The Good News and The Bad News

Rainmakers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 23, 1989)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mercury
• ASIN: B00000E5MP
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #169,439 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good news for music lovers..., October 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Good News and the Bad News (Audio CD)

The Rainmakers "The Good News and the Bad News" is one of the best written albums I have had the pleasure to listen to. It will please musician purists as well as general public by blending straightforward roots rock and roll while maintaining fun and energy throughout. There are no "filler" songs on this album, each track is a well written and executed experience.
Many people will recognize "Spend it on Love" as it did get a fair amount of airplay, but the rest of the album is even better.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars America Buries Its Best, June 17, 2004

By 

P. Wherley (Warsaw, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Good News and the Bad News (Audio CD)

It's just a damned shame The Rainmakers never made it to national prominence. Bob Walkenhost is one of THE most literate singer/songwriters of our times, and he proves it again with The Rainmaker's TGNATBN.
References to American history and the Bible mix seamlessly with an astoundingly astute perspective of American culture, all powered with a classic brew of folk/kick-out-the-jams-rock-n-roll. Side one (yes, I'm old enough to have bought this release on cassette tape) is simply awesome. "Reckoning Day" starts the album out with a powerful rock theme as Bob wails about an American Apocalypse. "Hoo-Dee-Hoo" follows with a great tale of small town living, sex and sin. "Spend It On Love" is a slower song, but no less powerful as Walkenhost details America's twisted perspective on what exactly should be important. "Battle of the Roses" touches on the aftermath of a broken family, while "Wild Oats" is kick-a** tribute to youth and crazy living (and what is it about preacher's kids anyhow?).
Side two is still great, but with a few less tunes worthy of specific mention. "Thirty Days" is a reflective tune on being on your own in this world. "Knock On Wood" deserves mention because of Steve Phillips' contribution. A fine guitarist, he also would get lead vocals on a song or two on each album. As always, it's a good uptempo song that catches on the inner ear and sticks there. "Horn O' Plenty" ends the record, and may be one of my favorite Rainmakers tunes. Classic rock 'n' roll (complete with horn section naturallly), mix with an acerbic commentary on the rich and poor in America.
And on and on and on. While I don't think this album is toes-to-tail as great as their self-titled debut, it comes close. And it sure as shootin' is better than the syrup I hear on most of today's airwaves.
I was lucky enough to catch The Rainmakers on their "Tornado" tour, and rarely have I seen a band rock the house as hard as they did. Luckily, Bob Walkenhorst is continuing onward, but Rainmakers seem defunct at this point. More's the shame. America, you can have your Boy Bands and your Brittany Spears. Me? I'm gonna keep listening to my worn-out tape of The Good News and The Bad News.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Rainmakers Effort, September 13, 2009

By 

D. Hensley (Denver) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Good News and The Bad News (Audio CD)

Again a vintage effort from the Rainmakers. Another great album with little know songs telling great stories from this unknown midwestern band in the 1980's out of Kansas City. This band should have gotten more national acclaim during the day!