About the Song
Ronnie Dunn – It Never Rains in Southern California: A Country Soul’s Take on a West Coast Classic
When Ronnie Dunn, one-half of the legendary duo Brooks & Dunn, chose to cover “It Never Rains in Southern California,” he wasn’t just reviving a soft rock staple—he was reclaiming it with the heart of a storyteller and the voice of a man who knows struggle firsthand. Originally written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood and released by Hammond in 1972, the song has long stood as a bittersweet anthem of broken dreams. In Ronnie Dunn’s hands, it becomes even grittier, more weathered, and undeniably country in soul.
Released in 2020 as part of his covers album Re-Dunn, Ronnie’s version strips away the gloss of the original and replaces it with raw emotion, steel guitar, and a voice that has seen both fame and failure. His rich, gravelly tenor brings new depth to lyrics like:
“It never rains in California / But girl, don’t they warn ya / It pours, man, it pours.”
Dunn doesn’t just sing those words—he inhabits them. The heartbreak, the desperation of chasing a dream that turns into disillusionment, the loneliness of being far from home… all of it feels lived-in in Ronnie’s version. He makes you believe he’s been there.
Musically, the arrangement leans into modern country with classic undertones. Acoustic guitars lead the way, backed by moody electric licks and understated percussion. There’s a lonesome echo in the background, as if the California sky itself is watching a dream unravel. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t need to be. It’s honest.
What makes this cover stand out isn’t just the production or the vocals—it’s the perspective. Ronnie Dunn knows what it means to struggle before success. He knows what it means to try, fall, and try again. That authenticity radiates through every line.
Fans of both classic rock and country have praised the track for its emotional crossover appeal. Dunn doesn’t try to outshine Albert Hammond—he pays tribute to the original while adding a Southern depth that makes the story feel even more universal.
In a world filled with shallow covers and overproduced tributes, Ronnie Dunn’s It Never Rains in Southern California is a rarity: a reinterpretation that respects the past while making something entirely new. And in doing so, he reminds us that sometimes, even under the sunniest skies, the storm still finds you.