"Rainin' in My Heart" is a song written by James Moore (aka

Slim Harpo Slim Harpo (born Isiah Moore or James Isaac Moore; February 11, 1924 – January 31, 1970)Martin Hawkins, "Slim Harpo at 100", ''Blues & Rhythm'', No.384, June 2024, p.23 was an American blues musician, a leading exponent of the swamp blues styl ...

) and Jerry West (an alias used by J. D. "Jay" Miller) and performed by Harpo. It reached number 17 on the U.S. R&B chart and number 34 on the U.S. pop chart in 1961. It was featured on his 1961 album ''Slim Harpo Sings "Raining in My Heart..."'' It is not to be confused with the similarly titled

Buddy Holly Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), known as Buddy Holly, was an American singer, songwriter, and musician who was a central and pioneering figure of rock and roll. He was born to a musical family in Lubbock, Texa ...

song, " Raining in My Heart".

Other charting versions

Hank Williams Jr. Randall Hank Williams (born May 26, 1949), known professionally as Hank Williams Jr. or Bocephus, is an American singer-songwriter and musician. His musical style has been described as a blend of rock, blues, and country. He is the son of count ...

featuring The Mike Curb Congregation released a version of the song as a single in 1971 which reached number 2 on the Canadian country chart, number 3 on the U.S. country chart, and number 108 on the U.S. pop chart. * Jo-El Sonnier released a version of the song as a single in 1989 which reached number 35 on the U.S. country chart.

Other versions

Dorsey Burnette Dorsey William Burnett Jr. (December 28, 1932 – August 19, 1979) was an American early rockabilly singer. With his younger brother Johnny Burnette and a friend named Paul Burlison, he was a founding member of The Rock and Roll Trio. He is ...

released a version of the song entitled "Rainin'" as a single in 1961, but it did not chart. *

Pretty Things Pretty Things were an English Rock music, rock band formed in September 1963 in Sidcup, Kent, taking their name from Bo Diddley's 1955 song "Pretty Thing", and active in their first incarnation until 1971. They released five studio albums, i ...

released a version of the song on their 1965 album '' Get the Picture?'' *

Ray Anthony Ray Anthony (born Raymond Antonini; January 20, 1922) is an American retired bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter and actor. He is the last living member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Biography Anthony was born to an Italian family in Bentleyv ...

released a version of the song on his 1968 album ''Ray Anthony Now''. * Ironing Board Sam released a version of the song as a single in 1968, but it did not chart. * Living Guitars released a version of the song on their 1971 album ''"For the Good Times" & Other Country Favorites''. *

Tom Jones Tom Jones may refer to: Arts and entertainment *Tom Jones (singer) (born 1940), Welsh singer *Tom Jones (writer) (1928–2023), American librettist and lyricist *''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', a novel by Henry Fielding published in 1 ...

released a version of the song on his 1974 album ''Somethin' 'Bout You Baby I Like''. * Ken Goodwin released a version of the song on his 1976 album ''Memories''. *

Neil Young Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian and American singer-songwriter. After embarking on a music career in Winnipeg in the 1960s, Young moved to Los Angeles, forming the folk rock group Buffalo Springfield. Since the begi ...

and The Shocking Pinks released a version of the song on their 1983 album '' Everybody's Rockin'''. *

Lazy Lester Leslie Johnson (June 20, 1933 – August 22, 2018), known as Lazy Lester, was an American blues musician who sang and played the harmonica and guitar. In a career spanning the 1950s to 2018, he pioneered swamp blues, and also played harmonic ...

released a version of the song on his 1988 album ''Harp & Soul''. *

The Fabulous Thunderbirds The Fabulous Thunderbirds is an American blues rock band formed in 1974. Singer Kim Wilson is the only constant member through the band's entire history. Their 1986 album ''Tuff Enuff'' sold over a million copies, and spawned two minor hit singl ...

released a version of the song on their 1989 album ''

Powerful Stuff ''Powerful Stuff'' is a 1989 studio album by Texas based blues rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds. It was recorded in Memphis and produced by Terry Manning. It was the last studio album to feature Jimmie Vaughan before leaving for a solo care ...

''. *

James Cotton James Henry Cotton (July 1, 1935 – March 16, 2017) was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, who performed and recorded with many fellow blues artists and with his own band. He also played drums early in his career. ...

featuring C.J. Chenier released a version of the song on Cotton's 2004 album ''Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes''. Note:

Al Green Albert Leornes Greene (born April 13, 1946), known professionally as Al Green, is an American singer, songwriter, pastor and record producer. He is best known for recording a series of soul hit singles in the early 1970s, including " Tired of ...

co-wrote and recorded a song called "Rainin' in My Heart" on his 2003 album, '' I Can't Stop'' (and subsequently recorded as a duet with

Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and activist. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restr ...

on Nelson's 2004 album, '' Outlaws and Angels''). Certain song databases have mistakenly classified Green's song as a cover of Slim Harpo's "Rainin' in My Heart", written by James Moore (aka Slim Harpo) and Jerry West (aka J.D. Miller). The lyrics of the two songs are completely unrelated except for the title.

References

1961 songs 1961 singles 1968 singles 1970 singles 1989 singles Songs written by Slim Harpo Slim Harpo songs Hank Williams Jr. songs Jo-El Sonnier songs Pretty Things songs Tom Jones (singer) songs Neil Young songs Song recordings produced by Elliot Mazer Song recordings produced by Neil Young MGM Records singles Dot Records singles Excello Records singles Blues songs {{1960s-single-stub