It's Raining - Irma Thomas
single, 1961
2:08
Written by Allen Toussaint (as Naomi Neville)
This is a stately R&B number, draped in doo-wop-style falsetto backing vocals and Toussaint’s beautifully unhurried arrangement. The narrator notices the rain, which evokes sad memories of a lost love: "The harder it rains the worse it gets / This is the time I'd love to be holding you tight / I guess I'll just go crazy tonight." What makes the song land is Thomas' vocal. She never overplays the emotion. Her delivery is poised, almost regal, turning a simple ache into something clear-eyed and adult. The sorrow feels lived-in, not melodramatic; a quiet storm held together by dignity rather than despair.
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