The Rain (Oran "Juice" Jones song)

"The Rain" is a 1986 crossover hit single originally performed by R&B singer Oran "Juice" Jones, which he released on and from his debut album Juice.

"The Rain"
Single by Oran "Juice" Jones
from the album Juice
B-side"Your Song"
Released1986
GenreR&B, synthpop, new jack swing
Length5:07 (7" & Album version)
3:14 (Radio edit)
LabelDef Jam
Songwriter(s)Vincent Bell[1]
Producer(s)Russell Simmons, Vincent Bell
Oran "Juice" Jones singles chronology
"1.2.1."
(1986)		 "The Rain"
(1986)		 "You Can't Hide from Love"
(1986)
Music video
"The Rain" on YouTube

Song Background

The song's lyrics include a long recitation at the end; written by Vincent Bell, who also composed the music, they involve a man confronting his girlfriend regarding her infidelity.

Reception

The single was Jones's biggest hit. It reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart for two weeks, making it the first #1 R&B hit issued by the then newly created Def Jam record label. The single also peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] Outside, US, "The Rain" reached #4 on the UK Singles Chart[3]

Accolades

"The Rain" was nominated for two Grammy Awards, but Jones never had another Hot 100 hit and left the music business after his third album failed to chart. "The Rain" is ranked #63 on VH1's 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the '80s.[4] During the show, Jones was asked about his one-hit wonder status. His reply was: "Oran 'Juice' Jones, he came, he saw, he conquered, he moved on. You dig?"

Charts
Chart (1986) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 85
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 16
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[7] 6
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] 8
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] 5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 22
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] 12
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 9
West Germany (Official German Charts)[15] 3

Answer records
  • The song produced a novelty, answer record, titled “Thunder & Lightning,” performed by Miss Thang and released in 1986 by Tommy Boy Records.[16]
  • Another response version was done by an artist who went by the name Pamala, released in 1986 by Evejim Records, entitled "Walkin in the Rain, Yes You Saw Me.[17]
  • Another answer record was released in 1986 titled "The Drain" recorded by Leot Littlepage on Select Records.[18]

Cover Versions
  • In 2001, the song was covered by NYC band Si*Sé on their self-titled debut album.
  • In 2005, jazz artist Ledisi covered "The Rain" on the album Def Jazz, which featured vocals from Jones.

Samples
  • The song was featured in a late 1986 episode of the US daytime soap opera General Hospital.
  • In 2018, Donald Glover parodied the song in a Saturday Night Live sketch written by and co-starring cast member Cecily Strong. Glover played "Raz P. Berry," and the song was retitled "The Night (I Watched You)." Instead of ending with the usual string of threats and revenge, the whole song turns out to be a disastrous case of mistaken identity.

References
  1. Jacobs, Dick (1988). "Who Wrote That Song?". Betterway Publications. p. 196. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 307.
  3. "Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  4. https://ew.com/article/2009/04/07/vh1s-100-greate/
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 161. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. "Austriancharts.at – Oran %22Juice%22 Jones – The Rain" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  7. "the rain - oran "juice" jones". VRT (in Dutch). Top30-2.radio2.be. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2013. Hoogste notering in de top 30 : 1
  8. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0759." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  9. "Chart Track: Week 29, 1986". Irish Singles Chart.
  10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Oran %22Juice%22 Jones" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  11. "Charts.nz – Oran %22Juice%22 Jones – The Rain". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  12. "Swisscharts.com – Oran %22Juice%22 Jones – The Rain". Swiss Singles Chart.
  13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  14. Stephen Thomas Erlewine (1940-10-14). "Oran "Juice" Jones | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  15. "Offiziellecharts.de – Oran "Juice" Jones – The Rain". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  16. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 405.
  17. Walkin in the Rain, Yes You Saw Me
  18. "Leot Littlepage "The Drain"". Retrieved 23 August 2015.
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