In a surprising twist of music history, SWV’s iconic ballad "Rain" was originally meant for Brandy’s groundbreaking Never Say Never album. The song, written by producer Brian Morgan, captured Brandy's attention, but it never made the final cut due to decisions made behind the scenes at Atlantic Records.
Brandy reportedly loved the song when Morgan played it for her, but her label, Atlantic, passed on including it in her album. Morgan, who had signed a production deal with Atlantic at the time, expressed frustration over the situation. "Rain" came to life after tensions between Morgan and SWV, stemming from the fact that none of his contributions to SWV’s sophomore album, New Beginning, had been selected as singles. Morgan felt overlooked, especially after the group's massive success with their debut album, It’s About Time. He vowed to move his work elsewhere, leading to his partnership with Atlantic and his subsequent pitch of "Rain" to Brandy.
Word eventually reached RCA, SWV’s label, that Morgan had written a new song. After hearing about the song’s potential with Brandy, RCA contacted Morgan. According to Morgan, Atlantic’s ultimate decision to pass on the song seemed influenced by internal politics, with one executive commenting that "Rain" sounded more like something SWV would record anyway.
In the end, Morgan gave the track to SWV, whose sultry vocals and soulful delivery turned it into one of their most beloved hits, while Brandy’s Never Say Never would go on to find its own success with a different set of tracks. The song's journey highlights how the intricate and sometimes political nature of the music industry can influence which artists ultimately bring a song to life.
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