🔘 A Hard Rain’s A‑Gonna Fall – Single: Sep. 1973

Roxy Music
Sep 14, 1973
3 min read

A dramatic, art‑glam reinvention of Bob Dylan’s 1963 classic, Bryan Ferry’s “A Hard Rain’s A‑Gonna Fall” transformed a folk‑protest landmark into a sweeping, theatrical pop statement — bold, stylish, and unmistakably Ferry.

Released on September 14, 1973, the single arrived as Ferry’s debut solo release, issued in the UK by Island Records under catalogue number WIP 6170. Backed with a re‑recording of “2HB” (originally from Roxy Music’s 1972 debut), the single showcased Ferry’s flair for reinterpretation, cinematic arrangement, and emotional intensity. Entering the UK Singles Chart in late September, it climbed into the Top 10 and established Ferry as a solo artist distinct from, yet parallel to, Roxy Music.

Label: Island Records

Catalogue Number: WIP 6170

Format: 7" Vinyl Single (Solid Centre)

Released: September 14, 1973 (UK)

🔘 Track List

UK 7" Single — Island – WIP 6170 — 1973

A. A Hard Rain’s A‑Gonna Fall

B. 2HB

Written by: Bob Dylan (A‑side), Bryan Ferry (B‑side)

Produced by: Bryan Ferry

Recorded: 1973

🔘 Key Highlights

• Released September 14, 1973

• Ferry’s debut solo single

• A-side: Glam‑art reinterpretation of Dylan’s classic

• B-side: Re‑recorded version of “2HB”

• Chart debut: Late September 1973

• Reached UK Top 10

• Recorded at: 1973 Island sessions

🔘 The Story

In 1973, at the height of Roxy Music’s early success, Bryan Ferry launched his solo career with a bold artistic statement: a sweeping, orchestral glam‑pop reimagining of Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A‑Gonna Fall.”

Where Dylan’s original was stark and prophetic, Ferry’s version was lush, dramatic, and intensely stylised — driven by brass, strings, and his unmistakable vibrato. The B‑side, a new recording of “2HB,” offered a smoky, lounge‑inflected contrast, reinforcing Ferry’s fascination with reinterpretation and pop‑art aesthetics.

Commercially, the single was a major success. Entering the UK charts in late September, it climbed into the Top 10 and established Ferry as a solo artist with a distinct voice and vision, separate from Roxy Music yet deeply connected to its sensibility.

🔘 Variants (UK)

• 7", 45 RPM, Single — Island – WIP 6170 — UK — 1973

• 7", 45 RPM, Promo — Island – WIP 6170 — UK — 1973

• Issued in standard Island company sleeve

🔘 Chart Performance

UK — Official Singles Chart

36 — September 22, 1973

22 — September 29, 1973

14 — October 6, 1973

10 — October 13, 1973

9 — October 20, 1973

15 — October 27, 1973

25 — November 3, 1973

39 — November 10, 1973

Total Weeks: 8

🔘 Context & Notes

• A-side: Glam‑art reinterpretation of Dylan

• B-side: Re‑recorded Roxy Music track

• Production: Bryan Ferry

• Sleeve notes: Standard Island company sleeve

• Historical placement: Ferry’s debut solo hit

• Reissues / compilation appearances: Featured on numerous Ferry and Roxy‑related anthologies

🔘 Related Material

• *These Foolish Things* (1973)

• “The ‘In’ Crowd” (1974)

• “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” (1974)

• Roxy Music – “Do the Strand” (1973)

🔘 Discography

Virginia Plain — 1972 (Roxy Music)

A Hard Rain’s A‑Gonna Fall — 1973

The ‘In’ Crowd — 1974

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes — 1974

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

✦ 1973 — Recorded during Island sessions

✦ Sep 14, 1973 — UK single released

✦ Sep 22, 1973 — Enters UK Singles Chart

✦ Oct 20, 1973 — Peaks at No. 9

✦ Nov 10, 1973 — Completes 8‑week chart run

🔘 Glam Flashback

A towering glam‑art reimagining — theatrical, stylish, and the perfect launch for Bryan Ferry’s solo persona.

#ReleaseChronicle #BryanFerry #AHardRainsAGonnaFall #1973 #IslandRecords #GlamArtPop

🔘 Sources

Primary reference sources: Island Records, Discogs, Official Charts Company, contemporary music‑press documentation, archival references.

🔘 Copyright Notice

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.