Tornado is the second studio album by the American band the Rainmakers, released in 1987. It reached No. 116 on the Billboard 200. The band supported the album with a North American tour. "The Lakeview Man" is about a Vietnam veteran.
A remastered version of the album was released in 2012, with eight additional tracks.
Critical reception
The Chicago Tribune wrote that the album "offers more thought-provoking rock and roll that recalls the lyrics of T-Bone Burnett and the sound of Creedence Clearwater Revival and the early Rolling Stones." The Los Angeles Times noted that "Bob Walkenhorst's characters are generally the same kind of small-town folk as in [John Cougar] Mellencamp's world, but aren't as stereotyped." USA Today said that "songs like 'Snakedance' and 'Tornado of Love' sound terrific—if a bit familiar—but the lyrics are too transparent."
Track listing All tracks written by Bob Walkenhorst except where noted.
"Snakedance" – 4:02 "Tornado of Love" – 4:15 "The Wages of Sin" – 3:42 "Small Circles" – 3:28 "No Romance" – 3:35 "One More Summer" – 3:34 "The Lakeview Man" – 3:02 "Rainmaker" – 4:29 "I Talk with My Hands" – 6:33 "The Other Side of the World" – 4:27
Bonus tracks on 2012 remastered CD "Stick Together" – 4:43 "Rockin' Around" (Steve Phillips) – 3:31 "Stupid Way to Die" – 3:39 "Small Circles" [acoustic] – 3:00 "Task" – 4:14 "He Yells at the Birds" – 3:48 "My Days Are Numbered" – 3:22 "Kisses from St. Louis" – 2:30
Personnel The Rainmakers Bob Walkenhorst – lead vocals, guitars, keyboards Rich Ruth – bass, vocals Steve Phillips – lead guitars, vocals Pat Tomek – drums
Additional musicians Terry Manning – keyboards
Charts Chart (1987)PeakpositionBillboard 200116
References