Looks Like Rain
Encyclopedia
Looks Like Rain is the 1969 concept album
by singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury
. After recording his debut album with RCA, Newbury was dissatisfied with the resulting album and left RCA to pursue a style closer to his tastes. Recorded at Cinderella Sound, as his next two albums would be, the result is widely considered his first real recording and represents a peak in the singer songwriter movement, especially for Nashville. The sound and style of the record would be highly influential during the Outlaw Movement during country music
in the 1970s especially on albums by David Allan Coe
and Waylon Jennings
. Linking the tracks with delicate arrangements and liberal amount of atmosphere (almost all tracks feature rain sound effects), the record contains some of Newbury's most celebrated compositions including "She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye
", "The Thirty-Third of August," "I Don't Think About Her No More", and "San Francisco Mabel Joy
". Allmusic's review of the album concludes "Looks Like Rain is so fine, so mysterious in its pace, dimension, quark strangeness and charm, it defies any attempt at strict categorization or criticism; a rare work of genius."
Looks Like Rain was collected for CD issue on the eight-disc Mickey Newbury Collection
from Mountain Retreat, Newbury's own label in the mid-1990s, along with nine other Newbury albums from 1969-1981.
In 2011, it was reissued again, both separately and as part of the four-disc Mickey Newbury box set An American Trilogy
, alongside two other albums recorded at Cinderella Sound, Frisco Mabel Joy
and Heaven Help The Child
. This release marks the first time that Looks Like Rain has been released on CD in remastered form, after the original master tapes (long thought to have been destroyed in a fire) were rediscovered in 2010.
" was heavily covered as both a folk and country song in the early 1970s. In an early 2000s interview Newbury considered "San Francisco Mabel Joy" his most successful song, in part because the five minute plus song was a radical departure at a time when most country songs ran around two and a half minutes; Newbury also stated that in 2000 it was selected as one of "the top 100 folk songs of the past century." Joan Baez
recorded the song for her 1971 hit double album Blessed Are...
along with "Angeline" and "The 33rd of August." Waylon Jennings
included his version on his 1973 breakthrough Lonesome, On'ry and Mean
. The song was also featured on Kenny Rogers
' 1978 country smash The Gambler
, and John Denver
's recording is on his 1981 album Some Days Are Diamonds. The Box Tops
recorded a presumably early version under the title "Georgia Farm Boy," which was included as a bonus track on the 2000 reissue of The Letter/Neon Rainbow
. Newbury used the song as the title track to his 1971 follow-up album, even though it did not initially appear on the album, a new version was featured on his 1973 album Heaven Help The Child
, it was included in a live version on the 1973 concert album Live At Montezuma Hall
.
Jerry Lee Lewis
had a #2 hit with "She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye" in 1969 which became the title track of a top ten album in 1970. A total of 51 artists have cut versions of the song including Roy Orbison
, Keith Richards
, Kenny Rogers
, and Ronnie Milsap
.
"The 33rd of August" has been recorded by David Allan Coe on his 1974 Columbia Records
debut The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy
. Waylon Jennings' version appeared on his 1970 album Waylon
, while Willie Nelson
and Joan Baez have also recorded the song. Gordon Lightfoot
cut a version of the song before leaving United Artists
that is still unreleased.
"Angeline" appeared on Joan Baez's Blessed Are... It was also recorded by Alex Harvey
and J. David Sloan.
"I Don't Think About Her No More" has also been recorded under the title "Poison Red Berries." Tammy Wynette recorded the song on her 1974 album Woman to Woman, Bobby Bare
recorded it in 1973, and Don Williams
' version appeared on his second country album in 1974.
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
by singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury
Mickey Newbury
Mickey Newbury was an American songwriter, a critically acclaimed recording artist, and a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
. After recording his debut album with RCA, Newbury was dissatisfied with the resulting album and left RCA to pursue a style closer to his tastes. Recorded at Cinderella Sound, as his next two albums would be, the result is widely considered his first real recording and represents a peak in the singer songwriter movement, especially for Nashville. The sound and style of the record would be highly influential during the Outlaw Movement during country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
in the 1970s especially on albums by David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe is an American outlaw country music singer who achieved popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. He has written and performed over 280 original songs throughout his career...
and Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
. Linking the tracks with delicate arrangements and liberal amount of atmosphere (almost all tracks feature rain sound effects), the record contains some of Newbury's most celebrated compositions including "She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye
She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye
"She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye" is the title of a song written by Doug Gilmore and Mickey Newbury, and recorded by American country music artist Jerry Lee Lewis. Released in September 1969, it was the first single from his album She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye. The song peaked at number 2...
", "The Thirty-Third of August," "I Don't Think About Her No More", and "San Francisco Mabel Joy
San Francisco Mabel Joy
"San Francisco Mabel Joy" is a song written by Mickey Newbury, and is one of Newbury's most notable songs, an opinion shared by the artist himself. The song first appeared on Newbury's 1969 concept album Looks Like Rain, a milestone album in the burgeoning songwriter movement in Nashville at the...
". Allmusic's review of the album concludes "Looks Like Rain is so fine, so mysterious in its pace, dimension, quark strangeness and charm, it defies any attempt at strict categorization or criticism; a rare work of genius."
Looks Like Rain was collected for CD issue on the eight-disc Mickey Newbury Collection
Mickey Newbury Collection
The Mickey Newbury Collection collects the ten albums Mickey Newbury released on three labels between 1969 and 1981 on an eight disc set. The set was released and is available through Mountain Retreat, a label run by Newbury and later Newbury's family...
from Mountain Retreat, Newbury's own label in the mid-1990s, along with nine other Newbury albums from 1969-1981.
In 2011, it was reissued again, both separately and as part of the four-disc Mickey Newbury box set An American Trilogy
An American Trilogy (album)
An American Trilogy is a box set of three remastered albums by Mickey Newbury recorded between 1969 and 1973 at Cinderella Sound studio, in Madison, Tennessee, alongside an additional album of rare and unreleased recordings, entitled "Better Days". It was released in 2011 on Saint Cecilia Knows, in...
, alongside two other albums recorded at Cinderella Sound, Frisco Mabel Joy
Frisco Mabel Joy
Frisco Mabel Joy is the 1971 concept album by Country singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury. This was the second of three albums Newbury recorded at Cinderella Sound. The album includes the original version of "An American Trilogy", which Elvis Presley later performed in his Las Vegas shows with much...
and Heaven Help The Child
Heaven Help the Child
Heaven Help The Child is the 1973 album by Country singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury. The album was Newbury's third consecutive release recorded at Cinderella Studios...
. This release marks the first time that Looks Like Rain has been released on CD in remastered form, after the original master tapes (long thought to have been destroyed in a fire) were rediscovered in 2010.
Track listing
- "Wrote A Song A Song/Angeline" (Mickey Newbury)
- "She Even Woke Me Up to Say GoodbyeShe Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye"She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye" is the title of a song written by Doug Gilmore and Mickey Newbury, and recorded by American country music artist Jerry Lee Lewis. Released in September 1969, it was the first single from his album She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye. The song peaked at number 2...
" (Mickey Newbury/Doug Gilmore) - "I Don't Think About Her No More" (Mickey Newbury)
- "T. Total Tommy" (Mickey Newbury)
- "The 33rd of August" (Mickey Newbury)
- "When The Baby In My Lady Gets The Blues" (Mickey Newbury)
- "San Francisco Mabel JoySan Francisco Mabel Joy"San Francisco Mabel Joy" is a song written by Mickey Newbury, and is one of Newbury's most notable songs, an opinion shared by the artist himself. The song first appeared on Newbury's 1969 concept album Looks Like Rain, a milestone album in the burgeoning songwriter movement in Nashville at the...
" (Mickey Newbury) - "Looks Like Baby's Gone" (Mickey Newbury)
Selected cover recordings
"San Francisco Mabel JoySan Francisco Mabel Joy
"San Francisco Mabel Joy" is a song written by Mickey Newbury, and is one of Newbury's most notable songs, an opinion shared by the artist himself. The song first appeared on Newbury's 1969 concept album Looks Like Rain, a milestone album in the burgeoning songwriter movement in Nashville at the...
" was heavily covered as both a folk and country song in the early 1970s. In an early 2000s interview Newbury considered "San Francisco Mabel Joy" his most successful song, in part because the five minute plus song was a radical departure at a time when most country songs ran around two and a half minutes; Newbury also stated that in 2000 it was selected as one of "the top 100 folk songs of the past century." Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
recorded the song for her 1971 hit double album Blessed Are...
Blessed Are...
Blessed Are... was a 1971 album by Joan Baez, and her last with Vanguard Records. It included her hit cover of The Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", and work by Kris Kristofferson, the Beatles, Jesse Winchester and The Rolling Stones, as well as a significant number of Baez' own...
along with "Angeline" and "The 33rd of August." Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
included his version on his 1973 breakthrough Lonesome, On'ry and Mean
Lonesome, On'ry and Mean
Lonesome, On'ry and Mean is an album by Waylon Jennings, released on RCA Victor in 1973. It was, after Good Hearted Woman and Ladies Love Outlaws, the third in a series of albums which were to establish Jennings as one of the most prominent representatives of the country movement, reaching #8 on...
. The song was also featured on Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
' 1978 country smash The Gambler
The Gambler
The Gambler may refer to:In music:*The Gambler , a 1978 album by Kenny Rogers**"The Gambler" , a 1978 song featured on the Kenny Rogers album*The Gambler...
, and John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
's recording is on his 1981 album Some Days Are Diamonds. The Box Tops
The Box Tops
The Box Tops were a Memphis rock group of the second half of the 1960s. They are best known for the hits "The Letter," "Neon Rainbow," "Soul Deep," "I Met Her in Church," and "Cry Like A Baby," and are considered a major blue-eyed soul group of the period...
recorded a presumably early version under the title "Georgia Farm Boy," which was included as a bonus track on the 2000 reissue of The Letter/Neon Rainbow
The Letter/Neon Rainbow
The Letter/Neon Rainbow is an album by American blue-eyed soul band Box Tops, released in 1967. Following "The Letter" reaching number one on the singles charts, The Letter/Neon Rainbow was quickly assembled for a follow up...
. Newbury used the song as the title track to his 1971 follow-up album, even though it did not initially appear on the album, a new version was featured on his 1973 album Heaven Help The Child
Heaven Help the Child
Heaven Help The Child is the 1973 album by Country singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury. The album was Newbury's third consecutive release recorded at Cinderella Studios...
, it was included in a live version on the 1973 concert album Live At Montezuma Hall
Live at Montezuma Hall
Live At Montezuma Hall is the first live album from singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury recorded at Montezuma Hall at San Diego State University in 1973. Featuring Newbury performing solo with an acoustic guitar, the album is notable for touching renditions of many of Newbury's excellent songs and...
.
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
had a #2 hit with "She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye" in 1969 which became the title track of a top ten album in 1970. A total of 51 artists have cut versions of the song including Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
, Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
, Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
, and Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Lee Milsap is an American country music singer and pianist. He was one of country’s most popular and influential performers of the 1970s and 1980s...
.
"The 33rd of August" has been recorded by David Allan Coe on his 1974 Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
debut The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy
The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy
The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy is the third of American singer David Allan Coe, and his first album on Columbia Records. Released in 1974, it is his first release in the country music genre.- Style :...
. Waylon Jennings' version appeared on his 1970 album Waylon
Waylon
Waylon is a 1970 album by Waylon Jennings released on RCA Victor. Aside from "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man", none of the other songs on this LP were released as singles. The version of "Yes, Virginia" presented here is different than the one originally issued on The One and Only in 1967...
, while Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
and Joan Baez have also recorded the song. Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot, Jr. is a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music, and has been credited for helping define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s...
cut a version of the song before leaving United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
that is still unreleased.
"Angeline" appeared on Joan Baez's Blessed Are... It was also recorded by Alex Harvey
Alex Harvey (musician)
Alex Harvey was a Scottish rock musician. With The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, he built a reputation as an exciting live performer during the 1970s glam rock era.-Biography:...
and J. David Sloan.
"I Don't Think About Her No More" has also been recorded under the title "Poison Red Berries." Tammy Wynette recorded the song on her 1974 album Woman to Woman, Bobby Bare
Bobby Bare
Robert Joseph Bare is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is the father of Bobby Bare, Jr., also a musician.-Early career:...
recorded it in 1973, and Don Williams
Don Williams
Don Williams , is an American country singer, songwriter and a 2010 inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He grew up in Portland, Texas, and graduated in 1958 from Gregory-Portland High School. After seven years with the folk-pop group Pozo-Seco Singers, he began his solo career in 1971,...
' version appeared on his second country album in 1974.