A-side "Spring Rain" Released 1986 Genre Rock, Pop | B-side "The Life At Hand" Format 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl Length 3:05 | |
"Spring Rain" was the first single released by The Go-Betweens from their fourth album, Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express. It was released in 1986 by Beggars Banquet in the UK and Truetone in Australia, failing to chart in the UK, but reached number 92 in Australia.
Contents
In the UK a 12" single was also released, with an extra b-side, "Little Joe".
Details
Author Robert Forster said the song was written when he was in London in his late twenties, looking back on a time when he was in his late teens and living in Brisbane suburbia. He said song reminded him of Creedence Clearwater Revival in, "just the music and the way that chorus is especially. And there’s a simplicity to it; a beauty to it. It’s one of those happy things where you really like something like a group and it might take you years and years and years till you write something in that vein and suddenly you see it."
In 2016, Forster wrote, "Instead of labouring over lyrics, as had been my way, I wrote quickly, first thought best thought, taking Grant's example of delving into the past, to stop at eighteen.
The song featured in the movies Something Wild and Kingpin but appeared on neither soundtrack CD.
Reception
Describing the song in AllMusic, it was said, "There's a gentle lope and swing as much breezy '60s pop as there is roots revival intensity" While the reviewer noted the oddly hollow drum sound, they concluded, "Forster's ear for a lyrical image (check the part talking about hanging one's elbow out of the window of a car) and the soaring chorus make this number a winner in the end."
PopMatters described the song as, "a mid-tempo countrified tune featuring the strong give and take chorus from vocalists Robert Forster and Grant McLennan. Reeking of all the melody and infectious Brit, er, Aussie pop it’s capable of, it glides along without any need for tweaking." Nick Reynolds from the BBC said, " the optimistic shuffle of "Spring Rain" [is] one of their finest moments."
Track listing
All tracks written by G. McLennan, R. Forster.
All tracks written by G. McLennan, R. Forster.