The Searchers "What Have They Done to the Rain" 1964

[rastafarievers]

always loved this

[Lostchord1000]

The Byrds are generally credited with inventing folk-rock, with Mr Tambourine Man, but here are The Searchers one year before the Byrds with (almost) a folk-rock song! Alright...it's hardly rock, but they deserve more credit than is generally given.

[drrjim]

Those Burns guitars were the ugliest instruments ever made....... and that Bison bass should be against the law !

[apingos1]

yes, these guys were polished. Excellent harmonies.

[Sharosich45]

i love this song - played it in guitar club in the 70's ...

[TheTomhamilton8]

a great folksong

[edamse]

I am going to their concert on the 17 Februari 2012. Kedron Wavel at Chermside -Australia.

Can't wait. Love their music. :))

[SuperWigwambam]

someone mentioned the beatles...not a patch on this band, the fortunes or the blue jeans, neither the tremeloes...beatles? right place right time..end of!

[mikeberkowitz]

Malvina Reynold's (the song's writer who also did "Little Boxes" and "Morningtown" lives in Berkeley and is still very active in trying to make this world a better place . . . just like her mom!

[akintop]

Could the guy wearing the trench coat in the audience be Eric Burdon of the Animals? I see some resemblance.

[donnaforena]

Looking through their faces, the audience felt the message of the song.

[TIM1948]

I think the song was written in the 1950's and people were scared of fallout from all the nuclear testing at the time.

[mickeymousebiker1]

@TIM1948 I believe you are correct. I recall a lot of anti-nuclear sentiment in England during the late 1950s/early 1960s. It was the first time I had ever seen a "peace symbol." This is a splendid song all-around. The strings at the end are the perfect ending.

[Poopingbotham]

Their best song, in my opinion

[dannidex]

Epstein hosted a segment on Hullabaloo where he would introduce British acts. My guess is this from one of those segments and no he never managed The Searchers

[ajay999999]

Was Epstien their manager as well?

[Poopingbotham]

@ajay999999 Yes!

[ajay999999]

@Poopingbotham Some people say no on this thread

[Poopingbotham]

@ajay999999 Actually, I'm not so sure now, but he did manage a number of Merseyside beat groups, not just the Beatles

[robertdamico1]

This song tugs at my heart. I only wish I was 15 again!

[skipper8257]

I saw them do this song on Ready-Steady-Go out of England. very nice song.

[HALOWAP]

Their tragedy was.. the existence of the Beatles.. but . the perfect number two they were! And clothed as gentlemen!!

[redsfanstu]

Yes, Malvina wrote this beautiful tune, BUT, The Searchers crossed the T's and dotted the I in "What Have They Done To The Rain?", a great British Beat Group performing an equally great song, I've said it before in other comments concerning this 2nd best band from Liverpool, these guys were just good! BCPM thanks for the upload, YT thanks 4 the space, Chris& Tony RIP!

[ChrisCurtisFan]

@redsfanstu Chris talks about how they got this song in the BBC Sessions -- Obviously, you are a fan and a friend of mine here on YT!  Thank you for loving them and for the kind words! I wish more of their music had made it to the US side of the big pond.

[jrgboy]

@redsfanstu The Searchers were a great group but unlike The Beatles, Stones & Hollies most of their singles were covers, Chris Curtis wrote some good tunes, though he did say 'He's got no Love' was ripped from The Stones 'The Last Time'.

[maggie2go]

Sometimes it does not need big notes, dramatic melodies and oversinging to touch the audiences. This is a great song perfectly done by the Searchers.

[skinnypete1234]

What's with the dude at 1:15? He looks like he's up to no good.

[fab4fan4ever64]

@skinnypete1234 That "dude" is Brian Epstein, the Beatles' Manager... I don't know why he is in the video, though.

[skinnypete1234]

@fab4fan4ever64 Thanks! Pretty oddly placed cameo.

[TheColts99]

The Searchers Were Probly The Closest Band To Being The Beatles!

[johnbarry1965]

soundwise a huge influence on the Byrds.

[kickassfan]

aww so sweet,thanxs,wish this was back again

[Promoagent]

Loved this one since I was a kid it brings back all those 60s memories glad I was around then to enjoy it, shame about todays so called music though

[petereuropa]

The Seachers - this POP-group is just awesome!

[rorigiles]

Wonderful wonderful Searchers. The best band out of Merseyside.

[Stretchmancando]

Let the rain fall on your lame cordless crap!

[Owdfolkie]

Aah! The Burns Double Six... I've got one of those!

[neelie53]

This is a lovely song,never seen a group before with such a good looking line up,all four are gorgeous,and Frank and John still looking good now.

Such a shame Mike still not with them.

[Strawberry7Lynn]

One of their best songs

[wookyhollow]

Better than the Joan Baez version.

[neelie53]

Lovely song, Searchers at their best again.

Thank You.

[frizzlefrap]

hey brits ..... how is it living there? .... just curious

[goldgish]

Sorry, but who is Malvina Reynolds,and your point is !

[caverndaze]

I love this song - the harmonies are so nice and Mike Pender's voice is superb

[tragicmaverick]

This song is by Malvina Reynolds, not The Searchers.

[BobbyColePopMusic]

@tragicmaverick Malvina wrote it yes, but the Searchers had some fame with the song.

[c64c64c64]

@BobbyColePopMusic exactly malvina reynolds was just an insignificant old woman..this song needed electric guitars

[spacepatrolman]

@BobbyColePopMusic in the bbc interviews chris curtiss takes pains to point out that malvina reynolds wrote it and he kept it under wraps until the right moment for releasing it [then mariane faithful did it but i dont know if anybody cared about her version ]

[ShireGeordie]

@BobbyColePopMusic

They look like the Searcher! My eyes must be going.

[ChrisCurtisFan]

@tragicmaverick The Searchers brought this song to AM Radio! Malvina Reynolds could not do that. For a song to be successful, you need a good songwriter, and some good singers. The Searchers did an excellent job with Malvina Reynolds composition.

[tragicmaverick]

@ChrisCurtisFan I wasn't questioning their work covering her song at all. I was just hoping to acknowledge that they didn't write the original song, as there was no credit anywhere on this video. No insult intended- they did a great job. But I think she should be recognized at least. :]

[Gatsby1930]

I remember when this song first came out, I was in high school. I knew I "HAD" to get a copy. This is one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. I'm an extremely big Beatles fan, having seen them twice, in concert, at Shea Stadium. However, I sincerely doubt if The Beatles could have done a better job. The Searchers hit this one, "dead on!"

[BobbyColePopMusic]

@Gatsby1930 You might be right on this one...This is a perfect song.

[jondalar410]

@Gatsby1930 john lennon said on several occasions that the searchers were one of his favorite bands. i agree!!

[usmc1088]

@Gatsby1930 That may very well be what Brian Epstein was thinking at 1:20!

[spacepatrolman]

@Gatsby1930 sid bernstein put the beatles in carneige hall [ the audiance jumped on their seats they wouldnt allow rock groups there until 69 when they had chicago] and brought them to shea stadium in an armored truck the electric sign read the rascals are coming someone said turn that sign off he said yea sure then told an imaginary person to turn it off .

[JanW666]

@Gatsby1930 .........for sure!!!  This was and is my absolute fave rave from The Searchers.........happy memories!!!

[huskyjerk]

@Gatsby1930 You saw the Beatles live? How lucky you are! Tell me more about those experiences? Did you try to get Ed Sullivan Show tickets for the Beatles shows there?

[subsyboy]

great song! great band! remember seeing them at the rec you were there but no working so you were paying for your drinks that night (i think)

[1955c]

horror hotel what were they tragically sad

[carver812002]

We saw the group in Upper Hutt New Zealand back in 2009, they gave free performance for charity, man they brought a lump to my throat, what would it be like to be back in 1964

[gibb253]

Ah, those Burns guitars.....

[neelie53]

Going to see Searchers next March,still one of the best groups of the 60's.

[yoyohomey]

WHERE

[gazzymodo]

Brian epstein thinks: "how did i let these guys get away ? they should be part of my stable & signed to Parlophone, dash it !!" Absolute perfection ! Song & Band made for eachother... 5 *****

[devilwoman52]

How did Brian Epstein fit into this video, I wonder. But, for sure, he was thinking he should have signed them on. These guys were every bit as good as The Beatles. And I am a huge Beatles Fan, saw them in concert, own every US released album, plus some CDs. The Searchers had such amazing harmonies, and Chris Curtis drum skill superior to anybody I've ever heard..

[9erfandex]

@devilwoman52 Word has it that Epstein at Lennon's insistence tried to sign them, but The Searchers supposedly turned him down due to their unwillingness to play second fiddle to The Beatles! Ripley's Believe It Or Not!

[garymichaelshannon]

@devilwoman52 Epstein used to introduce segments of "Shindig"..they were taped in England and broadcast on the American TV show. This was one of those clips.

[whatever30345]

I just wish this hadn't needed to be lip-synched. (This is obvious from one of the British TV music shows of the time, because the U.S.'s "Hullabaloo" & "Shindig!" would have and so would have the German "Beat Beat Beat" show let the Searchers perform this actually 'live').

[elaine12349]

Epstein was seeing dollar signs!!

[wdjgr]

I was 13 when this was released, The Searchers at their harmonious melodic best , second only to the Beatles in those days.

[rich88b]

Beautiful harmonies... The Searchers at their best!