Customer Reviews

Steve, Bob & Rich - Balls

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4 star:		(2)
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This was the beginning of one of the best bands of the past 25 years. Steve Phillips, Bob Walkenhorst and Rich Ruth were the ultimate cover band in Kansas City for many years before recording this record. After one release, they became The Rainmakers and produced some of the most electric songs ever caught on tape. At their best, one could argue that Bob Walkenhorst's songwriting was on par with late-era Neil Young and Bob Dylan, while the music was as inventive and explosive as bands like the Talking Heads and the Mekons. Even before they were The Rainmakers, on "Balls", the elements were all there. Original versions of "Let Me People Go-Go," "Nobody Knows," "Information," and "Big Fat Blonde" are here. Other highlights are "Christine" and "Makes No Sense". This is the first time "Balls" has been available on CD. Thankfully, I never fell for a vinyl copy for $100 on E-Bay. As an extra bonus, they have 8 live tracks tacked onto the end of the disc. Including fantastic versions of Pete Townshend's "Rough Boys" and Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues". Search out the Rainmakers self-titled debut from 1986. It is a true American classic. One of the 100 best records of the last quarter century - really.

Great archival tracks of the band that became The Rainmakers, one of the most underated and creative bands ever! Lots of this stuff appears in a more refined form on The Rainmakers debut CD, and most of the other tunes are ok, but not up to 'Maker standards. HOWEVER... there is TONS of bonus material, including live versions of some of the early classics like Big Fat Blonde and Let My People Go Go,and some smoking cover tunes that make this a must have if you dig the Makers. The Bonus material alone is worth the price of admission.

I saw this band a number of times at different venues in Columbia, Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri.

They were incredible live and I was really excited to see that they included a live show from the Blue Note in Columbia. Great band, great times!

This album from Steve Bob & Rich, the predecessors to the Rainmakers, is highly recommended. This alternative Rock group from the Kansas City area in the 1980's never got the national recognition they deserve, but they are awesome. Having seen them in person multiple times, I can highly recommend their work!

I used to go see Steve, Bob and Rich live all the time. The Westport district of Kansas City is a collection of some of my favorite all-time watering holes and I used to see them there frequently. In fact - and this is a true story - when I was attending Emporia State (KS) University, my friends and I saw Steve, Bob and Rich at three different bars on three different nights and on the final night they came back to my house with us! (Ah, the '80s!)

The tracks on "Balls" took me right back to the bar stools of my past. These versions of "Big Fat Blond", "Let My People Go" and "Nobody Knows" are far superior to the ones released on the "Rainmakers" debut album because they have that rough, edgy feel instead of being over-produced.

(And understand this is not a slam on Rainmakers drummer Pat. I used to watch him in KC, too. Long live "The 4Sknns!")

If you like the "Rainmakers" I highly recommend "Steve, Bob and Rich."

Try to envision Bob in the middle of this trio playing drums standing up and singing. It always blew me away!

What a great album. I can remember the year 1987 - Cold Fall Night in South Eastern Pennsylvania. Went to a party and walked in to my friends home. The album was playing and I became instantly enamored. I had to find this and the other two Rainmakers vinyl albums that were out at the time. Found them and have been hooked ever since. I was glad to see this finally released rather than a "Bootleg" from "an on-line auction company"...Great Mid-Western Band and it is a must to purchase everything they had ever put out as I have and I mean everything...... I had the opportunity to see them in 1989 at the Chestnut Caberet in Philadelphia. 15 people there only. I got to meet the band, get autograph's which I still have to this day. What a great bunch of guys & I keep my fingers crossed....for another CD and a tour........Hit here first and then Norway - Please..........

Buy this CD. This was a great album to begin with. And now it's remixed and sounds even better. Forget the LPs are better thing that some folks believe. It's really a matter of the mix, and in this case, the new CD release shines over the LP original. The vocals especially sound a lot better. And, as a bonus, 7 great live tracks. If you are at all a fan of the Rainmakers, or Bob Walkenhorst, or Steve Phillips, you need this album. And even if you aren't yet, I highly recommend it. One has to start somewhere.

I fell in love with these guys when I was 15 years old. In the twenty odd years since they have lost no spark for me. I first same them on the SMSU campus in Springfield, MO right before they headed off to NYC to enter talks for their Transition to Mercury records and into the Rainmakers. There is so much I love on this album and the new CD release here with the bonus live tracks is great. This is one of those albums that if you heard the songs and knew the band in the mid 80's that just popping it in and listening can tack you back to that time and that place where you were. I can still see and feel that time in my life everytime I play this album. Then again it is just good ole' rock and roll!!!!!!