The Boomtown Rats - Rain (7" Version)

[@Pete_R63]

The real song "Dave" was so powerful and when I heard they changed it to this, it seemed kind of stupid. Love the Rats and Sir Bob's solo work. Brings back so many memories from '79 into the early 80s.

[@retrohound6546]

While I understand the meaning behind "Dave", I feel "Rain" has more universal appeal for single release in the US. In the end, it didn't matter without record company promotion. I think I'm in the minority on this one!

[@davejackson8455]

The record makes little sense to UK observers as Rain. Geldof was singing to his mate Dave McHale who had lost his girlfriend to a drugs overdose, but the record company thought this was too ‘gay’. So this is one of those instances when the record company was wrong! In my opinion, of course. Thanks for posting.

[@retrohound6546]

I welcome this discussion... While I agree with you from an artistic view, I feel the record company made the right decision from purely a commercial view (which I can guarantee all they were thinking about was $$$). Of course, in the end the record didn't chart so from a commercial perspective and with the benefit of hindsight it probably wouldn't have mattered either way. But at least we get two versions! Thanks for stopping by.

[@IlarioSchanzer]

🌸 Very Very Beautiful 🌸