It Might As Well Rain Until September
Encyclopedia
"It Might As Well Rain Until September" is a 1962 song originally written for Bobby Vee
by Carole King
and Gerry Goffin
. King recorded the demo version of the song, however Vee's management baulked at releasing the song as a single, instead using it only as an album track. Bobby Vee recorded the song the same year for his 1963 Liberty album The Night Has A Thousand Eyes.
and Gerry Goffin
and intended for Bobby Vee
, for whom they had already written the song "Take Good Care of My Baby
", a number one hit in the United States in 1961 and which remains Vee's biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100
. King recorded the demo version of the song and this version was released as a double A-side single with "Nobody's Perfect". Although she had recorded earlier for ABC-Paramount and Alpine Records, '.....September' was Carole King's first commercial success as a singer, having already had a number of hits as a songwriter. The recording was only ever intended as a demo, and as such there is no master tape, only an acetate. This is the reason why all digital releases of this recording are of inferior quality compared to other songs of this era.
The song later appeared on the album More American Graffiti. However, due to the conversations between Wolfman jack and a phone listener, on the track, as well as the fact that the song fades out earlier, King was very unhappy, and sued both Wolfman jack and MCA Records for the treatment of the song. Both paid the damages in a settlement to King. It is also included on Carole Kings 2005 live album The Living Room Tour
, where it is performed as part of a medley along with other songs she wrote with Gerry Goffin.
Bobby Vee
Robert Thomas Velline , known as Bobby Vee, is an American pop music singer. According to Billboard magazine, Vee has had 38 Hot 100 chart hits, 10 of which hit the Top 20.-Career:...
by Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
and Gerry Goffin
Gerry Goffin
Gerry Goffin is an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with former songwriting partner and first wife, Carole King. he has co-written six Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers.-Career:Goffin enlisted with the Marine Corps Reserve after graduating from...
. King recorded the demo version of the song, however Vee's management baulked at releasing the song as a single, instead using it only as an album track. Bobby Vee recorded the song the same year for his 1963 Liberty album The Night Has A Thousand Eyes.
Background
The song was written by Carole KingCarole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
and Gerry Goffin
Gerry Goffin
Gerry Goffin is an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with former songwriting partner and first wife, Carole King. he has co-written six Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers.-Career:Goffin enlisted with the Marine Corps Reserve after graduating from...
and intended for Bobby Vee
Bobby Vee
Robert Thomas Velline , known as Bobby Vee, is an American pop music singer. According to Billboard magazine, Vee has had 38 Hot 100 chart hits, 10 of which hit the Top 20.-Career:...
, for whom they had already written the song "Take Good Care of My Baby
Take Good Care of My Baby
"Take Good Care of My Baby" is a song written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin and made famous by Bobby Vee, when it was released in 1961. It quickly became popular, reaching #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in September. The song was covered by The Beatles during their audition at Decca Records on...
", a number one hit in the United States in 1961 and which remains Vee's biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. King recorded the demo version of the song and this version was released as a double A-side single with "Nobody's Perfect". Although she had recorded earlier for ABC-Paramount and Alpine Records, '.....September' was Carole King's first commercial success as a singer, having already had a number of hits as a songwriter. The recording was only ever intended as a demo, and as such there is no master tape, only an acetate. This is the reason why all digital releases of this recording are of inferior quality compared to other songs of this era.
The song later appeared on the album More American Graffiti. However, due to the conversations between Wolfman jack and a phone listener, on the track, as well as the fact that the song fades out earlier, King was very unhappy, and sued both Wolfman jack and MCA Records for the treatment of the song. Both paid the damages in a settlement to King. It is also included on Carole Kings 2005 live album The Living Room Tour
The Living Room Tour
The Living Room Tour is a live album by Carole King released in 2005. It consists of live recordings of most of the songs from Tapestry. Her daughters Louise and Sherry and background singer and guitarist Gary Burr joined her on several songs. This album debuted at #17 in the US, becoming King's...
, where it is performed as part of a medley along with other songs she wrote with Gerry Goffin.
Song information
"It Might as Well Rain Until September" is a mid tempo pop song in a similar style as many songs written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin at this time. Through the lyrics, the singer tells a former lover that the world does not appear beautiful to him or her no matter the circumstances as he/she cannot be with him/her: It doesn't matter whether skies are grey or blue/It's raining in my heart 'cause I can't be with you/ [...] /So it might as well rain until September.Charts
The single was released in 1962 and made it to #22 on Billboard in August of that year. It is still Carole King's highest peaking song in the United Kingdom reaching number three in the single charts.| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | US Billboard Hot 100 | 22 |
| 1963 | UK single charts | 3 |
Other versions
- Bobby VeeBobby VeeRobert Thomas Velline , known as Bobby Vee, is an American pop music singer. According to Billboard magazine, Vee has had 38 Hot 100 chart hits, 10 of which hit the Top 20.-Career:...
, for whom the song was originally written, recorded the song for his 1963 album The Night Has A Thousand Eyes. The song was later included on the compilation albums The Essential Bobby Vee, Legendary Master Series: Bobby Vee and Best of. - British singer Helen ShapiroHelen ShapiroHelen Kate Shapiro is an English singer and actress. She is best known for her 1960s UK chart toppers, "You Don't Know" and "Walkin' Back to Happiness".-Early life:...
covered the song for her 1964 album Helen Hits Out. It later appeared on the compilation albums The Ultimate Helen Shapiro and The Very Best of Helen Shapiro. - The song was covered by the 1960s studio project Marquis of KensingtonMarquis of KensingtonThe Marquis of Kensington was a British studio project from the end of the 1960s. It consisted of Robert Wace, then manager of The Kinks, and the record producer Mike Leander . While the project's vocals are Wace's, Leander was featured on the single covers...
and released as their third and final single. - Canadian pop duo Gary and DaveGary and DaveGary and Dave were a Canadian pop duo popular in the 1970s best known for their song "Could You Ever Love Me Again". Dave Beckett ; born in Newmarket, Ontario on July 5, 1949 and Gary Weeks ; born May 22, 1950 in Charlottetown, PEI....
had it as a hit in Canada in 1974. - Boygroup Child covered the song as a B-side for their 1978 single "It's Only Make BelieveIt's Only Make Believe"It's Only Make Believe" is the title of a song written by Jack Nance and American country music artist Conway Twitty, released by Twitty as a single in July 1958. The single topped both U.S...
". - Tony EvansTony EvansTony Evans is a Christian pastor and a widely-syndicated radio broadcaster in the United States.Dr. Evans serves as Senior Pastor to the over 8,000 member Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, which was founded in 1976 with 10 members meeting at his home...
& His Orchestra released an instrumental version of the song under the title "It Might As Well Rain Until September (Music for Dancing)". It appeared on the album Sequence Dancing Gold. - The Sheena Davis Group covered the song as opening track for their 2001 album Smile.
- Swedish language versions, "Jag önskar att det alltid vore sommar" with lyrics by Bengt Palmers and Eleanor BodelEleanor BodelEleanor Bodel is a Swedish pop singeress, who began perform for public in year 1968 in the orchestra of Bruno Glennmark and from 1969 as solo artist...
, were recorded and released by Eleanor BodelEleanor BodelEleanor Bodel is a Swedish pop singeress, who began perform for public in year 1968 in the orchestra of Bruno Glennmark and from 1969 as solo artist...
(1969). , FlamingokvintettenFlamingokvintettenFlamingokvintetten is a Swedish dansband, founded in 1960 in Partille, Sweden....
(1982). , Lisbet Jagedal & Pools orkester (1991). , Lotta Engbergs orkester (1997). and Drifters (2008).