I Can't Stand The Rain
A Stephen Clatworthy Jam
I love playing the “piano*” but I hit my technical limitations very quickly. I cannot play with both hands, my rhythm ain’t so hot and my fingering leaves a lot to be desired. I come from the Erik Satie school, in that I don’t want to develop themes - I just want to put down the perfect notes, make you cry and then get out of there. I agonise over every (very similar) note choice, every little bit of rhythm, and in the end sulk because the recorded piece is yet another swing and a miss.
Stephen Clatworthy does not do this.
He is an excellent pianist and a few months ago I “commissioned”** him to rework some of my piano songs. He took a piece I named after Anne Peebles superlative 1973 song, “I Can’t Stand The Rain”*** - due to the single repetitive high note that reminded of rain hitting a windowpane - and fleshed it out. My minute frustrations of note choice became in his (literal) hands a jumping off point. The finickity melody line is now an idea to extemporise around, to expand and shrink into what feels good or possible given a three minute run time…
His interpretation of I Can’t Stand The Rain (John’s Version) is what the audio link above is. I highly suggest you listen to it. In fact I’ll put in again.
You’ve listened? Good.
Anyways, mine and Steve’s musical collaborations go back for about 18 years now. My go to for any Wednesday Club song was alwasy, “Let’s get Steve to play on it.” That’s him on Citalogasm. That’s him anchoring Wave At Planes. That’s him making the Market Crows caw and the Lockdown Dogs bark.
We also used to DJ together back in the day. We were left to our own devices at a successful club night and we pushed each other to various excesses. After a few months, when we decided to tagteam a “funk and soul” half hour at this nominally indie-rock night, the audience response was… not great. The Facebook page had the message, “What the fuck was that last night?!” written on it the next morning****. It was the beginning of the end. We had fun though.
He also provided the picture that adorns the top of this Substack*****. Anyone who knows Steve knows that this is his real jam. Check out his brilliant landscapes if you ever get the chance.
yr pal,
as ever,
JP3
*pushing the middle keys on my Macbook Air’s keyboard whilst using Garageband.
**(asked nicely.)
***and to a lesser extent Missy Elliott’s also-very-good 1997 bop, “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)”
****Sorry, Harry.
*****I mean, I know it doesn’t really matter for someone with as much reach as Lil’ Ol’ Me, but the fact that Substack is Nazi friendly is really troubling.