Introduction
In 2020, country‑music legend Ronnie Dunn—best known as half of Brooks & Dunn—released his cover of “It Never Rains in Southern California” on his album Re‑Dunn, a project devoted to reinterpretations of classic rock and country songs that shaped his musical sensibility . The original song dates back nearly five decades earlier, first penned in 1972 by Albert Hammond and lyricist Mike Hazlewood. It appeared as the title track to Hammond’s debut album, becoming his only solo Top 10 hit in the U.S., reaching #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart .
Although the song describes the trials of an aspiring entertainer in California, its roots lie in Hammond’s real‑life hardships in Europe—he endured destitution in Spain and London before relocating to Los Angeles. He and Hazlewood reframed that personal story into a fictionalized account set in Southern California, crafting a narrative rich with irony: a sunny promised land that instead “pours” emotional downpours .
Session musicians from L.A.’s legendary Wrecking Crew, along with arranger Michael Omartian, provided the polished soft‑rock soundscape behind Hammond’s wry, melancholic vocal delivery . The song has since become a soft‑rock staple, covered by artists including Sonny & Cher, Barry Manilow, Fountains of Wayne, and others—spanning decades and genres .
When Dunn recorded it for his Re‑Dunn album—a 24‑track labor of love—he placed “It Never Rains in Southern California” among other deeply influential songs like “Amarillo by Morning” and “Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)”. His rendition blends his country‑tinged baritone with a reverent nod to the original’s narrative tension, bridging soft‑rock storytelling with a heartfelt country interpretation.
Ronnie Dunn’s version is more than a cover—it’s a tribute to a timeless tale of dreams deferred, reframed through a country lens by a storyteller rooted in his genre’s tradition.
Video
Lyrics
Got on board a westbound seven forty-seven
Didn’t think before deciding what to do
Oh, that talk of opportunities, TV breaks and movies
Rang true, sure rang true
Seems it never rains in southern California
Seems I’ve often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California, but girl, don’t they warn ya?
It pours, man, it pours
Out of work, I’m out of my head
Out of self respect, I’m out of bread
I’m underloved, I’m underfed, I want to go home
It never rains in California, but girl, don’t they warn ya?
It pours, man, it pours
Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it?
Had offers but didn’t know which one to take
Please don’t tell ’em how you found me
Don’t tell ’em how you found me
Gimme a break, give me a break
Seems it never rains in southern California
Seems I’ve often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California, but girl, don’t they warn ya?
It pours, man, it pours