“Rhythm of the Rain” is a song performed by The Cascades, released in November 1962. It was written by Cascades band member John Claude Gummoe. It rose to number three on the US pop chart on March 9, 1963, and spent two weeks at number one on the US Easy Listening chart. The song was also a top 5 hit in the United Kingdom and a number-one single in Ireland. In 1999, BMI listed the song as the ninth most performed song on radio/TV in the 20th century.

The Cascades’ recording was used in the soundtrack of the 1979 film Quadrophenia and included in its soundtrack album.  The 1969 recording by Gary Lewis & the Playboys peaked at #63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.  In late 60s & early 70s, this song was covered by various singers and bands in the South-East Asia region. Among them were Teddy Robin & The Playboys, Felicia Wong (王愛明) in Hong Kong, Tracy Huang (黃鶯鶯) in Taiwan, Ervinna, Zhuang Xue Fang (莊雪芳) (in edited Standard Chinese lyrics under title name of 雨聲) in Singapore, and Sinn Sisamouth in Cambodia.  In 1978, the song enjoyed a run of popularity in country music, through a cover version recorded by Jacky Ward. Ward’s recording reached #11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.  In 1990, Dan Fogelberg scored a #3 hit on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, with “Rhythm of the Rain” being part of a medley alongside The Beatles’ song “Rain.”  Also in 1990, Australian star Jason Donovan reached #9 on the UK charts with his version; however, he failed to reach the top 10 in his home country. The music video features Donovan and an actress, in a film set in Hong Kong. Donovan sings outside in the rain in a backyard. It also features the actress posing as Audrey Hepburn and kissing Donovan on a ship. In 2008, Donovan re-recorded the song for his album Let It Be Me (2008).

By The Cascades

Lyrics