left: from NME    above:Record Collector interview

The A-side was mainly sung by Mike supported by Chris and Frank. Different to the ususal instrumentation Chris played bongos (which he found a bit funny on TV) and the group used strings, prior to the Beatles. According to Record Collector "This was radical departure from the normal beat group sound of the time, and it was a measure of the bands popularity that it reached as high as no. 13." Once again the group had been very innovative - a thing ignored by most people.
The flip side - sung by Mike with Chris - has a catchy melody, nice vocals and good lead guitar throughout the whole song. This is also John McNally's first recorded composition (further pressings credited the whole group). He really has a feeling for good melodies.
above and left: first and second pressing of the single. See the different credit of songwriting

far below: more different pressings

The Searchers perform the song at Ready Steady Go
left: UK sheet music

Country Label & Catalogue Number Year Highest Position
       
Australia Astor AP 1087 1964 26
Canada Pye 768 1965  
Denmark Pye 7N 15739 1965  
Ireland Pye 7N 15739 1964  
Israel Pye 7N 15739 1965  
Italy Pye 45NP5077 1965  
Japan Pye LL 799 Y 1965  
Netherlands see UK 1964 25
Norway Pye 7N 15739 1964  
NZ Pye 7N 15739 1964  
Philippines Pye Dyna Records Pye 321 1965  
SA Pye Teal Records PY 19 1964 3
Sweden Pye 7N 15739 1965 7
UK Pye 7N 15739 Nov 64 13
US Kapp 644 Jan 65 29
       
Germany* Vogue 14277 Dec 64 24

above, left and right:

The single released in the Netherlands, still showing Tony Jackson

 

 

 

 

 

below: two different New Zealand pressings

below: US promo and two different pressings

above: Norway
The same label was also used in Denmark and Sweden (where a blue label was available, too. Covers where different.

above: Danish cover

left: Swedish cover plus the Sweden

only blue label pressing

 

 

above and right: Italy, far right: Japanese label

below: Israelian cover, below right: Japanese cover

above: labels Israel, Philippines and South Africa

below: German cover and label What Have... was only the B-side.
 
The EP Section
What Have They Done to The Rain / This Feeling Inside were in most countries combined with the next (and bigger hit) Goodbye My Love. Only Sweden and South Africa (where a second EP with What... / This .. came out in 1965), Spain and Japan released different track combinations.

 
Country EP Title Tracks  Record Company Catalogue Numer Year of Release
           
Sweden The Searchers What Have They Done To The Rain Pye Records NEP 5037 1964
    This Feeling Inside      
    When You Walk In The Room      
    (I’ll Be) Missing You      
           
South Africa When You Walk In The Room When You Walk In The Room Pye PE 1012 1964
    (I’ll Be) Missing You      
    What Have They Done To The Rain      
    This Feeling Inside      
           
Spain What Have They Done To The Rain What Have They Done To The Rain Pye Records PYEP 2067 1965
    This Feeling Inside      
    It's In Her Kiss      
    This Empty Place      
           
           
Japan The Searchers Love Potion Number Nine Pye Records LSS-302 Y 1965
    It's In Her Kiss      
    Bumble Bee      
    What Have They Done To The Rain      

above: South African EP left: first Spanish release and below left: back of Spanish EP below: Spanish label, A-Side

above: First Swedish EP from 1964

Both tracks were also part of releases in 7 countries with Goodbye My Love, but Rain / Feeling as the A-Side.

 
Country EP Title Tracks  Record Company Catalogue Numer Year of Release
           
UK Searchers ‘65 What Have They Done To The Rain Pye Records NEP 24222 1965
Israel Searchers ‘65 Goodbye My Love Piccadilly PH 17067 1965
SA Searchers ‘65 Till I Met You Pye Records PE 1012 1965
NZ Searchers ‘65   Pye Records NEP 24222 1965
AUS Searchers ‘65   Astor NEP 24222 1965
SP Goodbye My Love   Pye Hispavox HPY 337-05 1965

above: UK and Australian record, below:Israel and the cover of the 2nd Spanish EP