Natalie Cole - Here's That Rainy Day (DMI/Atco Records 2008)

"Here's That Rainy Day" is a popular song with music by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Johnny Burke, published in 1953. It was introduced by Dolores Gray in the Broadway musical Carnival in Flanders.

The song has been recorded by many jazz and pop singers, including Tony Bennett, Dee Dee Bridgewater, The Stan Kenton Orchestra, June Christy, Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como, Vic Damone, Billy Eckstine, Ella Fitzgerald, Lou Rawls, Astrud Gilberto (with Stan Getz), Lena Horne, Phyllis Hyman, Jack Jones, Steve Lawrence, Peggy Lee, Kenny Rankin, Frank Sinatra, Kiri Te Kanawa, Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughan and Andy Williams. It is also a favorite of jazz instrumentalists, with renditions by Joe Pass, Gene Ammons, Chet Baker, Ray Brown, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Bill Evans, Art Farmer, Freddie Hubbard, Wes Montgomery, Art Pepper, Oscar Peterson, Toots Thielemans, Alvin "Red" Tyler, L.A. Jazz Quintet and McCoy Tyner, among many others. also, Nancy Wilson.

Frank Sinatra recorded it on March 25, 1959 for the Capitol album No One Cares, arranged and conducted by Gordon Jenkins. He performed it on a Timex-sponsored show entitled The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: An Afternoon With Frank Sinatra, broadcast on December 13, 1959 and on the Emmy-nominated Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing, broadcast on November 25, 1968. On November 18, 1973, he performed it on Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back, in a medley with "Last Night When We Were Young" and "Violets for Your Furs."

Sinatra also performed the song during three concerts in 1974, at Caesar's Palace, in Philadelphia and Saratoga, New York.

Former late-night talk show host Johnny Carson said that "Here's That Rainy Day" by Frank Sinatra was his favorite ballad. Carson and Bette Midler famously sang the song on the next-to-last show of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on May 21, 1992. Singer/songwriter Paul Williams also once sang the song on the show in full ape make up as part of promotion for his latest film Battle For the Planet of the Apes. After Carson's death in 2005, Doc Severinsen, Tommy Newsom, and Ed Shaughnessy performed the song along with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra on Late Show with David Letterman.

Natalie Maria Cole (February 6, 1950 - December 31, 2015) was an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of Nat King Cole, Cole rose to musical success in the mid-1970s as a R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be", "Inseparable" and "Our Love". After a period of failing sales and performances due to a heavy drug addiction, Cole reemerged as a pop artist with the 1987 album, Everlasting, and her cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac". In the 1990s, she re-recorded standards by her father, resulting in her biggest success, Unforgettable... with Love, which sold over seven million copies and also won Cole numerous Grammy Awards. She has sold over 30 million records worldwide.

Still Unforgettable is a 2008 studio album by American singer-songwriter and performer Natalie Cole. Cole won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Still Unforgettable at the 51st Grammy Awards.

With Natalie as producer, she's accompanied by Nan Schwartz (arranger); Warren Luening (trumpet) and orchestra. Recorded in Los Angeles, Capitol Studios. (DMI/Atco Records)

Maybe I should have saved those leftover dreams
Funny but here's that rainy day
Here's that rainy day they told me about
And I laughed at the thought that it might turn out this way

Where's that worn-out wish that I threw aside
After it brought my lover near
Oh, funny how love becomes a cold rainy day
Funny that rainy day is here

Where's that worn-out wish that I threw aside
After it brought my lover near
Oh funny how love becomes a cold rainy day
Funny that rainy day is here

Where is that worn-out wish that I threw aside
After it brought my lover near
Say it's funny how love becomes a cold rainy day
Funny that rainy day is here

[PolsatLogo]

I had the distinct pleasure to play in the trumpet section behind this amazing talent in 2010 at Lake Tahoe. I consider it one of the most beautiful musical experiences I've had in the business. Rest In Peace. You are missed.

[jennifer]

This arrangement was written by Grammy & Emmy-winning Hollywood TV & film score composer-arranger Nan Schwartz. You will never hear a better arrangement ( written orchestration) of this great American classic song. This is beautiful, sensuous, magnificent and deeply emotional. Its rich with harmonic textures, soaring melodic expression, and musical sophistication. I only hope Natalie is listening to this in heaven with her father Nat 'King' Cole.

[vivianrossignon]

What a beautiful beautiful girl! I miss her but her voice us still here. Loved this version of rainy day

[nadeemathar]

I feel that this is the best rendition of Here's That Rainy Day I ever listened to.

[richardcondon]

Talk about bred in the bone. Nat did this, she heard it enough and matched him for effect. What a wonderful lady.

[louharinarayanan]

My Dad played upright bass all of his life with swing and jazz….He passed 3 years ago but this was his favorite song ❤️

[cateclism]

Not only was Natalie a remarkable talent, but she was gorgeous as well!

[andreasbrune]

Big compliments at this point to the video creator for the excellent illustration. Since I am currently preparing my own production of this "standard" (new instrumental and arrangement interpretation), I came across this magical visual composition. It impresses with sensitive imagery and skilful timing. Great respect for this creative visual implementation of this piece of music!

[rrfirefly]

Where's that worn-out wish that I threw aside?
The video is a poignant tribute to the great Natalie Cole. Very beautifully created.

[toniedwards]

So sad her dad didn't get to see her perform. Beautiful vocals

[trinity]

@5:00 proving in one lifetime there can only be one Natalie Cole..

[politicalpartyagnostic]

My first time hearing this. I am stunned. This is breathtakingly beautiful.

[fasstrack]

This is almost overwhelming. So sad for Natalie. I've been playing this song for years as an instrumental and with singers. But I have never been moved like this before. She was very, very special...

[fasbc]

RIP, dear Natalie. The sky cries over your passing.

[polkmusic]

Wow. That was so gorgeous. The arrangement was just heavenly.

[marcusward]

This was done so beautifully from Natalie's voice to the monster orchestral arrangement. It is the best I've heard. No disrespect to the greats who did it before Natalie including her dad. In my opinion, this was as close to perfection as we imperfect humans can come!

[mw]

I just cry and cry listening to this. One of my mom's favs and she has since passed. Natalie's voice - so beautiful and the arrangement goes without saying.

[Bochanable]

How has her talent become so under appreciated. Even after Winning the coveted Grammy Album of the Year, The Grammys failed to honor her transitioning properly.

[Gordonsmusic]

Natalie's voice is one of the best ever. Her interpretation of her songs were always genuine and touching.

[MarkBlackburnWPG]

Natalie Cole – Here's That Rainy Day
Nat's little girl grew up wishing her father had recorded Here's That Rainy Day – one of her lifelong favorites. She made up for it with what I consider the definitive recording – for her last great album of standards – a Grammy-winner for arranger Nan Schwartz (whose parents recorded with Sinatra).

First offering at YouTube this night has a 'review' posted “2 years ago” by my namesake:

Has it really been 12 years? September 2008 I posted an Amazon review for Natalie's "Still Unforgettable" CD that included this note to friends:

Do me a favor, would you? When you get this CD, go straight for track 8 - "Here's That Rainy Day, " one of the two best songs written by Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen -- the other is "But Beautiful" - the track that follows this one. Just leave your CD running from there . . . for what may be the BEST sequence of several songs on the album -- though every one of these is brilliant, and each arrangement sparkles with subtle, delightful differences.

All my life I've been waiting to hear (what I would declare) the 'best-ever' version of Here's That Rainy Day. Up until now my favorite has always been Sinatra's reading -- to a magnificent Gordon Jenkins' arrangement. This one, dare I say, surpasses Frank's - filling my heart with joy!

Absolutely note-perfect in every way: Natalie's slow and gentle, almost rubato, out-of-tempo, take on "Rainy Day" breathes new life into every word of Johnny Burke's poignant, two-stanza masterpiece. And the arrangement [is] by Nan Schwartz . . . who gets my vote as "Best New Arranger" [2008]. Hope she helps Natalie win another Grammy! [And as it turned out, Nan did just that. ] Thanks for sharing RoundMidnightTV. Celebrated this day at [search] " Great Melody, Great Lyric, Great Rendition, Songwriting Workshop, Harmony Central "