OK so again I did a post where I focused on an album and missed one of the best songs from it, last month I reviewed Copperfields album by The Dillards, but I didn't mention the track Rainmaker, instead going for the title track as the gem. But now I have heard Rainmaker (a song written by Harry Nilsson of all people) again I am choosing it as the better song, just fractionally better with it's drawling pedal steel riff starting it off, we get an upbeat folk rocker with a chugging acoustic strum, a melodic lead vocal and dynamite backing vocals providing a descending doo wop call of "ah..ah ha". Ok it's hard to transcribe the wordless backing harmonies, but it's a positive tune based around banishing the rain and the chorus and pedal steel riff also mimic this descending, walking rhythm of the backing vocals.
OK, the main hook/riff/whatever musically, rhythmically, vocally sounds a lot like the hard rock chords of Fun Lovin Criminal's hit Scooby Snacks.. hang on minute..how did they get a hold of the riff..hang on did they listen to Copperfields too? It was originally a Nilsson number and B side to Everybody' Talkin, and while his 1969 version has the stronger lead vocal particularly the ending wails, this is a more fuller arrangement.
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