits to Hammond and the song's co-writer Mike Hazelwood. So, technically, Hammond Sr. co-wrote the song responsible for Radiohead's career...

― juana, Thursday, 6 April 2006 17:21 (twenty years ago)

Doctor Father of course being three-quarters of 10cc.
yes, written by godley and creme!

jbr, the mario's cafe comp is quite lovely. i assume you have the the trip compilation? it's got some marvellous songs as well.

― derrick (derrick), Friday, 7 April 2006 07:48 (twenty years ago)

Please don't tell them how you found me,
Don't tell 'em how you found me

― In The Court Of The Redd King Harvest (Ken L), Wednesday, 12 April 2006 13:10 (twenty years ago)

wow, I haven't heard "The Air That I Breathe" in decades, but my mental playback doesn't sound that much like "Creep."

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 12 April 2006 15:40 (twenty years ago)

I just listened to the Hollies song on my crappy laptop speakers and thought it sounded likes a timewarped Fridmann production.

― Hunter (Hunter), Wednesday, 12 April 2006 19:08 (twenty years ago)

You can see a short bit of the video of this song on the Time Life 70s infomercial hosted by Greg Brady. I think they show it more than once in the 30 minute show and it's kind of cool.

― Carlos Keith (Buck_Wilde), Sunday, 23 April 2006 09:53 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

All that talk of opportunities
TV breaks and movies
Rang true
It sure rang true

― Ruud Haarvest (Ken L), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 10:58 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pyC7WnvLT4

― celebrity mole: hawaii (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 11:16 (nineteen years ago)

new name

― Nunca Llueve (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 11:18 (nineteen years ago)

As I noted on the YouTube thread, I adore how he mugs and winks at audience members while playing. Classic songcraft, too.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 15:43 (nineteen years ago)

one year passes...

Since I changed boroughs, haven't been in that CVS in months, but the song is still cool.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Sunday, 5 August 2007 21:38 (eighteen years ago)

They play such good stuff in CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, etc., that it almost makes investing in one of those Time-Life comps redundant.

Also, upthread parenthetical "Jimmy Buffett (before he became a human tourist attraction)" is brilliant roffle-worthiness.

― dell, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 07:15 (eighteen years ago)

"I'm a Train" rules! And so does "The Air That I Breathe," which I heard in the bank the other week.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 08:53 (eighteen years ago)

It rains a lot in Oslo this particular summer.

Back to the song, I kinda like it. Some great vocal harmonies, and kind of better than most early 70s MOR. I like "Free Electric Band" better though - some great use of synths on that track.

― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 23:37 (eighteen years ago)

i saw albert live at the stone pony. he was loud. and really stoned. and really angry about the length of his guitar strap.

― funny farm, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 23:40 (eighteen years ago)

albert hammond JR, of course.

― funny farm, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 23:41 (eighteen years ago)

one month passes...

This big dollar town
it can drag you right down
if you go it alone
Even the strong
Don't survive very long
When they're out on their own

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Thursday, 27 September 2007 00:30 (eighteen years ago)

Sorry, wrong song.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Thursday, 27 September 2007 00:30 (eighteen years ago)

four months pass...

This shit's a straight-up heater.

― Dom Passantino, Sunday, 24 February 2008 20:02 (eighteen years ago)

Back to the song, I kinda like it. Some great vocal harmonies, and kind of better than most early 70s MOR. I like "Free Electric Band" better though - some great use of synths on that track.

-- Geir Hongro, Tuesday, August 7, 2007 11:37 PM (6 months ago) Bookmark Link

WHAT?!! FUCK YOU, GEIR!

ha, no, I'm just kidding. I just wanted to yell at someone.

― dell, Sunday, 24 February 2008 20:11 (eighteen years ago)

I love this song in a way that nobody born after 1980 can.

― libcrypt, Monday, 25 February 2008 06:19 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

the CVS on henry street always knows just which song i need to hear. i'm leaving for the coast tomorrow night and it's raining cats 'n' dogs in new york.

TS Drugstore Oldies vs. Dry Cleaner's Classical

― Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Hamletmachine (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 1 October 2009 14:04 (sixteen years ago)

five months pass...

anything on his greatest hits as good as this song?

― J0rdan S., Tuesday, 23 March 2010 06:32 (sixteen years ago)

Don't think so.

― Ole Rastaquouère (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 23 March 2010 13:21 (sixteen years ago)

um, "Free Electric Band" was a hit over here. His only one, although Cali didn't arf get a lot of airplay and rereleases.

Oh, and "I'm a Train".

― Mark G, Tuesday, 23 March 2010 13:31 (sixteen years ago)

four years pass...

some great recommendations in this thread - "I'm A Train" is great, also really glad to know about "Umbopo," that's an instant hit with me. Wish it was on Spotify - have been gradually building out a "Smooth AM Gold" playlist and it'd slot in perfectly.

― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 21 May 2014 15:13 (eleven years ago)

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