Kentucky Rain

1970 single by Elvis Presley

"Kentucky Rain"

Single by Elvis Presley

B-side

"My Little Friend"

Released

January 29, 1970

Recorded

February 19, 1969

Studio

American Sound, Memphis

Genre

Country, Soft rock

Length

3:20

Label

RCA Victor

Songwriter(s)

Eddie Rabbitt, Dick Heard

Producer(s)

Chips Moman

Elvis Presley singles chronology

"Don't Cry Daddy"
(1969)

"Kentucky Rain"
(1970)

"The Wonder Of You"
(1970)

"Kentucky Rain" is a 1970 song written by Eddie Rabbitt and Dick Heard and recorded by Elvis Presley. It was recorded at American Sound Studio and features then session pianist Ronnie Milsap.^[1] Other musicians on the record include Bobby Wood on piano, Bobby Emmons on organ, Reggie Young on guitar, Tommy Cogbill on bass and Gene Chrisman on drums.^[2] The song and session was produced by Felton Jarvis (RCA Victor) and Chips Moman (American Sound Studio of Memphis). It was certified Gold by the RIAA, signifying United States sales of more than a million copies.

Story

The song's lyrics describe a man searching for a woman he loves who fled his side for an unknown reason and the protagonist's search through rural Kentucky during a persistent rain storm.

Background

"Kentucky Rain" was first recorded by Elvis Presley. The single peaked at #16 on the Billboard pop singles chart. Released as a single on January 29, 1970, featuring "My Little Friend" as the B side, "Kentucky Rain" was one of the decade's first hits for Presley. Its first appearance on an album was in the August 1970 compilation package Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits Vol. 1 (LPM-6401). While the track does appear on the 2000 rerelease of From Elvis in Memphis, it was not included on the original 1969 album. During Presley's February 1970 engagement, he performed it some sixteen times, introducing it as a new song "out about a week." Live versions are available on the box sets Elvis Aaron Presley and Live in Las Vegas.

The song is included on the CD Elvis with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: The Wonder of You (2016). It was published by Elvis Presley Music, Inc. and S-P-R Music Corporation. The single was certified Gold by the RIAA in March, 1992.

Charts

The single peaked at #10 on the Cash Box Top 100 and #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached #6 in Canada, #21 in the UK, and #7 in Australia.^[3]

Chart performance

Chart (1970)	Peak position
Australian Go-Set Singles^[4]	7
Canadian RPM Top Singles	10
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks	4
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	1
Ireland (IRMA)^[5]	14
UK Singles Chart	21
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	16
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening^[6]	3
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles^[7]	31

Cover versions

Songwriter Eddie Rabbitt released his own version of the song in 1978 for his, Variations LP.^[8]

References

^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
^ "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions". Keithflynn.com. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
^ "tsort.info". tsort.info. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
^ "Go-Set Australian Charts - 23 May 1970". Poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Kentucky Rain". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 196.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 272.
^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved September 21, 2021.

Elvis Presley

Studio albums

Elvis Presley
Elvis (1956 album)
Elvis' Christmas Album
Elvis Is Back!
His Hand in Mine
Something for Everybody
Pot Luck
How Great Thou Art
From Elvis in Memphis
From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis
That's the Way It Is
Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old)
Love Letters from Elvis
Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas
Elvis Now
He Touched Me
Elvis (1973 album)
Raised on Rock / For Ol' Times Sake
Good Times
Promised Land
Today
From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee
Moody Blue

Soundtrack albums

Loving You
King Creole
G.I. Blues
Blue Hawaii
Girls! Girls! Girls!
It Happened at the World's Fair
Fun in Acapulco
Kissin' Cousins
Roustabout
Girl Happy
Harum Scarum
Frankie and Johnny
Paradise Hawaiian Style
Spinout
Double Trouble
Clambake
Speedway
Viva Elvis
Elvis Presley: The Searcher

EPs

Love Me Tender
Peace in the Valley
Jailhouse Rock
Flaming Star
Follow That Dream
Kid Galahad
Viva Las Vegas
Tickle Me
Easy Come, Easy Go

Live albums

Elvis (1968 album)
From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis
On Stage
As Recorded at Madison Square Garden
Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite
Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis
Having Fun with Elvis on Stage
Elvis in Concert
An Afternoon in the Garden

Budget albums

Compilation albums

Elvis' Golden Records
For LP Fans Only
A Date with Elvis
50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong
Elvis' Golden Records Volume 3
Elvis for Everyone!
Elvis' Gold Records Volume 4
Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 1
Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 2
The Sun Sessions
Welcome to My World
He Walks Beside Me
Mahalo from Elvis
Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 3
Greatest Hits Volume 1
Elvis' Gold Records Volume 5
Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances
Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II
Elvis 56
Tiger Man
Memories: The '68 Comeback Special
Sunrise
Suspicious Minds: The Memphis 1969 Anthology
The 50 Greatest Hits
ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits
2nd to None
Elvis at Sun
Hitstory
Elvis Inspirational
Elvis Rock
Elvis Christmas
The Essential Elvis Presley
Christmas Duets
If I Can Dream
Way Down in the Jungle Room
The Wonder of You
Where No One Stands Alone

Box sets

Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits Vol. 1
The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters
From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters
Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters
Peace in the Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings
Live in Las Vegas
Today, Tomorrow, and Forever
Elvis the King
The Complete '68 Comeback Special
The Complete Elvis Presley Masters

Biographical media

Elvis (1979 film)
Elvis and Me (miniseries)
Elvis (1990 series)
Elvis Meets Nixon
Elvis (2005 miniseries)
Elvis & Nixon
Elvis (2022 film)
Agent Elvis (2023 series)
Priscilla

Documentaries

The Pied Piper of Cleveland
Elvis: That's the Way It Is
Elvis on Tour
This Is Elvis
The New Gladiators
Elvis Presley: The Searcher

TV specials

The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis
Elvis ('68 Comeback Special)
Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite
Elvis in Concert

Stage shows

Cooking with Elvis
All Shook Up
Elvis. The Musical
Elvis: The Concert
Viva Elvis
The Elvis Dead

Related people

Category

Elvis Presley singles

1954	"That's All Right" / "Blue Moon of Kentucky" "Good Rockin' Tonight" / "I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine" "Milkcow Blues Boogie" / "You're a Heartbreaker"
1955	"I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" / "Baby Let's Play House" "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" / "Mystery Train"
1956	"Heartbreak Hotel" / "I Was the One" "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" / "My Baby Left Me" "Don't Be Cruel" / "Hound Dog" "Blue Suede Shoes" / "Tutti Frutti" "Money Honey" "I Got a Woman" "Tryin' to Get to You" "Blue Moon" "I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin')" / "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (over You)" "Shake, Rattle and Roll" / "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" "Love Me Tender" / "Any Way You Want Me"
1957	"Too Much" / "Playing for Keeps" "All Shook Up" / "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" "Peace in the Valley" "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" / "Loving You" "Paralyzed" (UK) "Jailhouse Rock" / "Treat Me Nice" "Party" / "Got a Lot o' Livin' to Do!" (UK)
1958	"Don't" / "I Beg of You" "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" / "Doncha' Think It's Time" "Hard Headed Woman" / "Don't Ask Me Why" "King Creole" (UK) "One Night" / "I Got Stung"
1959	"I Need Your Love Tonight" / "A Fool Such as I" "A Big Hunk o' Love" / "My Wish Came True"

1960	"Stuck on You" / "Fame and Fortune" "It's Now or Never" / "A Mess of Blues" "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" / "I Gotta Know"
1961	"Surrender" / "Lonely Man" "I Feel So Bad" / "Wild in the Country" "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" / "Little Sister" "Can't Help Falling in Love" / "Rock-A-Hula Baby"
1962	"Good Luck Charm" / "Anything That's Part of You" "She's Not You" / "Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello" "King of the Whole Wide World" "Return to Sender" / "Where Do You Come From"
1963	"One Broken Heart for Sale" / "They Remind Me Too Much of You" "(You're the) Devil in Disguise" "Bossa Nova Baby" / "Witchcraft"
1964	"Kissin' Cousins" / "It Hurts Me" "Kiss Me Quick" / "Suspicion" "Viva Las Vegas" / "What'd I Say" "Such a Night" / "Never Ending" "Ask Me" / "Ain't That Loving You Baby" "Blue Christmas"
1965	"Do the Clam" / "You'll Be Gone" "Crying in the Chapel "(Such an) Easy Question" / "It Feels So Right" "I'm Yours" / "(It's a) Long Lonely Highway" "Puppet on a String" / "Wooden Heart"
1966	"Tell Me Why" / "Blue River" "Frankie and Johnny" / "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" "Love Letters" "Spinout" / "All That I Am" "If Every Day Was Like Christmas"
1967	"Indescribably Blue" / "Fools Fall in Love" "You Gotta Stop" / "The Love Machine" (UK) "Long Legged Girl (with the Short Dress On)" / "That's Someone You Never Forget" "There's Always Me" / "Judy" "Big Boss Man" / "You Don't Know Me"
1968	"Guitar Man" "U.S. Male" / "Stay Away" "We Call on Him" / "You'll Never Walk Alone" "Your Time Hasn't Come Yet, Baby" / "Let Yourself Go" "Almost in Love" / "A Little Less Conversation" "If I Can Dream" / "Edge of Reality"
1969	"Memories" / "Charro" "How Great Thou Art" "In the Ghetto" / "Any Day Now" "Clean Up Your Own Backyard" "Suspicious Minds" / "You'll Think of Me" "Don't Cry Daddy" "Rubberneckin'"

1970	"Kentucky Rain" "The Wonder of You" / "Mama Liked the Roses" "I've Lost You" / "The Next Step Is Love" "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" / "Patch It Up" "I Really Don't Want to Know" / "There Goes My Everything"
1971	"Rags to Riches" "Life" / "Only Believe" "I'm Leavin'" "It's Only Love" / "The Sound of Your Cry" "Merry Christmas Baby" / "O Come All Ye Faithful"
1972	"Until It's Time for You to Go" / "We Can Make the Morning" "He Touched Me" / "Bosom of Abraham" "An American Trilogy" / "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" "Burning Love" / "It's a Matter of Time" "Separate Ways" / "Always on My Mind"
1973	"Steamroller Blues" / "Fool" "Raised on Rock" / "For Ol' Times Sake"
1974	"Take Good Care of Her" / "I've Got a Thing About You, Baby" "If You Talk in Your Sleep" / "Help Me" "Promised Land" / "It's Midnight"
1975	"My Boy" / "Thinking About You" "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" "Bringing It Back" / "Pieces of My Life"
1976	"For the Heart" / "Hurt" "Moody Blue" / "She Thinks I Still Care"
1977	"Way Down" / "Pledging My Love" "My Way" / "America the Beautiful"
1978	"Unchained Melody" / "Softly as I Leave You"