The Rain (band)
Encyclopedia
The Rain were an indie pop
band from Basingstoke
, England
, active between 1986 and the early 1990s. They later changed their name to Clark Springs.
, who signed them up. They contributed two tracks, "Dry The Rain" and "Seven Red Apples" to Medium Cool's Edge of The Road compilation album, but their first single for the label, "First Of May" never saw the light of day due to the collapse of Medium Cool's distributor, Red Rhino Records
.
The band's first album, To The Citadel, was released in 1989, desicribed by Melody Maker
as "glorious, honed to cut-glass perfection", and gaining comparison with The Byrds
and R.E.M. in Sounds
. A 12" EP, "The Watercress Girl" followed in 1991.
They changed their name to Clark Springs, releasing a single, "Talking Kent State" in 1993, and contributing "She Lives By The Castle" to A Tribute To Felt
in 1995.
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band from Basingstoke
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, active between 1986 and the early 1990s. They later changed their name to Clark Springs.
History
The band was formed by singer/guitarist Clive Stubbings, bassist Nigel Rivers later to be replaced by Tony Duckworth (ex-Junk Factory)and drummer Chris Morrell. Their first single, "Tom Paine" was self-released, but caught the ear of Medium Cool RecordsMedium Cool Records
Medium Cool was a United Kingdom independent record label that existed between 1986 and 1989. Specializing in jangly guitar-pop, it released records by bands such as The Raw Herbs, The Siddeleys, The Rain, The Waltones, The Popguns, and The Corn Dollies....
, who signed them up. They contributed two tracks, "Dry The Rain" and "Seven Red Apples" to Medium Cool's Edge of The Road compilation album, but their first single for the label, "First Of May" never saw the light of day due to the collapse of Medium Cool's distributor, Red Rhino Records
Red Rhino Records
Red Rhino Records, also known as Red Rhino, was a British record label which was developed by the independent record shop and wholesaler of the same name, all formed and run by "Tony K"...
.
The band's first album, To The Citadel, was released in 1989, desicribed by Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
as "glorious, honed to cut-glass perfection", and gaining comparison with The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
and R.E.M. in Sounds
Sounds (magazine)
Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...
. A 12" EP, "The Watercress Girl" followed in 1991.
They changed their name to Clark Springs, releasing a single, "Talking Kent State" in 1993, and contributing "She Lives By The Castle" to A Tribute To Felt
Felt (band)
Felt were a 1980s British alternative rock band led by Lawrence, whose surname was never listed in any credits or press; the band's name was inspired by Tom Verlaine's emphasis of the word "felt" in the Television song "Venus"...
in 1995.
Singles
- "Tom Paine" (1985, Jive Alive, JA002)
- "First of May" (1988, Medium Cool) (promos only)
- "The Watercress Girl" (1990, Orangewood)
- "Talking Kent State" (1993, Summershine) (as Clark Springs)
Compilation appearances
- "Dry The Rain" and "Seven Red Apples" on Edge of The Road (1988, Medium Cool)
- "The Money Men" on Imminent 4 (1986, Food)
- "Down Here (demo)" on Zine Cool Flexi (with Zine magazine)
- "First of May" on You Can't Be Loved Forever 2
- "Down Here" on Everlasting
- "She Lives By The Castle" on A Tribute To Felt (1995, Elefant)