Artist	Song
Carpenters	Rainy Days and Mondays
from Carpenters (1998)
Rihanna	Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z)
from Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded (2008)
Billie Holiday	Stormy Weather
from Lady in Autumn - The Best of the Verve Years (1991)
Prince & The Revolution	Purple Rain
from Purple Rain (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) (2007)
James Taylor	Fire and Rain
from James Taylor: Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (2009)
Simon & Garfunkel	Bridge Over Troubled Water
from The Best of Simon & Garfunkel (1999)
Sinéad O'Connor	Nothing Compares 2 U
from I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (Special Edition) [Remastered] (2009)
Leonard Cohen	Suzanne
from Songs of Leonard Cohen (2007)
Suzanne Vega & D.N.A.	Tom's Diner
from Retrospective: The Best of Suzanne Vega (2003)
The Rolling Stones	You Can't Always Get What You Want
from Let It Bleed (2005)
Maroon 5	Sunday Morning
from Songs About Jane (2007)
Oasis	Live Forever
from Definitely Maybe (2008)
Pearl Jam	Better Man
from Vitalogy (1994)
R.E.M.	Everybody Hurts
from Automatic for the People (2005)
Bob Dylan	Shelter from the Storm
from The Essential Bob Dylan (2000)
The Doors	Riders On the Storm
from The Very Best of the Doors (Bonus Track Version) (2007)
Bill Withers	Ain't No Sunshine
from The Best of Bill Withers - Lean on Me (2000)
Dido	Thank You
from No Angel (1999)
Eurythmics	Here Comes the Rain Again
from Eurythmics: Ultimate Collection (Remastered) (2005)
Guns N' Roses	November Rain
from Use Your Illusion I (1991)
Eagles	Desperado
from Desperado (2006)
TLC	Waterfalls
from CrazySexyCool (1993)
Fleetwood Mac	Landslide
from Fleetwood Mac (2009)
Sade	By Your Side
from Lovers Rock (2000)
Coldplay	Trouble
from Trouble (B-Sides) - EP (2003)
James Blunt	Tears and Rain
from Back to Bedlam (2005)
U2	Running to Stand Still
from The Joshua Tree (2007)
Creedence Clearwater Revival	Who'll Stop the Rain
from Chronicle: 20 Greatest Hits (2006)
Led Zeppelin	Fool In the Rain
from The Complete Led Zeppelin (Remastered) (2007)
Alanis Morissette	Uninvited
from City of Angels (Music from the Motion Picture) (2009)
Annie Lennox	Why
from The Annie Lennox Collection (2009)
Elton John	Levon
from Madman Across the Water (1995)
Cat Stevens	The Wind
from The Very Best of Cat Stevens (2000)
Jack Johnson	Banana Pancakes
from In Between Dreams (Bonus Track Version) (2005)
Nelly Furtado	I'm Like a Bird
from Whoa, Nelly! (2000)
John Mayer	Say
from Continuum (Special Edition) (2008)
Ryan Adams	Wonderwall
from Love Is Hell (2004)
James Morrison	Please Don't Stop the Rain
from Songs for You, Truths for Me (2008)
Toad the Wet Sprocket	Windmills
from Dulcinea (1994)
Tracy Chapman	Fast Car
from Tracy Chapman (2005)
Sarah McLachlan	Angel
from Closer - The Best of Sarah McLachlan (Deluxe Version) (2008)
Norah Jones	Come Away With Me
from Come Away With Me (2002)
Edie Brickell	Stay Awhile
from Picture Perfect Morning (1994)
Fiona Apple	Extraordinary Machine
from Extraordinary Machine (2005)
Joni Mitchell	River
from Songs of a Prairie Girl (2005)
Travis	Why Does It Always Rain On Me?
from Singles (2009)
Ella Fitzgerald	Over the Rainbow
from Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook (2001)
Willie Nelson	The Rainbow Connection
from Rainbow Connection (2001)
Johnny Cash	Hurt
from American IV: Man Comes Around (2010)
Frank Sinatra	Here's That Rainy Day
from No One Cares (2002)
Ray Charles	Come Rain or Come Shine
from The Genius of Ray Charles (2005)
David Ruffin	Rainy Night In Georgia
from The Unreleased Album (2004)
Eddie Kendricks	Date With the Rain
from The Eddie Kendricks Collection, Vol. 1 (2005)
Otis Redding	You Don't Miss Your Water
from Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul [Collector's Edition] (2008)
Ann Peebles	I Can't Stand the Rain
from Full Time Love (1992)
Love Unlimited	Walkin' In the Rain With the One I Love
from The Best of Love Unlimited (1997)
Nina Simone	You Can Sing a Rainbow
from Folksy Nina (2005)
Corinne Bailey Rae	Another Rainy Day
from Corinne Bailey Rae (2007)
Lenny Kravitz	I Love the Rain
from It Is Time for a Love Revolution (2008)
Sam Cooke	Lost and Lookin'
from The Man Who Invented Soul (2000)
Helen Reddy	Long Time Looking
from No Way to Treat a Lady (2006)
Cyndi Lauper featuring Sarah McLachlan	Time After Time
from The Body Acoustic (2005)
Van Morrison	In the Garden
from Still On Top - The Greatest Hits (Deluxe Version) (2007)
The Beta Band	Dry the Rain
from Music - The Best of the Beta Band (2005)
Peter Gabriel	I Think It’s Going to Rain Today
from Scratch My Back (Special Edition) (2010)
Fleetwood Mac	Never Going Back Again
from Rumours (2004)
Blind Faith	Can't Find My Way Home
from 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Steve Winwood (1999)
Harry Nilsson	Over the Rainbow
from A Little Touch of Schmilsson In the Night (2006)
Carole King	So Far Away
from Tapestry (1998)
Dennis Wilson	Rainbows
from Pacific Ocean Blue & Bambu (Deluxe Legacy Edition) (2008)
Jimmie Spheeris	The Nest
from Isle of View (1999)
Carpenters	Rainy Days and Mondays
from Carpenters (1998)
Rihanna	Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z)
from Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded (2008)
Billie Holiday	Stormy Weather
from Lady in Autumn - The Best of the Verve Years (1991)
Prince & The Revolution	Purple Rain
from Purple Rain (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) (2007)
James Taylor	Fire and Rain
from James Taylor: Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (2009)
Simon & Garfunkel	Bridge Over Troubled Water
from The Best of Simon & Garfunkel (1999)
Sinéad O'Connor	Nothing Compares 2 U
from I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (Special Edition) [Remastered] (2009)
Leonard Cohen	Suzanne
from Songs of Leonard Cohen (2007)
Suzanne Vega & D.N.A.	Tom's Diner
from Retrospective: The Best of Suzanne Vega (2003)
The Rolling Stones	You Can't Always Get What You Want
from Let It Bleed (2005)
Maroon 5	Sunday Morning
from Songs About Jane (2007)
Oasis	Live Forever
from Definitely Maybe (2008)
Pearl Jam	Better Man
from Vitalogy (1994)
R.E.M.	Everybody Hurts
from Automatic for the People (2005)
Bob Dylan	Shelter from the Storm
from The Essential Bob Dylan (2000)
The Doors	Riders On the Storm
from The Very Best of the Doors (Bonus Track Version) (2007)
Bill Withers	Ain't No Sunshine
from The Best of Bill Withers - Lean on Me (2000)
Dido	Thank You
from No Angel (1999)
Eurythmics	Here Comes the Rain Again
from Eurythmics: Ultimate Collection (Remastered) (2005)
Guns N' Roses	November Rain
from Use Your Illusion I (1991)
Eagles	Desperado
from Desperado (2006)
TLC	Waterfalls
from CrazySexyCool (1993)
Fleetwood Mac	Landslide
from Fleetwood Mac (2009)
Sade	By Your Side
from Lovers Rock (2000)
Coldplay	Trouble
from Trouble (B-Sides) - EP (2003)
James Blunt	Tears and Rain
from Back to Bedlam (2005)
U2	Running to Stand Still
from The Joshua Tree (2007)
Creedence Clearwater Revival	Who'll Stop the Rain
from Chronicle: 20 Greatest Hits (2006)
Led Zeppelin	Fool In the Rain
from The Complete Led Zeppelin (Remastered) (2007)
Alanis Morissette	Uninvited
from City of Angels (Music from the Motion Picture) (2009)
Annie Lennox	Why
from The Annie Lennox Collection (2009)
Elton John	Levon
from Madman Across the Water (1995)
Cat Stevens	The Wind
from The Very Best of Cat Stevens (2000)
Jack Johnson	Banana Pancakes
from In Between Dreams (Bonus Track Version) (2005)
Nelly Furtado	I'm Like a Bird
from Whoa, Nelly! (2000)
John Mayer	Say
from Continuum (Special Edition) (2008)
Ryan Adams	Wonderwall
from Love Is Hell (2004)
James Morrison	Please Don't Stop the Rain
from Songs for You, Truths for Me (2008)
Toad the Wet Sprocket	Windmills
from Dulcinea (1994)
Tracy Chapman	Fast Car
from Tracy Chapman (2005)
Sarah McLachlan	Angel
from Closer - The Best of Sarah McLachlan (Deluxe Version) (2008)
Norah Jones	Come Away With Me
from Come Away With Me (2002)
Edie Brickell	Stay Awhile
from Picture Perfect Morning (1994)
Fiona Apple	Extraordinary Machine
from Extraordinary Machine (2005)
Joni Mitchell	River
from Songs of a Prairie Girl (2005)
Travis	Why Does It Always Rain On Me?
from Singles (2009)
Ella Fitzgerald	Over the Rainbow
from Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook (2001)
Willie Nelson	The Rainbow Connection
from Rainbow Connection (2001)
Johnny Cash	Hurt
from American IV: Man Comes Around (2010)
Frank Sinatra	Here's That Rainy Day
from No One Cares (2002)
Ray Charles	Come Rain or Come Shine
from The Genius of Ray Charles (2005)
David Ruffin	Rainy Night In Georgia
from The Unreleased Album (2004)
Eddie Kendricks	Date With the Rain
from The Eddie Kendricks Collection, Vol. 1 (2005)
Otis Redding	You Don't Miss Your Water
from Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul [Collector's Edition] (2008)
Ann Peebles	I Can't Stand the Rain
from Full Time Love (1992)
Love Unlimited	Walkin' In the Rain With the One I Love
from The Best of Love Unlimited (1997)
Nina Simone	You Can Sing a Rainbow
from Folksy Nina (2012)
Corinne Bailey Rae	Another Rainy Day
from Corinne Bailey Rae (2007)
Lenny Kravitz	I Love the Rain
from It Is Time for a Love Revolution (2008)
Sam Cooke	Lost and Lookin'
from The Man Who Invented Soul (2000)
Helen Reddy	Long Time Looking
from No Way to Treat a Lady (2006)
Cyndi Lauper featuring Sarah McLachlan	Time After Time
from The Body Acoustic (2005)
Van Morrison	In the Garden
from Still On Top - The Greatest Hits (Deluxe Version) (2007)
The Beta Band	Dry the Rain
from Music - The Best of the Beta Band (2005)
Peter Gabriel	I Think It’s Going to Rain Today
from Scratch My Back (Special Edition) (2010)
Fleetwood Mac	Never Going Back Again
from Rumours (2004)
Blind Faith	Can't Find My Way Home
from 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Steve Winwood (1999)
Harry Nilsson	Over the Rainbow
from A Little Touch of Schmilsson In the Night (2006)
Carole King	So Far Away
from Tapestry (1998)
Dennis Wilson	Rainbows
from Pacific Ocean Blue & Bambu (Deluxe Legacy Edition) (2008)
Jimmie Spheeris	The Nest
from Isle of View (1999)
Carpenters	Rainy Days and Mondays
from Carpenters (1998)
Rihanna	Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z)
from Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded (2008)
Billie Holiday	Stormy Weather
from Lady in Autumn - The Best of the Verve Years (1991)
Prince & The Revolution	Purple Rain
from Purple Rain (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) (2007)
James Taylor	Fire and Rain
from James Taylor: Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (2009)
Simon & Garfunkel	Bridge Over Troubled Water
from The Best of Simon & Garfunkel (1999)
Sinéad O'Connor	Nothing Compares 2 U
from I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (Special Edition) [Remastered] (2009)
Leonard Cohen	Suzanne
from Songs of Leonard Cohen (2007)
Suzanne Vega & D.N.A.	Tom's Diner
from Retrospective: The Best of Suzanne Vega (2003)
The Rolling Stones	You Can't Always Get What You Want
from Let It Bleed (2005)
Maroon 5	Sunday Morning
from Songs About Jane (2007)
Oasis	Live Forever
from Definitely Maybe (2008)
Pearl Jam	Better Man
from Vitalogy (1994)
R.E.M.	Everybody Hurts
from Automatic for the People (2005)
Bob Dylan	Shelter from the Storm
from The Essential Bob Dylan (2000)
The Doors	Riders On the Storm
from The Very Best of the Doors (Bonus Track Version) (2007)
Bill Withers	Ain't No Sunshine
from The Best of Bill Withers - Lean on Me (2000)
Dido	Thank You
from No Angel (1999)
Eurythmics	Here Comes the Rain Again
from Eurythmics: Ultimate Collection (Remastered) (2005)
Guns N' Roses	November Rain
from Use Your Illusion I (1991)
Eagles	Desperado
from Desperado (2006)
TLC	Waterfalls
from CrazySexyCool (1993)
Fleetwood Mac	Landslide
from Fleetwood Mac (2009)
Sade	By Your Side
from Lovers Rock (2000)
Coldplay	Trouble
from Trouble (B-Sides) - EP (2003)
James Blunt	Tears and Rain
from Back to Bedlam (2005)
U2	Running to Stand Still
from The Joshua Tree (2007)
Creedence Clearwater Revival	Who'll Stop the Rain
from Chronicle: 20 Greatest Hits (2006)
Led Zeppelin	Fool In the Rain
from The Complete Led Zeppelin (Remastered) (2007)
Alanis Morissette	Uninvited
from City of Angels (Music from the Motion Picture) (2009)
Annie Lennox	Why
from The Annie Lennox Collection (2009)
Elton John	Levon
from Madman Across the Water (1995)
Cat Stevens	The Wind
from The Very Best of Cat Stevens (2000)
Jack Johnson	Banana Pancakes
from In Between Dreams (Bonus Track Version) (2005)
Nelly Furtado	I'm Like a Bird
from Whoa, Nelly! (2000)
John Mayer	Say
from Continuum (Special Edition) (2008)
Ryan Adams	Wonderwall
from Love Is Hell (2004)
James Morrison	Please Don't Stop the Rain
from Songs for You, Truths for Me (2008)
Toad the Wet Sprocket	Windmills
from Dulcinea (1994)
Tracy Chapman	Fast Car
from Tracy Chapman (2005)
Sarah McLachlan	Angel
from Closer - The Best of Sarah McLachlan (Deluxe Version) (2008)
Norah Jones	Come Away With Me
from Come Away With Me (2002)
Edie Brickell	Stay Awhile
from Picture Perfect Morning (1994)
Fiona Apple	Extraordinary Machine
from Extraordinary Machine (2005)
Joni Mitchell	River
from Songs of a Prairie Girl (2005)
Travis	Why Does It Always Rain On Me?
from Singles (2009)
Ella Fitzgerald	Over the Rainbow
from Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook (2001)
Willie Nelson	The Rainbow Connection
from Rainbow Connection (2001)
Johnny Cash	Hurt
from American IV: Man Comes Around (2010)
Frank Sinatra	Here's That Rainy Day
from No One Cares (2002)
Ray Charles	Come Rain or Come Shine
from The Genius of Ray Charles (2005)
David Ruffin	Rainy Night In Georgia
from The Unreleased Album (2004)
Eddie Kendricks	Date With the Rain
from The Eddie Kendricks Collection, Vol. 1 (2005)
Otis Redding	You Don't Miss Your Water
from Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul [Collector's Edition] (2008)
Ann Peebles	I Can't Stand the Rain
from Full Time Love (1992)
Love Unlimited	Walkin' In the Rain With the One I Love
from The Best of Love Unlimited (1997)
Nina Simone	You Can Sing a Rainbow
from Folksy Nina (2012)
Corinne Bailey Rae	Another Rainy Day
from Corinne Bailey Rae (2007)
Lenny Kravitz	I Love the Rain
from It Is Time for a Love Revolution (2008)
Sam Cooke	Lost and Lookin'
from The Man Who Invented Soul (2000)
Helen Reddy	Long Time Looking
from No Way to Treat a Lady (2006)
Cyndi Lauper featuring Sarah McLachlan	Time After Time
from The Body Acoustic (2005)
Van Morrison	In the Garden
from Still On Top - The Greatest Hits (Deluxe Version) (2007)
The Beta Band	Dry the Rain
from Music - The Best of the Beta Band (2005)
Peter Gabriel	I Think It’s Going to Rain Today
from Scratch My Back (Special Edition) (2010)
Fleetwood Mac	Never Going Back Again
from Rumours (2004)
Blind Faith	Can't Find My Way Home
from 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Steve Winwood (1999)
Harry Nilsson	Over the Rainbow
from A Little Touch of Schmilsson In the Night (2006)
Carole King	So Far Away
from Tapestry (1998)
Dennis Wilson	Rainbows
from Pacific Ocean Blue & Bambu (Deluxe Legacy Edition) (2008)
Jimmie Spheeris	The Nest
from Isle of View (1999)

Comment:

It's one artist's downfall and another's safe retreat — the inspiration behind the perfect pop optimism of Burt Bacharach and B.J. Thomas' "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head," and the dark, apocalyptic dream of "Riders on the Storm" by the Doors. It seeps into the moody alt-pop storm front of Coldplay's "Trouble," and sets the stage for American bard Bob Dylan and his legendary story song "Shelter from the Storm." It's nothing more and nothing less than a rainy day, and it makes for an Essentials playlist flooded with everything from the torrential outpourings of Prince & The Revolution's "Purple Rain" to the dark-day soul groove of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine," to the crooked umbrella smile that is Willie Nelson's raspy take on that sparkling song of hope "The Rainbow Connection."

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