Week 217: “I Can’t Stand the Rain” by Ann Peebles

Watching a good thunderstorm is one of the best things about the summer. But like a lot of summer things (camping, UV-rays, people who love the World Cup), over-exposure is tiring. Too much rain can be a real downer, so here are some things to try if you find yourself caught in an overly-rainful stretch of weather this summer.

  • Re-read your favourite childhood book.
  • Watch this documentary.
  • Watch this movie.
  • Pick a friend you haven’t seen in a while, and show up at their house with some cookies.
  • Jump in some puddles.
  • Make some rain art.
  • Go for a long walk without an umbrella and enjoy getting wet.

And of course, there’s no better way to enjoy the rain than with some tea and a bit of classic soul music. Anything from the Hi Records catalogue will do, but if you’re looking to stay with the rain theme, Ann Peebles’ 1974 album “I Can’t Stand the Rain” is the way to go.

What makes this a beautiful song:

1. The way the guitarist opens the song by imitating the sound of rain.

2. The way the bass lick creeps up chromatically at the end of each phrase.

3. The way the horns sit in the background to make room for Ann’s awesome voice.

Recommended listening activity:

Parading on somebody’s rain.

 Buy it here.