Spring Rain (The Go-Betweens song)
| "Spring Rain" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Spring Rain single cover.jpg | ||||
| Single by The Go-Betweens | ||||
| from the album Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express | ||||
| A-side | "Spring Rain" | |||
| B-side | "The Life At Hand" | |||
| Released | 1986 (See Release history |
|||
| Format | 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 3:05 | |||
| Label | Beggars Banquet, True Tone | |||
| Writer(s) | Grant McLennan, Robert Forster | |||
| Producer(s) | Richard Preston, The Go-Betweens | |||
| The Go-Betweens singles chronology | ||||
|
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"Spring Rain" was the first single released by The Go-Betweens from their fourth album, Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express. It was released in 1986 by Beggars Banquet in the UK and Truetone in Australia.[1] In the UK a 12" single was also released, with an extra b-side, "Little Joe".[2]
Contents
Details
The single failed to chart in the UK, but reached number 92 in Australia.[3]
Author Robert Forster said the song was written when he was in London in his late twenties, looking back on a time when he was in his late teens and living in Brisbane suburbia. He said song reminded him of Creedence Clearwater Revival in, "just the music and the way that chorus is especially. And there’s a simplicity to it; a beauty to it. It’s one of those happy things where you really like something like a group and it might take you years and years and years till you write something in that vein and suddenly you see it."[4]
The song featured in the movies Something Wild and Kingpin but appeared on neither soundtrack CD.
Reception
Describing the song in AllMusic, it was said, "There's a gentle lope and swing as much breezy '60s pop as there is roots revival intensity" While the reviewer noted the oddly hollow drum sound, they concluded, "Forster's ear for a lyrical image (check the part talking about hanging one's elbow out of the window of a car) and the soaring chorus make this number a winner in the end."[5]
PopMatters described the song as, "a mid-tempo countrified tune featuring the strong give and take chorus from vocalists Robert Forster and Grant McLennan. Reeking of all the melody and infectious Brit, er, Aussie pop it’s capable of, it glides along without any need for tweaking."[6] Nick Reynolds from the BBC said, " the optimistic shuffle of "Spring Rain" [is] one of their finest moments."[7]
Track listing
All songs written and composed by G. McLennan, R. Forster[8].
| 7" vinyl version | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Spring Rain" | 3:05 |
| 2. | "The Life at Hand" | 2:53 |
|
Total length:
|
5:58 | |
All songs written and composed by G. McLennan, R. Forster[8].
| 12" vinyl version | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Spring Rain" | 3:05 |
| 2. | "The Life at Hand" | 2:53 |
| 3. | "Little Joe" | 3:24 |
|
Total length:
|
9:22 | |
Release history
| Year | Country | Label | Format | Catalogue No. |
| 1986 | UK | Beggars Banquet | 7" single | BEG 155 |
| 12" single | BEG 155T | |||
| AUS | True Tone | 7" single | 884 473-7 |
Personnel
Go-Betweens
- Robert Forster — vocals, guitar
- Grant McLennan — vocals, guitar
- Lindy Morrison — drums
- Robert Vickers — bass
References
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