Burning The Ground Exclusive 1982
Celebrating Pride 2021
“It’s Raining Men” is a song by the American musical duo the Weather Girls from their third studio album Success (1983). It was released as the album’s lead single on September 10, 1982, through Columbia Records and CBS Records International. Paul Jabara wrote the song in collaboration with Paul Shaffer, and produced the song in collaboration with Bob Esty. “It’s Raining Men” is a Hi-NRG and post-disco that incorporates elements of R&B, soul, and 1970s-style electronic dance music. Its lyrics describe the excitement and enjoyment of many different types of men.
“It’s Raining Men” was a number-one dance hit in the United States, and reached the top ten in various other countries worldwide. VH1 listed the song as one of the Greatest Songs of the 1980s as well as one of the Greatest Songs of the 2000s decade. At the 26th Annual Grammy Awards (1983), “It’s Raining Men” received a nomination at the Grammy Awards for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
Paul Jabara originally offered the song to Donna Summer, she initially rejected the song after becoming a born-again Christian. The song was then passed to American singers Diana Ross, Cher, and Barbra Streisand, all of whom rejected the song.
In 1982, the song was offered to the Two Tons (formerly known as Two Tons o Fun). Martha Wash and Izora Armstead of the Two Tons also dismissed the song. Wash recounted “We thought it was a crazy song — in fact, too crazy to record. I kept saying, ‘It’s raining men? Really? Are you kidding me?’ … I just did not think people would buy it… That’s why I kept saying no.” The duo eventually recorded the song in ninety minutes after Jabara persistently pleaded them to record the song. The Waters Sisters (Julia Waters-Tillman and Maxine Waters-Willard), Stephanie Spruill, and Zenobia Conkerite performed background vocals on the chorus of the song.
SIDE A:
It’s Raining Men (Vocal) 5:27
SIDE B:
It’s Raining Men (Instrumental) 5:29
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | It’s Raining Men | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #46 |
| 1982 | It’s Raining Men | U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles | #34 |
| 1982 | It’s Raining Men | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #1 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: The Entertainment Company Records – 44-03181, Columbia – 44-03181
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Hi-NRG, Disco
CREDITS:
Arranged By – Bob Esty, Greg Mathieson
Art Direction – Allen Weinberg
Cover, Artwork – Teresa Alfieri
Mastered By – Jack Adelman
Mixed By – Randy Tominaga
Producer – Bob Esty, Paul Jabara
Written-By – P. Jabara, P. Shaffer
NOTES:
Mastered by Jack Adelmanat RCA Recording Studios, NY
The Weather Girls are: Martha Wash and Izora Redman (courtesy of Honey Records), Zenobia, Stephanie Spruill, MaxineWillard Waters and Julia Tillman Waters
Find the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Password: burningtheground
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Interesting covers. That’s what initially caught my eye. It’s very Monty Python-esque.
Thanks again, Paul 🙂
Hi Paul,
Thanks for that great Rip. The Version I have on a CD Sampler has much more Thunder SFX at the beginning and the end fades a little bit earlier. So there seems to be more than one “Version” of this Song.
You’re welcome 🙂
Have never seen this sleeve before, it’s much better than the re-released version that I’m used to.
Can’t beat this classic track. Geri Halliwell tried, and failed IMO – have you heard that version Paul?
I have never heard the Geri Halliwell version I had no idea she covered it. I will check it out. 🙂
I agree; Geri did not do a good job with her version of this song. It has heavy beat to it and it lacks the overall energy of the original. She did a great job on her re-release of “These Boots are Make Walking”.
It actually got to number 1, which the original didn’t quite manage. I just don’t think she had the voice to carry it, although reading up a bit on it she recorded it thinking it was just for a soundtrack album, so probably didn’t give it her all in the vocal booth.
If you haven’t heard it, Paul, all I can say is: Lucky you! Her version was not good, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. It did hit the Number 1 spot in the UK, though – one place higher than the original version.
HALLELUJA PAUL!!! Thank you so much for ripping this outstanding record!! That Paul Jabara really is too much. I love the records he wrote and produced because they were huge campy fun. So many people got into this record and the music video is a hoot. I can’t wat to hear this in your stellar sound Paul.
And speaking of raining, I really wish it would as it is scorching across the land right now. So, let it rain, rain and RAIN!!! I’m doing my rain dance to this classic jam!!
Jeff
I will send the rain your way it has been torrentially raining here since last Friday.
Thanks, Paul. Funnily enough I was playing the UK 12″ of this classic only yesterday, though the version released here has the song segue into I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair. Great to get a DJ Paul rip – especially of a different version.
You’re welcome, Jonathan. I never knew the UK 12″ was different I might have to seek that one out. 🙂