B-side "Easy Now" Format 7" vinyl Length 5:02 | Released 1972 Genre Rock Label Polydor | |
"Let It Rain" is a song and single written and released by the British rock musician Eric Clapton of his 1970 debut studio album Eric Clapton. It is the third and last single that had been released of the album.
Contents
Composition
AllMusic writer Matthew Greenwald notes, the song is "led by a striking electric guitar riff" with "the melody [being] woven elegantly around the simple, almost folk-like chord changes". Speaking to the lyrics, the critic recalled "the clever use of "rain" and "reign" regarding the power of love is the core here" and thinks that "Clapton and Bramlett utilize it quite well". Regarding the instrumental music work on the title, Greenwald finishes his song analysis by stating the "song has some striking instrumental sections, including a lovely, brief section by Stephen Stills". The song is in the key of D major.
Release
The song was released with the B-side of "Easy Now" in 1972 on a 7" vinyl gramophone record. Besides being released as a single in 1972 and on the original album in 1970, the song is featured on various compilation albums, including Eric Clapton at His Best (1972), Backtrackin' (1984), Crossroads (1988), The Cream of Clapton (1995) and Complete Clapton (2007). A live interpretation of the track can be found on the video album Live at Montreux 1986, released on September 19, 2006. In total, the track has been released on over 15 albums.
Critical reception
In his review for the Eric Clapton debut album, AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine likes that the title "features extended solos". He also notes, that the song consists of a "pop element". Fellow critic Greenwald recalls the piece as "one of Eric Clapton's first self-written classics" and goes on to say the song "showcased the influence that Delaney Bramlett" had on Clapton at the time. Robert Christgau finds in his album review, that "Let It Rain" deserves a "classic status".