Marvin Rainwater, "That's When I'll Stop Loving You" c/w "Love Me Baby (Like There's No Tomorrow)," M-G-M K 12273 (rel. 3/1959)
We've covered the story of Marvin Rainwater here in the past, alongside several of his fine singles for M-G-M Records. The label embraced him as their rock 'n' roll mainstay alongside Conway Twitty, after sampling a wide swath of regional talent after the Elvis shockwaves hit popular music. Both artists kept the flame alive as rock 'n' roll receded for a few years. Rainwater was the first to leave the label; he developed health issues that he felt diminished his range as a vocalist.
Rainwater
still pursued the rockabilly sound after its commercial viability was gone. He
did it so well that it’s hard to call him just a country artist. Like Elvis
Presley, he blurred the boundaries of popular music.
“Love Me Baby (Like There’s no Tomorrow”) is a sequel
to his #1 UK hit “Whole Lotta Woman” (#60 in the US). As with that record,
Rainwater’s vocal is double-tracked, and top Nashville cats, including
guitarist Grady Martin and pianist Floyd Cramer, add to the punch of this
appealing song and performance. Like Johnny Cash, Rainwater has an unmistakable
voice and sense of song structure.
The double vocal avoided the gruesome doom of the Dread Chorus: that cluster of session singers guaranteed to take the edge off any rock 'n' roll recording. Rainwater preferred this tough, simple sound and the label respected his wishes most of the time. The sound of 1956 and '57 continues on in this gritty, easy-going mover.
M-G-M wasted no time getting this out on the market. It and its B-side were recorded in Nashville on February 12, 1959 and the single was in the shops before the end of March.
M-G-M wasted no time getting this out on the market. It and its B-side were recorded in Nashville on February 12, 1959 and the single was in the shops before the end of March.
You can't get much higher praise than "attractive coupler."
Add to that "delighter" and "charmer."
Great though “Love Me Baby” is, it is met or exceeded by its
flipside “That’s When I’ll Stop Lovin’ You.” Here’s one of the most appealing
country songs of the period. Again, a Cash comparison is apt. You can almost
hear Johnny C. and the Tennessee Two doing this song. This is not to imply
imitation. This is as good as anything Cash ever recorded.
There’s a folkish air to this kindly ode to devoted love, with its composer's voice humble and most appealing. A bare-bones arrangement, led by Grady Martin’s rolling guitar, stresses the song’s timeless beauty. This is a perfect record. Everything’s there that needs to be there. No decoration, no sweetening. Anything more would break the spell. This is my favorite of Marvin Rainwater’s recordings and it deserves to be better-known and loved.
There’s a folkish air to this kindly ode to devoted love, with its composer's voice humble and most appealing. A bare-bones arrangement, led by Grady Martin’s rolling guitar, stresses the song’s timeless beauty. This is a perfect record. Everything’s there that needs to be there. No decoration, no sweetening. Anything more would break the spell. This is my favorite of Marvin Rainwater’s recordings and it deserves to be better-known and loved.
Rainwater split with M-G-M in late 1960 and hooked up with Link Wray and his Wray-Men. They produced a short series of wild, grungy platters including the delightful "Tough Top Cat" and "Boo Hoo." These were underground music in 1961; no deejay would play them and most of the public didn't know of their existence. Rainwater descended to a succession of self-published regional singles. His star had fallen from the pop firmament, and despite his health issues (the onset of throat cancer, which began as callouses on his larynx), he continued to create new music.
He benefitted from the rockabilly revival in the UK, where he made some appearances and performed for a fanbase that still revered his classic singles. He passed on in 2013, having been inducted into The Rockabilly Hall of Fame and seen his best recordings issued on a Bear Family CD box-set which remains in print.
He benefitted from the rockabilly revival in the UK, where he made some appearances and performed for a fanbase that still revered his classic singles. He passed on in 2013, having been inducted into The Rockabilly Hall of Fame and seen his best recordings issued on a Bear Family CD box-set which remains in print.
Tomorrow: Surf guitar ace Johnny Fortune heard the early Beatles and flipped his wig! He released a series of private-press vocals in the Fab Four style, all featuring his stellar guitar and layered harmonies. We'll hear my favorite of his efforts in this vein, via a seldom-encounted Current Records release from 1965.
Two great records! Rainwater had such a mellifluous voice. Shame he had his 1960s throat troubles (and then his 1970s throat cancer) and had to semi-retire. Even with those health troubles, seems like he had an otherwise good life—doesn't happen too often on Frank's Jukebox.
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