More than five decades ago, the English group the Fortunes released “Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again,” a song that would become one of the band’s most enduring hits despite never reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Released in 1971, the soft rock favorite steadily gained attention on radio stations across North America. The song eventually climbed to No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 8 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart, giving the Fortunes one of the biggest hits of their career. It also found success in Canada, where it reached No. 12 on the RPM Top Singles chart.
The single arrived during a productive period for the group. After breaking through internationally in the mid-1960s with hits such as “You’ve Got Your Troubles” and “Here It Comes Again,” the Fortunes continued to find success with a string of well-received releases. “Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again” became one of the band’s signature songs and helped keep the group on the charts into the early 1970s.
What Is ‘Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again’ About?
Written by Tony Macaulay, Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway, “Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again” uses the image of a gloomy, rainy day to capture the sadness of a relationship that appears to be coming to an end.
The lyrics follow a narrator coping with the loss of a relationship as he reflects on happier times and hopes his former love will return. Images of rainy Mondays, fading sunshine and lingering memories helped make the song relatable to listeners experiencing heartbreak of their own.
Lead singer Rod Allen’s distinctive vocal performance helped give the song its memorable sound. Combined with the track’s gentle melody, lush harmonies and polished production, the performance helped turn the song into a staple of soft rock and adult contemporary radio.
Even 55 years after its release, “Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again” remains one of the Fortunes’ best-known recordings. The song continues to receive airplay on oldies and soft rock stations, while its nostalgic lyrics have helped it endure long after its original chart run ended.
Though it never became a No. 1 hit, “Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again” remains a favorite among fans of classic soft rock and stands as one of the defining songs in the Fortunes’ catalog.
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