The Man in the Raincoat (song)

"The Man in the Raincoat" is a song written by Warwick Webster, which was first released by Priscilla Wright in April 1955, and became a hit in the United States. Another hit version was released by Marion Marlowe later that year.

Priscilla Wright versions Priscilla Wright's original version was recorded at the studios of CFPL, where Don Wright was station manager.Hawthorn, Tom. "Singer lowered her voice, and raised her profile", The Globe and Mail, March 28, 2007. Retrieved April 18, 2018. The song was originally recorded for the Canadian Sparton label,"The Cash Box Canadian Capers", Cash Box, April 16, 1955. p. 31. Retrieved April 18, 2018. and was released in the United States on the Unique label."Unique Gets Masters by Canadian Lass", Billboard, April 30, 1955. p. 24. Retrieved April 18, 2018. Wright was 14 at the time the song was released, and was the daughter of Don Wright, who was the arranger on the recording. Priscilla Wright performed the song on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town on July 3, 1955.Inman, David M. (2005). Television Variety Shows: Histories and Episode Guides to 57 Programs, McFarland & Company. p. 84. Retrieved April 18, 2018.

Priscilla Wright re-recorded the song in 1988."Benefactor's Memory Honoured at Tribute Concert", University of Victoria, March 22, 2007. Retrieved April 17, 2018. This version reached No. 8 on RPMs Adult Contemporary chart."RPM Adult Contemporary", RPM Weekly, Volume 48, No. 9, June 18, 1988. Retrieved April 17, 2018.

Chart performance The song reached No. 12 on the Cash Box Top 50 Best Selling Records chart, in a tandem ranking of Priscilla Wright, Marion Marlowe, Karen Chandler, and Lita Roza's versions, with Priscilla Wright and Marion Marlowe's versions marked as bestsellers,"The Cash Box Top 50 Best Selling Records", Cash Box, August 13, 1955. p. 20. Retrieved April 17, 2018. while reaching No. 10 on Cash Boxs chart of records disk jockeys played most, in a tandem ranking of Priscilla Wright and Marion Marlowe's versions,"The Ten Records Disk Jockeys Played Most This Week", Cash Box, August 13, 1955. p. 10. Retrieved April 17, 2018. and No. 11 on Cash Boxs chart of "The Nation's Top Ten Juke Box Tunes"."The Nation's Top Ten Juke Box Tunes", Cash Box, August 20, 1955. p. 4. Retrieved April 17, 2018. The song also reached No. 11 on Billboards Honor Roll of Hits."Honor Roll of Hits", Billboard, August 6, 1955. p. 48. Retrieved April 18, 2018.

The song was ranked No. 50 on Billboards ranking of "1955's Top Tunes", based on the Honor Roll of Hits."1955's Top Tunes", Billboard, December 31, 1955. p. 29. Retrieved April 19, 2018.

Priscilla Wright version Chart (1955)PeakpositionUS Billboard Best Sellers in StoresWhitburn, Joel (1987) The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 330."The Billboard Music Popularity Charts - Popular Records", Billboard, August 6, 1955. p. 50. Retrieved April 16, 2018.18US Billboard Most Played by Jockeys16US Billboard Most Played in Juke Boxes"The Billboard Music Popularity Charts - Popular Records", Billboard, August 13, 1955. p. 34. Retrieved April 16, 2018.20

Marion Marlowe version Chart (1955)PeakpositionUS Billboard Most Played by JockeysWhitburn, Joel (1987) The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 195.14US Billboard Most Played in Juke Boxes18

Claudine Longet version In 1967, Claudine Longet released a version of the song as the B-side of "Small Talk" and on the album The Look of Love.

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