Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

Cover version of the month #107

Manic Street Preachers cover B.J. Thomas

As a kid, I totally fell for the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I think it was my Mum who recommended it to me. Possibly because of Robert Redford and Paul Newman, but more likely because she knew I liked cowboys. I don't know what age I would have been when I first saw it, but I was captivated by the characters, their charm, bravado, the sunshine, the dust, the colours, the freedom, the robberies, chases and shoot outs ... I still love watching the film to this day.

When my wife Lynn and I went travelling around the world, we stopped off in the tiny town of Tupiza in Bolivia, a small dusty town where Butch and Sundance hung out and hung low, robbed a bank and ultimately met their demise. We booked on a tour to do the Butch and Sundance trail. I think I enjoyed this more than Lynn!

Anyway, back to the film, which benefits from the songwriting genius of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. South American Getaway is absolutely perfect for the film, glorious cinematic melodies, sublime.

However, I'm going to focus on a song that Robert Redford initially thought didn't fit with the theme of the film, Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head. After all, there is no rain in the desert!

The song is used to soundtrack a scene where Butch (Paul Newman) is larking around on a bike to impress his girlfriend, Etta Place (Katharine Ross) and it works beautifully thanks to its easygoing melody, the brass, the piano ... it's so warm and familiar. I can't remember, but I imagine it felt like that from the very first time I heard it. 

B.J. Thomas’s voice is unhurried, gliding over Bacharach’s playful, bouncing arrangement. There’s something magical about the way it flows—casual, carefree, yet completely assured. A song about rain and misfortune that somehow feels more like sunshine breaking through clouds.

I just did me some talking to the sun

And I said I didn't like the way he got things done

Whenever I hear the song I think of a little rain shower on the evening of Sunday 11th August 1996 at Knebworth Park in Hertfordshire. I was there for Oasis (as blogged on here) and my friend Elliott and I managed to blag and bribe our way into Pit 1 just before the Manic Street Preachers came on. 

The Manics played a blinding set and midway through they played their cover of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head. My memory is a little hazy, it either was raining, or it had just stopped raining. Either way, it was perfect, super chilled. James Dean Bradfield's voice was crystal clear and the song had a real festival and community vibe. It was a real moment. There must be a film of it somewhere.

Manic Street Preachers had recorded the song for Warchild's legendary Help album the previous year in 1995. I've previously written blogs on The Charlatans super cool cover of Sly's Time for Livin' and Radiohead's remarkable Lucky - both taken from this album. This was quite a landmark for the band as it was their first return to recording following the disappearance of Richey Edwards in February 1995. The Help album was recorded on 4th September and released on 9th September.

As a band known for their intensity, anger, and heart-on-sleeve passion, whose previous release had been the ferocious and intense album The Holy Bible in 1994, Raindrops ..... was quite a change. The Manics strip it back and I love James voice as he sings;

But there's one thing I know

The blues they send to meet me 

Won't defeat me, it won' be long

'til happiness steps up to greet me

The Manics version isn't as jaunty as the original. It's more melancholic but as the song approaches conclusion Bradfield's voice soars;

Because I'm free

Nothing's bothering me

I love the Manics cover of this wonderful song. James Dean Bradfield's voice shines and reflects melancholy, hope and resilience. 

The B.J. Thomas original and Manic St Preachers cover of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head are added to my Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions playlist on Spotify which also features all of the songs listed below. Search for the title or CLICK HERE

Previous covers of the month blogs

1. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' 

2. Going Back To My Roots

3. Nirvana play The Vaselines

4. Slip Inside This House

5. Top 10 covers by Teenage Fanclub

6. Only Love Can Break Your Heart

7. Time For Livin' 

8. Sound and Vision 

9. All Along The Watchtower

10. I Am The Walrus 

11. Guiding Star

12. You’ll Never Walk Alone

13. Hurt

14. This Guy's In Love With You

15. I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine

16. California Soul

18. Wonder wall 

19. Dancing In The Dark

20. Always On My Mind

21. Ceremony

22. Heroes

23. Different Drum

24. Wild Horses

25. Respect

26. Mr Tambourine Man

27. I Heard It Through The Grapevine

28. Superstar

29. Twist and Shout

30. Purple Rain

31. Baker Street

32. Not Fade Away

33. Stop Your Sobbing

34. I Don't Want To Grow Up

35. Serious Drugs

36. Dancing With Myself

37. How Does It Feel To Feel?

38. Love Buzz

39. ABBA-esque
40. Jumpin' Jack Flash

41. Discoland

42. Varshons 2 by The Lemonheads

43. The Langley Schools Music Project
44. Witchi Tai To
45. Our Lips Are Sealed
46. Sunshine Of Your Love
47. Here Comes The Sun
48. I Think We're Alone Now
49. Don't Let Me Down 
50. It's Oh So Quiet
51. Alcoholiday 
52. Summer Holiday
53. Who Do You Think You Are?
54. Head On
55. Nothing Compares 2 U

56. Hey Jude

57. Seven Days Too Long

58. L.O.V.E Love

59. Into Your Arms

60. Heart Of Glass

61. Take Me To The River

62. We Can Work It Out 

63. Talking In My Sleep

64. Lola

65. Lost In Music

66. My Little Red Book

67. Isn't It A Pity

68. Walk On By

69. Walk Away Renee

70. Tainted Love

71. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

72. Listen The Snow Is Falling

73. Mrs Robinson

74. He's Gonna Step On You Again

75. In My Life

76. Caravan Of Love

77. The Only Way Is Up

78. Dancin' Round & Round

79. With A Little Help From My Friends

80. Killing Me Softly

81. Ain't No Mountain High Enough

82. Drop

83. Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay

84. Sympathy For The Devil

85. I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor

86. Love Will Tear Us Apart

87. Indian Rope Man + bonus Strawberry Fields Forever + This Wheels On Fire

88. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You

89. Love The One You're With

90. Cum On Feel The Noize

91. Addicted To Love

92. Valerie

93. Ride On Time

94. Let's Dance

95. It Must Be Love

96. I Fought The Law

97. For What It's Worth

98. Do Your Thing

99. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself

100. Don't Leave Me This Way

101. Shout!

102. God Only Knows

103. The Last Time

104. Bridge Over Troubled Water

105. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart

106. Louie Louie

Lucky

Trust Me #60
Lucky by Radiohead

Lucky is an incredibly important song in Radiohead's extensive back catalogue. Originally released in 1995 on the Help album for War Child, Lucky clearly stood out. It was, and is, utterly majestic.

Radiohead left their mark on 1995, releasing The Bends in March, while a string of singles from the album stretched from My Iron Lung in September 1994 through to Street Spirit (Fade Out) in January 1996. 

The band were in exceptional form, their development from debut Pablo Honey in 1993 was staggering and there was a lot more to come. 1995 was peak Britpop with landmark albums by Blur, Oasis, Pulp, Elastica, Black Grape and Supergrass. Radiohead were in a class of their own and they quickly cemented that with 1997's OK Computer album.

The concept for the Help album was simple and based around John Lennon's idea for his Instant Karma single; record one day, mix the following, release the next. Many bands opted for re-recordings or cover versions, which (sheer quality aside) is another reason why Lucky stood out a mile.

Help artwork by John Squire

Lucky is like a bridge between The Bends and OK Computer, the sound of a band believing that anything was possible. And even if it felt impossible, they'd give it a go anyway.

Thom Yorke begins quietly, but his voice threatens to explode any time ... and when it does ... it soars heavenly, but with gut wrenching emotion. Watching the video of children affected by war with Yorke singing it's gonna be a glorious day, I feel my luck could change is incredibly moving.

Just listen to the final minute of the song as the band really do soar heavenwards, Greenwood's guitar is beautifully piercing, it sounds like there is an orchestra somewhere in the background ending with Yorke singing when you're standing on the edge.

Radiohead recorded the song in just five hours with Nigel Godrich on production duties. Godrich had previously assisted John Leckie with his production of The Bends, the results on Lucky promoted him to the role of producer for OK Computer.

When asked about the Help Album session, Godrich said; "Those things are the most inspiring, when you do stuff really fast and there's nothing to lose. We left feeling fairly euphoric."

Yorke, speaking about the song and session, said; "Lucky shaped the nascent sound and mood of OK Computer. Lucky was indicative of what we wanted to do. It was like the first mark on the wall."

War Child UK 

Lucky - official video

Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series. For the playlist, search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify , or CLICK HERE

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized

56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane

Time for Livin'

Cover version of the month #7

Time for Livin' - The Charlatans and The Chemical Brothers

Time for changin', rearrangin'

No time for peace, just pass the buck

Rearrangin', leaders changin'

Pretty soon you might not give a f**k

At the height of Britpop, forward thinking charity War Child managed to bring the cream of British musical talent together to record an album,Help, to raise funds and awareness to help the charity in areas like Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Artwork by John Squire

The concept was to do a 'Lennon' - for artists to record, mix and release a song in one week as Lennon did with Instant Karma all those years ago. Only this time there would be an album.

McCartney, Weller and N.Gallagher came together under the guise of The Smokin' Mojo Filters to cover The Beatles Come Together, Radiohead delivered the magnificent Lucky, Suede did a superb job on Costello's Shipbuilding, The Manics displayed taste and talent with a cover of Raindrops Keep Fall, the Roses were typically lazy and re-recorded their own Love Spreads and Orbital, Massive Attack and Blur all featured.....so did Salad, Terrorvision and The Levellers!

I jest about those bands - it was a magnificent idea and an incredible feat to pull it all off. I can only imagine the logistics management!

Never mind Blur v Oasis, was this pic the true peak of Britpop?

I could easily have featured the Suede and Manics covers in this blog, instead I have gone for The Charlatans and The Chemical Brothers take on Sly and the Family Stone's Time for Livin' as I think that is a message I want to look to during these troubled times.

Burgess and co are in sensational form, the song is perfect for The Charlatans groove machine to get their teeth into and they are superbly assisted by The Chemical Brothers on production duties.

That collaboration is evident from the funky intro and then the rhythm section are all over this from the off with Tim Burgess on top form backed by a superb harmony. Rob Collins is on fire on the hammond, coaxing superb sounds and riffs and driving the band on.

By the time Burgess is hollering time for changing', rearrangin' over the funky outro with beautiful time, time, time, time backing vocals chant you are well and truly hooked. A perfect choice from The Charlatans; funky, groovy, soulful and poppy and I chose this as my cover version of the month as it is a time for livin' and a time for given'

The Charlatans are on tour, I look forward to seeing them in Edinburgh later this month....and possibly Dundee.