Flirting With The Universe

Rainmakers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 28, 2006)
• Original Release Date: February 28, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: BAT Records
• ASIN: B000EU1HRG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,992 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Another Guitar

2. Width Of A Line

3. Fool's Gold

4. Window

5. View From The Tower

6. Greatest Night Of My Life

7. Wilder Side

8. You Remind Me Of Someone

9. Little Tiny World

10. Mystery Road

11. Spite

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Missouri has long boasted of being the home of two of America's greatest artists, Mark Twain and Chuck Berry. However, it wasn't until The Rainmakers thundered into the national music spotlight in 1986, had anyone combined the guitar power of Berry with the social wit of Twain to form a unique brand of Missouri rock n' roll. Originally formed in 1983 as the 3 piece bar band "Steve, Bob, & Rich", these Kansas City rockers became an instant favorite throughout the Midwest. Soon fans stood in line to see this trio they described as "energetic", "intense", but most importantly "fun". Within months of finishing their first independent release, "Steve, Bob, & Rich" had signed a multi-album contract with Polygram, added a member, and changed their name to The Rainmakers. Heralded as "America's Great Next Band" by Newsday, The Rainmakers were drenched in critical acclaim. Feature articles in Newsweek, Rolling Stone, CMJ, USA Today and others poured in singing the praises of this hard working band breathing new life into the rock format. Critics particularly enjoyed the unique writing style of lead vocalst Bob Walkenhorst, whose talent for choosing unusual and sometimes controversial subjects provided an eye opening perspective of life - sprinkled with sarcastic humor. The Rainmakers received notoriety for their songs' lyrical content, including Music Connection's award for - Lyric line of the year: "The generation that would change the world is still looking for its car keys", and in the unlikely source of author Stephen King, who twice quoted lyrics from Rainmakers songs in his best seller "The Tommyknockers", and again in his 1991 novel "Gerald's Game". Success did not stop at the U.S. borders, as European support for the band grew with each new release. "Let My People Go-Go" gave the Rainmakers their first Top-20 single on the British charts, as critics abroad sang the band's praises, with feature articles in New Musical Express, Kerrang, Rock Power, etc. Frequently, The Rainmakers could be spotted on European television with live appearances on "Top Of The Pops," "The Tube," and MTV Europe. European concert dates grew in number each year, with The Rainmakers often enjoying headline status on festival bills. Their reputation as an electrifying concert act eventually led to the recording of a live album at a sold-out show in Oslo, Norway. In 1990, after 4 albums, 5 videos, 500,000+ records sold, and countless concert dates, The Rainmakers put band business on hold to allow time for their personal lives. In 1994, the band returned to the studio to record a new album, entitled "Flirting With The Universe" - which was certified GOLD in Norway within 2 months of release. Overwhelmed by the response to "Flirting...", The Rainmakers returned to the studio to record, "Skin". As with previous releases, Walkenhorst proved that no subject matter was too controversial choosing to take aim at pornography and its societal impact, via his unique perspectives - a Rainmakers trademark. "Skin" was followed by Bob Walkenhorst's debut solo release entitled, "The Beginner."

Product Description

Considered by many to be the best Rainmakers album, this CD from 1994 marked the end of the band's major label days (sort of, the CD was released on Mercury/Polygram in Norway and Canada) and the beginning of taking all engineering, producing, and creative decisions into their own hands. Killer songwriting, great guitar work, a backbeat that goes right up your spine, a live-in-the-studio sound, and a more acoustic and folk/country feel on some songs, this has all the elements that made the Rainmakers a great band. The lead-off track "Another Guitar" has all the humor and insight that the band was famous for. This release was certified Gold Record in Norway.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great songwriting, Great performances., January 9, 2007

By 

Brian Doyle (Chicago IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flirting With The Universe (Audio CD)

If you can only own one Rainmakers CD, this is an excellent choice. I believe this CD shows Bob Walkenhorst at the peak of his songwriting ability, with some excellent tracks that leave you thinking. "Another Guitar" is funny, witty, and insightful. "Mystery Road" may be one of the best songs ever written about keeping intimacy in a long-term relationship. So many of the songs have lyrics that are challenging and at the same time Midwestern down-to-earth. It's not too often you'll hear names like Georgia O'Keefe and Mary Cassat in the lyrics of a rock song, and in the same album the innocent image of climbing the town water tower as a kid. There are great performances as well as great writing here. Steve Phillips absolutely burns on "Wilder Side".

Great writing, great performances, all wrapped up with humor and not taking itself too seriously. I think the band was loose and at the top of thier game when this was recorded, and Bob was past the angry young man stage, but still a blistering social observer. This album has it all, the Rainmakers at their best.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific release by a terrific band. Buy it!, November 21, 1999

By 

Glenn H. Reynolds "Instapundit" (Knoxville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flirting With the Universe (Audio CD)

I agree with everything the other reviewers here say -- even to the NGM & Defenders references. This is a great album by a great band. I don't know why it didn't get a proper release in the US. It says bad things about record companies -- or atleast about one record company

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific band, October 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Flirting With the Universe (Audio CD)

BUY THIS ALBUM! And anything else you can find by this great band -- though most of their stuff is only available used, and most people who own it never sell it. This is heartland rock with a winning combination of optimism and cynicism -- less dire than bands like the Nebraska Guitar Militia, but less polished than, say, the Defenders of the Faith. The Rainmakers' closest spiritual ancestor is probably Creedence Clearwater Revival -- "Fortunate Son" could almost be a Bob Walkenhorst number, and there is no higher praise. Buy it. You won't be sorry.