Thursday, April 17, 2014

UK Indie Hits: 1980-89 (No. 28)

I'm counting down my top 50 singles from the golden age of the UK Independent Charts.

28. The Loft - "Why Does the Rain"

Other Contenders: The band only had two singles, but both songs are so good. Do I choose the uptempo number that was the bigger hit, or do I go the sad-sack route that seems to be the more popular choice today?

Chart Entry: Oct. 26, 1985

Peak Position: No. 30

Comment: "Up the Hill and Down the Slope" was the hit, peaking at No. 3 on this chart, but BBC Radio One's Janice Long did everything she could to make "Why Does the Rain" the smash. In 2005, more than 20 years after all of those spins, she still claimed the song would be in her all-time top 10. Bob Stanley loves this one too, choosing it over "Slope" on his carefully curated 'CD86: 48 Tracks from the Birth of Indie Pop' collection from 2006. If you're still unsure about my choice, perhaps Dave Gedge will convince you: "We loved the Loft in the Wedding Present, and we were disappointed when we'd heard they split up. [Here's the tale of the band's implosion.] I found them very inspiring... especially Andy Strickland's guitar playing on 'Why Does the Rain.' I always hated that grammatically challenged title though." Turn it down for Creation 09. It's a slow burner.

Buy "Why Does the Rain" on 'Magpie Eyes 1982-1985.'

1 comment:

Echorich said...

Just plain wonderful!