Walking In The Rain
written & performed by Rufus Thomas, Jr.
recorded at the Memphis Recording Service, 706 Union Ave., Memphis, TN, Sunday, 8 March 1953
released later that month as Sun 181
Released as the b-side of "(The Answer to Hound Dog) Bear Cat," this single holds a special place in my heart.
As a young collector, I was extremely green when it came to what to look for but, I knew the if it was on Sun, and it didn't say Jerry Lee Lewis or Johnny Cash, it might be something worth picking up... if the price was right. For example, a quarter a piece was a "right price." That was how much I paid for the first Rufus Thomas record, not on Stax, that I found out "in the wilds." But, that record is not the subject of this video.
My first copy of Sun 181 was not the 45 shown and heard here. My first copy was the first Sun 78 that I ever owned. I was 15 and, I think, I paid $5 for it at the flea market within walking distance from me. At that time, before the internet, I never thought I was pay so much for a record, especially one that normally breaks so easily. I played both sides. I liked "Bear Cat." I LOVED "Walking In The Rain."
The rhythm plods along with those blistering licks from Joe Hill Louis, like exclamation points at the end of each mournful sentence. It haunts me to this day. So much so, that, if asked to name my top-10 favorite records recorded at 706 Union... this song is always in my top-10, if not top-5. I think it is that good.
Like most things that one holds on to too tightly, I wanted to add an image of this record to a collage of music related images. I carefully packed it in my backpack, carefully toted it to school, and I made several photocopies of this side of the record... at a quarter a sheet. I carefully packed it back and forgot about it for several days. Friday afternoon, during 5 period, I realized that it was still in my backpack! As you may guess, that was the last time I say my first copy of Sun 181 in one piece.
27 years later, I finally pulled the trigger on a replacement copy, pressed on that more durable 45 RPM. The format is different but, the stylus used for this transfer is the same. Due to being mastered for a radio station transcription stylus, all Sun singles (through, at least, Sun 228) play better with a 3 mil stylus.
Rufus Thomas, Jr. - vocal and piano*
Albert Williams - piano*
Joe Hill Louis - guitar
Houston Stokes - drums
Tuff Green - bass
* Sam Phillips claims it is Williams on piano but, Thomas claims he played on this session.
NOTE: The material featured in this video is from a non digital, analog source and of "substandard" quality. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.