Didn't It Rain (Hugh Laurie album)

Didn't It Rain
Studio album by
Hugh Laurie
Released6 August 2013 (2013-08-06)
Recorded7–12 and 28–30 January 2013
StudioOcean Way (Hollywood)
Genre
Length
  • 52:45
  • 56:26 (iTunes edition)
  • 71:05 (Amazon Special edition)
LabelWarner Bros./Rhino
ProducerJoe Henry
Hugh Laurie chronology
Let Them Talk
(2011) 		Didn't It Rain
(2013)
Singles from Didn't It Rain
  1. "Wild Honey"
    Released: 2013
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic63/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
BPM62%[3]
PopMatters7/10[4]

Didn't It Rain is the second studio album by English actor and musician Hugh Laurie.

Recorded in Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles in January 2013,[5] the album contains several blues songs (like its predecessor, Let Them Talk). Unlike his previous album, however, Laurie also branches further into other Southern US and South American genres, including jazz, R&B, and tango.

Similarly to Let Them Talk, Laurie once again plays piano and guitar, and often provides vocals. Additionally, Laurie is joined by guest musicians Gaby Moreno, Jean McClain, and Taj Mahal, and is supported throughout by the Copper Bottom Band.[6]

Didn't It Rain was released in the UK on 6 May 2013, with iTunes providing pre-order and digital releases,[7] and Amazon providing vinyl prints and a special book edition.[8][9] As a promotion for a Huffington Post interview[10] regarding Laurie's album and upcoming tour, the album had a 24-hour free streaming period in several countries.[11] It was released in the United States on 6 August 2013.[12]

The miniature piano seen on the album artwork was given to Laurie on a 2009 episode of Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.[13]

  1. ^ "Didn't It Rain Reviews". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Didn't It Rain – Hugh Laurie". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  3. ^ Finlayson, Ray (10 May 2013). "Album Review". BeatsPerMinute.com. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  4. ^ McGuire, Colin (6 August 2013). "Hugh Laurie: Didn't It Rain". PopMatters.com. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  5. ^ Hugh Laurie Blues - The official Site About Page, as reflected in the Internet Archive, retrieved June 10, 2018
  6. ^ The Copper Bottom Band consists of Jay Bellerose, Kevin Breit, Vincent Henry, Greg Leisz, Robby Marshall, David Piltch Archived 4 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine and Patrick Warren, with Elizabeth Lea and Larry Goldings playing additional instruments.
  7. ^ "Didn't It Rain". itunes.apple.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  8. ^ "Amazon UK Special Edition". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  9. ^ "Amazon UK Vinyl Edition". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  10. ^ "Didn't It Rain Interview". huffingtonpost.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  11. ^ The album was available in Australia, Belgium, Argentina, Hungary, South Africa, Slovakia, Ireland, Spain, Bulgaria and the UK.
  12. ^ "iTunes - Music - Didn't It Rain (Deluxe) by Hugh Laurie". Itunes.apple.com. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Hugh Laurie on Jonathan Ross Part 2/2". YouTube. 6 June 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2013.