It never rains in California by Rick (1970's Albert Hammond radio hit)

I'm playing a song called "It never rains in Southern California", by Albert Hammond . Believe it or not, I used to hate this song when I was a kid. Of course, ironically, I hated music when I was a kid. Anyway, Albert Hammond's rhyming of "It never rains in California" and "girl, don't they warn ya" really bothered me back then. This song just grew on me later in life I guess, because I've played it at live shows for hundreds of people by now. Plus, I hadn't been on too many West-bound 747's when I was eight years old. Now I love this song! I wish my friend Greg in North Carolina could see this video.

In this video, I'm actually playing my Yamaha Dtxplorer electronic drums with my feet in this song, which makes it even trickier to sing, play guitar, remember the words, AND play drums. And the reason I'm using 2 microphones is because the 2nd mic is set up with my Digitech Vocalist 4 harmony effects pedal.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• it
• never
• rains
• in
• southern
• california
• 1970's
• 70's
• oldies
• acoustic
• guitar
• rock
• yamaha
• electronic
• drums
• digitech
• vocalist
• pedal
• top
• 40
• song

[FlyingPhil0508]

Thanks for doing this...I should go to my basement to open my oooold guitar case to grab my electric guitar and try to play again...Man, I haven't played for 30 years! Your video impressed me...I shouldn't stop playing since 1980.

[mrcross2020]

@FlyingPhil0508 Don't feel bad, brother! I took off almost 15 years and wish I hadn't. I was getting to where I'd only play for a few minutes every few months. But when I started playing, I used to do 6-8 hours a day, but then I got a job, an apt, girlfriend, etc. You are most definitely not alone! Grab your guitar man!

[FlyingPhil0508]

Lovely song...show us how to play this on guitar...the drum is blocking them. Nice one.

[mrcross2020]

@FlyingPhil0508 Thanks very much for the compliments. The entire song is just B minor, E, and A, repeated over and over. Great, great song, and I'm glad you like it.

[WhimsicalMayhem]

5 stars. This is really awesome.

Quite impressive. Really great job, on a very cool song. Is that a vocal harmonizer, you are using on the second microphone?

[mrcross2020]

Hi John. Yes, I'm using the Digitech Vocalist 4 harmony effects pedal on that second microphone when I start singing the chorus. But man, what a challenge it was playing guitar, singing, remembering lyrics, trying to hit notes, trying to stay on key, remembering to use the 2nd mic for the chorus, and drumming with my feet! THAT'S why I didn't use the 2nd microphone on the chorus the first time..... I had too much to do and forgot! Anyways, great to hear from you, and thanks for the kind words!

[iio58]

Hey Rick. Just commented your Craclin Rosie video so looked at some more. I'm loving your work! You have another subscriber in me for sure. I love this song - so much so, I have a great live version of it by Mr. Manillow (of all people) on my phone. Brilliant. Another good job buddy!

[antman90254]

Rick,

Brilliant! First saw your videos when I was doing a search for Cracklin Rosie by a particular ND cover band (Fantastic Diamond). I gotta say, your Cracklin Rosie is outstanding!! My sister also follows you now -- she liked the part in the Rosie video where you said you were going to eat your guitar, plugged in, in the bathtub! Hey, how bout giving "Chevy Van" a try ("she woke up and took me by the hand, we made love in my chevy van, blah, blah, blah"). Cheers mate!!

[FlyingPhil0508]

Wonderful, great job!

[papejazzer]

GREAT Job on this song!!!

Takes Me back a ways!!!

Cool the way You are playing the drums!!!

Peace.

Michael