Musical Musings (or “Why Did The Rainmakers Never Break Big?”)

The Rainmakers are, in my opinion, one of the greatest (and most under-appreciated) bands of all time. I’ve been a huge fan of Bob Walkenhorst and the boys since buying their first album (that’s right, album, on vinyl) when it came out in 1986~7. I would place Bob W. firmly in the pantheon of all-time great lyricists, right alongside the likes of Ray Davies, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, and Warren Zevon.

I suddenly got to thinking how much I’d like to have their self-titled debut on cd, so I visited their website, found that it is available from Village Records and I ordered it, along with their album “Tornado”. For reasons I don’t fully understand, these CD’s weren’t available in the US for several years and had to be ordered from a place in (I think) Norway… some sort of crazy dispute with their record label or something.

This, of course, ignited a hankering to hear some Rainmakers, so I put “The Good News and the Bad News” in the CD player and irritated the neighbors with it, repeatedly. The thing that amazes me about this particular CD is that I found it in a used CD store. It is beyond my comprehension that someone could actually dislike such a masterpiece, so naturally I’ve concocted various scenarios to explain how it found its way there (the original owner died or fell on unspeakably hard times, theft, the desperation of addiction, etc.) I suppose it is conceivable that someone with criminally bad taste bought it and unloaded it, but I don’t like to even imagine that possibility.

The point to all of this (if there even is one) is this: If you don’t already own at least one Rainmakers CD (or album)… BUY ONE! Start with one of the discs I’ve mentioned, or if you prefer, their “Greatest Hits” CD. If you follow this recommendation and you don’t enjoy it, then I’m sorry, there is something terribly wrong with you and I wish you well.