Bob Walkenhorst,
Steve Phillips (later a member of The Elders),
Jeff Porter,
Rich Ruth,
Pat Tomek,
Michael Bliss (replaced Rich Ruth in 1995).
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 into a unique brand of Missouri rock n' roll.
Originally formed in 1983 as a 3-piece bar band known as Steve, Bob, & Rich, these Kansas City rockers became an instant favorite throughout the Midwest. Soon, fans were standing 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, and Rich had signed a multi-album contract with Polygram Records, added a fourth member, and had changed their name to The Rainmakers.
Heralded as "America's Great Next Band" by Newsweek Magazine, The Rainmakers were soon drenched in critical acclaim. Feature articles in Rolling Stone, CMJ, USA Today and others poured in singing the praises of this hard working Midwest band who provided new life to a traditional rock format.
Critics particularly enjoyed the unique writing style of 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.
But success did not stop at the U.S. borders, as European countries supported the band increasingly with each new release. The song "Let My People Go-Go" gave the Rainmakers their first Top-20 single on the British charts in early 1987. 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, and The Tube, and video play on 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 for release solely in Scandinavian markets.
In 1990, after four albums, five videos, 500,000+ records sold, and concert dates too numerous to count, The Rainmakers put band business on hold to allow time for their personal lives and agendas. In 1994, the band returned to the studio to record a new album, entitled Flirting With The Universe - an album which achieved GOLD certification in Norway within 2 months of release.
Overwhelmed by the response to Flirting..., The Rainmakers reemerged from the studio in 1996 with Skin. With this effort, Bob Walkenhorst has again proved that no subject matter is too controversial by taking aim at pornography and its societal impact, via his unique perspectives - a Rainmakers trademark. A release, which in true Rainmaker form, is designed to provoke.
In 2011, the Rainmakers reformed and released another album, 25 ON, with bassist Rich Ruth returning to the group in place of Bliss, while long-time guitarist Steve Phillips was replaced by Jeff Porter. On March 5, the band was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame with a ceremony and concert at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, Kansas.
The Rainmakers are: Bob Walkenhorst (Vocals, Guitar); Jeff Porter (Lead Guitar, Vocals); Rich Ruth (Bass, Vocals); Pat Tomek (Drums)
Website
Wild Oats
The Rainmakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Squeezes the hymnal tight to her breast
Sings like an angel, sweats like a thief
Bit me last night like Adam and Eve
Hey, hey, we're sowing wild oats
All you farmers' daughters gonna reap what you sow
Hey, hey, we're sowing wild oats
Baby takes communion with the rest of the clan
They bought a Pat Boone tour to the Holy Land
At the Shrine of the Virgin, she was dressed to kill
With her Mad Dog 20 and her birth control pills
Hey, hey, we're sowing wild oats
All you farmers' daughters gonna reap what you sow
Hey, hey, we're sowing wild oats
Dance beneath the milky moon
On your hands, hands, hands and knees
On your hands, hands, hands and knees
On your hands, hands, hands and knees
Talking pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, please
Baby cries sometimes for no reason at all
Makes the minister nervous in the confession stall
Ma's little angel, pa's little dear
A child of God with her makeup smeared
Hey, hey, we're sowing wild oats
All you farmers' daughters gonna reap what you sow
Hey, hey, we're sowing wild oats
Dance beneath the milky moon
Hey, hey, we're sowing wild oats
Bow to your partner and do si do
Hey, hey, we're sowing wild oats
Dance beneath the milky moon
Hey, hey, we're sowing wild oats
The Rainmakers' song "Wild Oats" paints a picture of a young woman who appears to be living a double life. On one hand, she attends church in a pretty white dress, singing hymns like an angel and taking communion with the rest of the congregation. On the other hand, she bites the singer like Adam and Eve, suggesting a more wild and maybe even forbidden side to her personality. She's also dressed to kill at the Shrine of the Virgin, drinking Mad Dog 20 and taking birth control pills.
Overall, the song seems to be commenting on the hypocrisy and contradictions of organized religion, particularly in how it can sometimes project one image while the reality is quite different. The idea of sowing wild oats, which is repeated throughout the song, suggests a sense of rebellion and disobedience. It could be interpreted as a call to break free from the constraints of society and live life on your own terms, rather than conforming to the expectations placed upon you.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby attends church in her pretty white dress
The girl named Baby goes to church dressed innocently.
Squeezes the hymnal tight to her breast
She holds the church songbook very close to her chest.
Sings like an angel, sweats like a thief
Baby sings beautifully but with nervousness like a criminal stealing.
Bit me last night like Adam and Eve
Baby bit the singer, like the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible.
Hey, hey, we're sowing wild oats
We are having fun and living in the moment, regardless of the consequences.
All you farmers' daughters gonna reap what you sow
You will have to face the consequences of your actions, just like the farmers' daughters.
And dancing 'neath the milky moon
We are dancing under the bright, milky moonlight.
Baby takes communion with the rest of the clan
Baby partakes in Holy Communion with her family at church.
They bought a Pat Boone tour to the Holy Land
Her family went on a tour of the Holy Land led by Pat Boone.
At the Shrine of the Virgin, she was dressed to kill
Baby wore an attractive outfit to the Shrine of the Virgin.
With her Mad Dog 20 and her birth control pills
She had alcoholic drink Mad Dog 20/20 and birth control pills with her at the shrine.
On your hands, hands, hands, and knees
This line is repeated, and it signifies a playful, suggestive dance move.
Talking pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, please
She is asking for something very, very politely.
Baby cries sometimes for no reason at all
Baby would cry without a reason, which makes the minister feel uneasy.
Makes the minister nervous in the confession stall
Baby's tears make the minister anxious while sitting in the confession booth.
Ma's little angel, pa's little dear
Baby is a beloved child to her parents.
A child of God with her makeup smeared
Baby wears some makeup while attending church, even though she is a child of God.
Bow to your partner and do si do
This line signifies a dance move, asking someone to bow and then move in a particular way.
Contributed by Elijah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.