It Never Rains in Southern California (album)

This article is about Albert Hammond's 1972 debut album. For his 1996 compilation album, see It Never Rains in Southern California (compilation album).

It Never Rains in Southern California
Studio album by Albert Hammond
Released	October 21, 1972
Genre	Pop rock, soft rock
Label	Mums 31905
Producer	Albert Hammond, Don Altfeld
Albert Hammond chronology
It Never Rains in Southern California (1972) The Free Electric Band (1973)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

It Never Rains in Southern California is the debut album by Albert Hammond released by Mums Records.^[2] The album landed on the Billboard 200 chart, reaching No. 77.^[3]

The title song hit No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart, No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 51 on the UK Singles Chart in 1972. The single "Down by the River" hit No. 38 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 91 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single "If You Gotta Break Another Heart" reached No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973.^[4] "The Air That I Breathe" would go on to become a major hit for British band the Hollies in 1974.

The album was produced by Hammond and Don Altfeld and was arranged by Michael Omartian.

Hammond (talking about the single, It Never Rains in Southern California): "One of my most important songs not only because I think it's a great song and I love it and I think it tells the story of my life in a way, but also because I was the artist, the producer, the writer – I mean, everything was right, it was just like the right thing. If I hadn't had that, I might have got slowly downhill, you know."^[5]

Track listing

All tracks by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood.

1. "Listen to the World"
2. "If You Gotta Break Another Heart"
3. "From Great Britain to L.A."
4. "Brand New Day"
5. "Anyone Here in the Audience"
6. "It Never Rains in Southern California"
7. "Names, Tags, Numbers and Labels"
8. "Down by the River"
9. "The Road to Understanding"
10. "The Air That I Breathe"

Personnel

• Albert Hammond - lead and backing vocals, guitar
• Jay Lewis, Larry Carlton - guitar
• Joe Osborn, Ray Pohlman - bass guitar
• Hal Blaine, Jim Gordon - drums
• Michael Omartian - keyboards
• Don Altfeld - percussion
• Carol Carmichael - backing vocals
• Alan Beutler, Jacky Kelso, Tommy Scott - flute

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Peak position
1972[6]	Australia (Kent Music Report)	62
1972	Billboard 200	77

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Peak position
1972	"Down by the River"	Billboard Hot 100	91
1972	"Down by the River"	Adult Contemporary Chart	38
1972	"It Never Rains in Southern California"	Billboard Hot 100	5
1972	"It Never Rains in Southern California"	Adult Contemporary Chart	2
1972	"It Never Rains in Southern California"	UK Singles Chart	51
1973	"If You Gotta Break Another Heart"	Billboard Hot 100	63

References

1. It Never Rains in Southern California at AllMusic
2. Albert Hammond, It Never Rains in Southern California Retrieved 20 April 2013
3. Albert Hammond, It Never Rains in Southern California Chart Position Retrieved 20 April 2013
4. Albert Hammond's charting singles Retrieved 20 April 2013
5. "It Never Rains in Southern California". Song Facts.
6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 132. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.