Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head – B.J. Thomas | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#1 for 4 weeks); 1970

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

If B.J. Thomas sounds a bit like actor Paul Newman, star of Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, on the original soundtrack recording of Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head, it’s because he was suffering from laryngitis on recording day.

Several weeks later all traces of the disease had disappeared when B.J. laid down the single hit version onto tape. According to songwriter Burt Bacharach, Ray Stevens turned down a chance to record Raindrops, as did Bob Dylan. Next up was B.J. Thomas.

The Oklahoman’s first hit – a cover of Hank Williams’ I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry – cut with his band, the Triumphs, had reached #8 in 1966. Scepter Records signed B.J. and he’d managed one other hit, Hooked On A Feeling.

Finally, B.J. met Burt Bacharach through label mate Dionne Warwick, most of whose hits were co-written by Bacharach. So when Ray and Bob passed, B.J. got the nod, and his first #1 smash. For the single version, B.J. added some memorable “da-da-da’s” not heard in the movie.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

• Burt Bacharach
• Hal David

Lyrics Written by:

• Burt Bacharach
• Hal David