1/9/2023 0 Comments Raindrops falling on my head![]() ![]() When Ray was approached with the song by Burt there were two reasons that prevented the recording. If people were more aware of how good of a singer Ray is and seek out his serious work it wouldn’t be a surprise that Burt Bacharach would approach a “novelty singer” with the opportunity of recording a movie song. The media labeled Ray a novelty artist even though he recorded a LOT of non-comical songs throughout the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. “Ahab the Arab” isn’t the only song Ray sang during the ’60s. Ray can sing comedy and serious material. Nothing’s worryin’ me.‘ touched a nerve with everyone living through a turbulent time. Even the squares may have liked this one, I’m sure a line like ‘ because I’m free. Betcha Jimmy Webb was jealous of its effective simplicity. And of course there’s the jazzy ‘slight return’ at the end. I just love the way it falls in to the song, even the 2nd time when Herb Alpert does his patented trumpet solo. I’ve always dug this tune, especially the bridge. When his throat was finally he recorded the version heard on the radio, which was a little smoother. ![]() Lucky for BJ (Really? Couldn’t stick with Billy Joe?) that he recorded for the same label as Bach & David’s muse, Dionne Warwick or he might not have been given the chance.īy the way if you watch that scene and notice that the vocals sound different than on the 45, that’s because BJ recorded those while dealing with laryngitis, adding naturally a Western rasp to his vocals. Even the fact that Bacharach & David were scoring a Western was kind of funny, given their pedigree of jazzy cocktail pop. The song, recorded and release at the end of 1969, sounds appropriately like a 60s tune. And he thinks the guy who sang Ahab the Arab should sing Raindrops.? And this is with Burt spending countless hours on set and watching dailies of the bike-riding scene writing music that would fit. (Ray would have his first #1 later in the year with the ultra-serious, Everything Is Beautiful) It definitely wouldn’t have worked. Supposedly Burt approached novelty singer Ray Stevens about singing it. (What do you mean you haven’t seen this film? Put down your Twilight DVD and go out and rent it now!) In addition to spending the first month of 1970 on top, it also won an OScar for Best Song, a marked improvement over past winners, Born Free & If I Could Talk To the Animals.ī.J.’s mix of easy-going vocals with a hint of gruff soul made him the perfect singer for this song. Once you hear that opening ukulele lick, you immediately can visualize Paul Newman riding around on his bicycle. Written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David, it was written & recorded for the film, Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid. This was the first song to hit #1 in the 70s and the first of 2 for Billy Joe Thomas. ![]()
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