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Traffic — Rainmaker
Album: The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys
Avg rating:
6.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 791









Released: 1970
Length: 7:32
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Rainmaker, rainmaker
The sky is gray just by the touch of your hand
Rainmaker, rainmaker
Make me some rain, make all my crops grow tall

Rainmaker, rainmaker
The sky is gray, the ground is so hard
It's been cracked by the sun
Rainmaker, you know my work's never done
Comments (53)add comment
 xcranky_yankee wrote:

Some people have no concept of 'listening to entire albums'. It is the one thing I find lacking by streaming - even RP - I want to listen to more!



Very well stated!
Posted 9 months ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 philip1 wrote:

please make it stop!




If you don't like it, hit the SKIP BUTTON!!  ...Problem solved!
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
GREAT!! ICONIC!!  Thanx RP!   
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
Haunting..... melodious.....
Posted 4 years ago by sanjoyc08    [ Reply ]
please play more!

 philip1 wrote:
please make it stop!
 

Posted 4 years ago by PhoenixArtDj    [ Reply ]
please make it stop!
Posted 4 years ago by philip1    [ Reply ]
 mread wrote:

Ah, but in the context of the whole album, it made a fine finale.  Back then one listened to albums like this in their entirety; so today it feels just a little off to hear a gem like this out of the album context.
 
Some people have no concept of 'listening to entire albums'. It is the one thing I find lacking by streaming - even RP - I want to listen to more!
Posted 4 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
Perhaps being a bit high helped get us through some albums, certainly improved others. But good lord this was a fantastic album.
Posted 4 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
 pevend wrote:
Rather weak song from an otherwise-great album.
 
Ah, but in the context of the whole album, it made a fine finale.  Back then one listened to albums like this in their entirety; so today it feels just a little off to hear a gem like this out of the album context.
Posted 4 years ago by mread    [ Reply ]
 MrStatenIsle wrote:
Guess ya hadda be there for this one...
 
I sure it helped, and no doubt most of us were high at the time as well. However, this was still pretty remarkable for 1970. Traffic was at the top of their game, many established rock bands at this time took pride in not using studio musicians (thus, the flute) and my recollection is that musicianship in most big name groups was still a bit uneven, and this was ok.  We fans may be living in the past, but this is still a classic for us oldsters. 
Posted 5 years ago by jayhamiljr    [ Reply ]
As part of my bizarre introduction to rock 'n roll music, I signed this record out of my local library when I was 11 and listened to the heck out of it. Go figure. 
Posted 5 years ago by newbolddrive    [ Reply ]
 MrStatenIsle wrote:
Guess ya hadda be there for this one...
 I was 
different times
haven't heard this in 45 years.

Posted 5 years ago by davb785    [ Reply ]
Guess ya hadda be there for this one...
Posted 5 years ago by MrStatenIsle    [ Reply ]
Posted 5 years ago by sunflowerbee    [ Reply ]
 kcar wrote:


Never heard this before!   


The flute had me wondering if this were Tull at first. A generous 7 for now. Not sure the double-tracked chorus works. OK fellas, let's stop drawing out the ending...
 

You have to see it live to enjoy to full length. It sends you into another world.
Posted 5 years ago by TheGolfster    [ Reply ]
 keller1 wrote:
This tune is better than a 6.

Maybe you had to hear it on an eight track ...
 


I just gave it a 9.
Posted 5 years ago by TheGolfster    [ Reply ]
 AvoidingWork wrote:

Same here.

I wasn't sure about the flute though.  It sounds like the wind whistling through my window.{#Whistle}  Or maybe that is the wind.

 

Never heard this before!   


The flute had me wondering if this were Tull at first. A generous 7 for now. Not sure the double-tracked chorus works. OK fellas, let's stop drawing out the ending...
Posted 5 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Such a great, classic groove! Especially when the horn gets going. Always wished that a decent flutist had played on this record...oh, well.
Posted 6 years ago by Tjerome    [ Reply ]
With so much good new eclectic music out there to listen to, I'm getting tired of listening to stuff I'd rather not have to from olden days. Let's get some new stuff going on, please.
Posted 15 years ago by siandbeth    [ Reply ]
 keller1 wrote:
This tune is better than a 6.

Maybe you had to hear it on an eight track ...
 
You have a point keller1. I am with you on this, but then again, I was there too, and I guess so many that listen, were not, and they don't get it! (To them: No offense, you just don't get it!)
{#Sunny}

Posted 15 years ago by pdjpirate    [ Reply ]
Wow!  Even a band as good as Traffic can make a clinker. 

Oy!
Posted 15 years ago by Govi    [ Reply ]
This tune is better than a 6.

Maybe you had to hear it on an eight track ...
Posted 15 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
 fooisme wrote:
it works! (it freakin' rains here..)
 
Same here.

I wasn't sure about the flute though.  It sounds like the wind whistling through my window.{#Whistle}  Or maybe that is the wind.

Posted 15 years ago by AvoidingWork    [ Reply ]
 Limpopoking wrote:
Jethro Tull wasn't the only flute-rock group. Traffic and the Moody Blues were there too.

 
Also Blues Project and Sea Train.

Which begs the question.... why have I never heard Focus on RP.... am I right Bill? should I be uploading some?

 

I agree! What Happened whit Gong, Focus... in other level, what happened whit Can or Neu?
Posted 15 years ago by belalugosi    [ Reply ]
Rather weak song from an otherwise-great album.
Posted 15 years ago by pevend    [ Reply ]
One of those that's OK the first time one hears it, but after only two or three more times, one hopes to never hear again.
And no, don't even think of comparing this to any of Ian Anderson's brilliance.
Posted 15 years ago by dedawson    [ Reply ]
Jethro Tull wasn't the only flute-rock group. Traffic and the Moody Blues were there too.

 
Also Blues Project and Sea Train.

Which begs the question.... why have I never heard Focus on RP.... am I right Bill? should I be uploading some?

Posted 15 years ago by Limpopoking    [ Reply ]
 tiggers wrote:


Couldn't agree more and why does every track have to be three years long. Drugs - they DO NOT work!!!!
 
Oh tiggers, even you can't be serious. I'd like to see you do LSD and say that you are not affected!

Drugs do work. They just are not productive most of the time. And they can be very destructive.

But they definitely work.{#Naughty}

Posted 15 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
One of my favourite songs of all time!  Maybe helped by the fact that I wasn't around at the time it was released, so didn't have to listen to it ad infinitum . . .  . that might spoil any song eventually.  But still, it's a fantastic song.  And so useful in everyday life, you can sing it for so many occasions using your own lyrics - cakemaker cakemaker being my favourite!!!


Posted 15 years ago by ClaireWild    [ Reply ]
 handyrae wrote:
I just can't seem to get into rock with flutes, and this is no exception.

Sorry about that Ian Anderson........
 

Couldn't agree more and why does every track have to be three years long. Drugs - they DO NOT work!!!!
Posted 16 years ago by tiggers    [ Reply ]
I love the moodiness of this piece.
Posted 16 years ago by kaybee    [ Reply ]
 lingchih wrote:
Ahh, Chris Wood on flute. Takes me back.
 
Indeed. This played endlessly on a Colorado Rockies trip back in, what, '73 or so? Like other RP listeners, I overplayed the LP to the point that I couldn't listen to it anymore. Nice to hear now, though.

It was great to see Steve do a featured guest segment on Clapton's 2007 Crossroads benefit concert DVD.


Posted 16 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
it works! (it freakin' rains here..)
Posted 16 years ago by fooisme    [ Reply ]
 ThePoose wrote:
Jethro Tull wasn't the only flute-rock group. Traffic and the Moody Blues were there too.

 
Also Blues Project and Sea Train.

Posted 16 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
handyrae wrote:
I just can't seem to get into rock with flutes, and this is no exception. Sorry about that Ian Anderson........
toiletpaper comes on a roll.....ya don't haveta listen to da shit,if it don't please ya....maybe Gangsta is ur forte....may ur tone deaf or maybe,just maybe.......i doubt it....nevermind!!!!
Posted 16 years ago by cattail321    [ Reply ]
handyrae wrote:
I just can't seem to get into rock with flutes, and this is no exception. Sorry about that Ian Anderson........
What about violin rock?
Posted 16 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
Jethro Tull wasn't the only flute-rock group. Traffic and the Moody Blues were there too.
Posted 16 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
Ahh, Chris Wood on flute. Takes me back.
Posted 16 years ago by lingchih    [ Reply ]
Well, I like it. have not heard this in (at least) decades). Diversity of sounds and compositions is good, even if every piece played here is not immortal. You who so strenously object to a particular piece should consider the incredibly good job this station does in mixing music, often in ways that only become apparent after 4 or 5 selections have been played.
Posted 16 years ago by bam23    [ Reply ]
I just can't seem to get into rock with flutes, and this is no exception. Sorry about that Ian Anderson........
Posted 16 years ago by handyrae    [ Reply ]
Excellent segue out of Ray LaMontagne - You Can Bring Me Flowers
Posted 16 years ago by Mugro    [ Reply ]
Sounds like the prayer of a marijuana farmer (which maybe it is)... Back in my Clang! Honk! Tweet! days this would have gone down a storm, but when str8 this sort of trippy music is just dull, unfortunately.
Posted 17 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
ughhh, and I like Traffic. 1
Posted 17 years ago by iTuner    [ Reply ]
Crap... Once every 3 years is still too often.
Posted 17 years ago by renlat    [ Reply ]
I loved this album, I over played this album. I hated this album. but its nice to hear it, some 15 years after I overplayed it.
Posted 17 years ago by meower    [ Reply ]
samiyam wrote:
I love Steve Winwood's music, but this song has bad memories and my veins always start to itch when I hear this paeon to spacing out! Samiyam (Cognito Ergo Spud = I think therefor I yam) :(
It's "cogito", but I guess errare humanum est.
Posted 20 years ago by LaChinchon    [ Reply ]
Everyone who complains how the 80's music that's played on here is vapid, dated, or just plain bad, needs to be forced to listen to a whole lot of this kind of crap.
Posted 20 years ago by gregorbill    [ Reply ]
Ok sometimes. Boring chorus without a doubt, and i think they are most certainly having a Jethro Tull identity crisis.
Posted 21 years ago by superfido    [ Reply ]
(with hand high in air) *I* still have the vinyl, thank-you. This is a great track from one of the best albums of the era. Kudos to RP. But Bill, you cut it off early... please play it out to the end.
Posted 22 years ago by mread    [ Reply ]
Oh come on... stop the self torture, it\'s just a relaxing great classic song, not a tretise to explain life! Some of us still have the original vinyl album copy they bought when it was released !
Posted 22 years ago by phorp    [ Reply ]
I love Steve Winwood\'s music, but this song has bad memories and my veins always start to itch when I hear this paeon to spacing out! Samiyam (Cognito Ergo Spud = I think therefor I yam) :(
Posted 22 years ago by samiyam    [ Reply ]
Haven\'t heard this in a long time, really takes me back. :D
Posted 22 years ago by Cy    [ Reply ]