The Raindrops

The Raindrops came about by accident, as an ad hoc studio group created when Dimension Records decided to release the demo recording of "What a Guy," written and performed by Brill Building songwriters Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry. The "group" went on to chart several hits, the biggest being "The Kind of Boy You Can't Forget," all of which created a Phil Spector-esque girl group sound by multi-tracking Greenwich's vocals. For personal appearances, the duo conscripted various friends and relatives to create the illusion of a trio, but the recordings were strictly studio-bound affairs. Aside from the hits, the Raindrops recorded a number of Barry/Greenwich songs written for other girl groups (the Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron," Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans' "Not Too Young to Get Married") and an early recording of "Hanky Panky," which later would be successfully revived by Tommy James & the Shondells. The Raindrops is a reissue of the group's original Jubilee album with eight bonus tracks that accounts for all of their hits and, in fact, all but three of their Jubilee recordings. A British CD, The Complete Raindrops, has the three strays for completists, but most buyers will be satisfied with The Raindrops. ~ Greg Adams, All Music Guide