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"The Sun and the Rain" is a single by Madness. It was released in 1983 as a stand-alone single and in 1984 it was included on the American/Canadian version of their album Keep Moving. The single spent 10 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 5. The song was also their last to ever enter the USA Billboard Hot 100 Charts, peaking as high as No. 72 on that following chart in 1984.

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"The Sun and the Rain"
Single by Madness
from the album Keep Moving (US) Non-album single (UK)
B-side	"Fireball XL5" / "Time For Tea" (USA/Canada)
Released	29 October 1983
Recorded	1983
Genre	Ska, Soul, Sophisti-pop
Length	3:28 / 3:18 (USA/Canada)
Label	Stiff Records
Songwriter(s)	Mike Barson
Producer(s)	Clive Langer Alan Winstanley
Madness singles chronology
"Wings of a Dove" (1983) "The Sun and the Rain" (1983) "Michael Caine" (1984)

"The Sun and the Rain" was the last Madness single written solely by Mike Barson until 2009's "Sugar and Spice". It was also the last original release of theirs to reach the UK top 10 until "Lovestruck" in 1999.

Music video

The music video for the song shows Madness performing in a rainy street, with a couple of references to Christmastime and the holiday seasons. Toward the end they are joined by a number of Madness fans who join in the dancing. An introductory scene shows the band entering 'Holts' shoe shop in Camden Town, since renamed British Boot Company. There are also scenes showing the band dressed in red with umbrella hats, supposedly wreaking havoc inside Suggs' ear, and shots of Lee Thompson running around with a rocket strapped to his back, a reference to the single's b-side.

Cover Painting

The cover is a detail from the painting 'The Storm' by the French artist Narcisse Virgilio Díaz de la Peña. Painted in 1871, it can be seen in the National Gallery in London.

Track listing

• 7" single

1. "The Sun and the Rain" - 3:28
2. "Fireball XL 5" - 1:44

• 12" single

1. "The Sun and the Rain" (extended version) - 4:35
2. "Fireball XL 5" - 1:44
3. "My Girl" (live) - 3:10

Chart performance

Chart	Peak position	Total weeks
1983 UK Singles Chart[1]	5	10
1984 US Billboard Hot 100[2]	72	5

References

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