Junkhouse – Praying for the Rain

Just found this Canadian band recently. A great mid – 90s Canadian roots rock band. This song comes from their 1993 debut, Strays, and it sounds like a band already past the starting line. Just straight ahead rock that stings.

The core of the band was singer and songwriter Tom Wilson, along with Ray Farrugia and Russ Wilson. Before Junkhouse, Wilson had been part of the band Florida Razors, but Junkhouse was a shift toward something more rooted in rock, blues, and country. Junkhouse didn’t come out of nowhere with Strays. By the time they got into the studio, they had already been playing around Hamilton, Ontario, for a while. That tightness shows up in the album. These songs were shaped on stage first. Tom Wilson’s vocal carries most of the weight. You hear it once, it sticks with you.

They never became a global name, but they didn’t disappear either. Their songs stuck around, especially in Canada, and over time they’ve picked up a kind of quiet reputation. If you go back to Strays now, it still sounds tight and right. It doesn’t sound made for radio, even though it got there. It sounds like guys in a room who knew when not to add more and do too much. This is one of those tracks I came across late, not when it was new, but it didn’t matter. It plays the same either way. 

After Junkhouse wound down, Tom Wilson kept going. He formed Blackie and the Rodeo Kings with Colin Linden and Stephen Fearing, digging deeper into roots and folk. Later, he worked under the name Lee Harvey Osmond, exploring more atmospheric music.

This song peaked at #41 in Canada in 1993.

Praying For Rain

A big sun setting on the fields, I can’t sleep on this tractor wheelPut my seed into the earth, they never tell me just what it’s worthI’m praying for the rain, the open sky will seal my veinsWhen every farmer has made his grain, I’m praying for the rain, I’m stillPrayingThe road was clear the night was too, and that’s how I remember youI hop a fence, I make my bed, but I can’t make you leave my headI’m praying for the rain, just to wash away this painAnother headlight through my brain, I’m praying for the rain, I’m stillPrayingNow all my words have headed north, they rode a taxi or took a horseThe way I loved you was all in vain, I’m still praying for the rainI’m praying for the rain, beat the drum till I’m insaneGive the next dance craze a name, I’m praying for the rain, I’m stillPrayingYeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

16 thoughts on “Junkhouse – Praying for the Rain”

  1. Great pick and not the obvious one from Junkhouse either. They got played a lot on MuchMusic and were a good live act. Real cool you came across this on your own and good call on calling them “roots rock”. They had there own vibe at the time which resulted in some decent sales here in Canada.

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  3. One of the joys of my previous life as a freelancer got to interview the man, and we still swap the occasional message….but an interesting guy, Wilson’s quite the golfer (I wonder what he reactions he gets in the club house) and into poetry……..I love the live version of Praying for Rain with Daniel Lanois….it’s on a collection called Kumbaya, which has Rush doing a great version of Nobody’s Hero….

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  4. Pingback: Junkhouse – Praying for the Rain – MobsterTiger

  5. Good find! I’d forgotten about them though they were moderately big up there in the ’90s. This one sounds quite good & pretty much what I expect them to sound like yet I don’t remember it…even though it was a hit to some degree. I should go through a few of their singles to see which I remember. To second Deke, ‘roots rock’s fits them well

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    1. I never knew Wilson changed so much! The guy just drifts into one style and another with ease…and it sounds great. Its cool because I hear harder influences but I also can hear The Band…very interesting mix they have.

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