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I have had songs published and pitched by several of Nashville's top houses.
Sony/Tree (now Sony/ATV), Polygram (now Universal), BMG, Almo-Irving, Starstruck, Millhouse...

This is not one of them.

It WAS, however, the first Nashville publishing contract I signed.
With a "boutique publisher".
Meaning... small, not well-connected, not necessarily effective at placing anything...

Mama Price Music. I met "Mama" Price the first time I visited Nashville.
While waiting outside The Bluebird Cafe to see a Writer's Show.
Her office was in the basement below The Bluebird.
We struck up a conversation and she asked to hear what I had with me (a 4-song cassette).
So we went to her office so she could listen...

She flipped over "Praying For Rain"... which surprised me because I had been given contracts to sign for the other 3 songs earlier in the day (by another small publisher on the Row that I had seen) - those she didn't care about at all.
She stayed in constant contact - she really wanted the song. I finally sent her the signed contract about a month later.
(I never signed the other three since the publisher did not follow up and I was wary, this being my first try at this).

Mama Price worked this song for the next year and a half - until her untimely death from a heart attack.
Her big dream was to get it to Garth Brooks, sure that he would take it to #1.
Pretty sure she never found that path... like I said, not well connected.
But it is nice to have someone truly committed to getting a song cut.
With the bigger houses, you are lucky to get a song worked for more than a couple of months (or weeks, for that matter).

I was fairly green at the "commercial" game then and this song was not strong enough to be of any interest to the bigger houses once I had that access (I would not have even shown it to them - by then I had moved past this).
But it was nice to have a place to start...and it served as a springboard for all that would follow...

(As you listen, keep in mind this is circa 1992...sometimes hard to believe that was 25 years ago)


PRAYING FOR RAIN

she seems to need me most when it's raining
when the skies are turning gray
when she hears the roar of a distant thunder
she always moves my way
snuggles close so i can keep her safe
when the heavens seem untamed
so i'm watching those clouds
roll in from the west
and i'm praying for rain

   i'm praying for rain
   in biblical proportions
   let the skies open wide
   let that storm raise some cain
   weatherman says that it won't let up
   god, let him be right for a change
   conditions are right
   i'm holding her tight
   and i'm praying for rain

she loves to feel that sun shine
it lights her up inside
when skies are clear, she shows no fear
she needs no place to hide
first sign of lightning
she's in my arms again
so i'm watching those clouds
roll in from the west
and i'm praying for rain

   i'm praying for rain
   in biblical proportions
   let the skies open wide
   let that storm raise some cain
   weatherman says that it won't let up
   god, let him be right for a change
   conditions are right
   i'm holding her tight
   and i'm praying for rain

conditions are right
i'm holding her tight
and i'm praying for rain

she seems to need me most when it's raining...




The BAND:
RealTracks in style: 1827:Bass, Electric, PopModernGrooveA-B Ev16 075
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 2101:Piano, Rhythm PopModernGrooveA-B Ev16 075
RealTracks in song: 635:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm RootsRockDirty Ev 100
RealTracks in song: 630:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopAmericanDirty Ev 120 (A:arp)
RealTracks in song: 839:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopBalladClean Ev 085 (A:arp)
RealDrums in Song: PopPromiseEv16^1-a: Snare on 4, HiHat , b: Snare, Open HiHat



Hope you enjoy the look back.
Comments welcome.
Have at it.

floyd

Nice song. My listening agrees it would have been a good song for Garth Brooks but I could also hear getting top air play with either Kenny Rogers or a few years earlier, The Oak Ridge Boys. Enjoyed it.

Add a few loops, some drum samples and find an old pickup out in a field somewhere surrounded by near naked farm girl wannabe's for a music video and you wouldn't even need to update the lyrics...

I don’t care whether it’s 1992 or 2022, that’s a friggin hit! Expertly delivered with conviction and the processing on the guitars is unreal. I love the big compression on the snare and the kit sounds huge. One of my all time favorites from you and we all know there is a big ol pile of great ones to choose from. Wow and another wow after that, this one’s the Big Bang, Tom

Yes! My favorite songs of yours - and this is now one of them - have the same quality as those old Loony Tunes cartoons, where once set into motion, everything that follows has an inevitability to it.

You set the scene in the first verse to get a great payoff in the chorus, and continue to hit all the marks as you go along.

Well sung, well produced, and a pleasure to listen to.

floyd

After 2 listens it just sticks in your head. Wonderful song writing - and as expected a great performance.
Love it.

Peter

Floyd,

This is great! If you had not said 1992, I would have never guessed. It feels as though it could have been written yesterday - it's fresh and has a really tight rhythmic pulse.

Stellar production and one of your best vocals as well.

Bob

Thanks for the great story Floyd.
Love the intro the verb reminded me of rain as you probably meant it to.
A real powerful pro ballad my friend. Thanks for sharing with us. Rob

I agree completely!

This is another keeper from Floyd.

Hi Floyd.

Enjoy your stories and this is probably my favourite song of yours so far.
Everything just flows.
Two thumbs up.

Cheers.

Excellent!

Sounds like a hit to me, and doesn't sound dated at all.

Killer mix, man, those drums sound great!

Enjoyed reading the story behind it too.

Really great song Floyd. As you know, you shared this with me a while ago and I loved it then and I love it now.

How about we write a song that starts:

"You and me
behind the barn
storm clouds on the way..."

Thanks, Charlie. I have thought of this (for a long time) as an "old" song. Your reaction (and others) suggest that I might want to reevaluate that... Perhaps I'll try a "modern" adaptation...

At that time, Kenny was no longer charting (though he continues to record today) and, as you imply, the Oaks were well into their "Branson days". But I could have been happy with album cuts from either of them...

Wow - this is outstanding! It shows a very deep understanding of songwriting. It is the perfect level of sincere and perfectly catchy. I honestly don't think there is a thing that could be added to improve this tune. Not to mention - your vocal performance is absolutely outstanding. I wouldn't bat an eyelash hearing this on the country classics radio station.

Truly great job - thanks for sharing

Tom - you surprised me with that! Coming from you, that means a lot...

Floyd,

I can see why Mama Price thought of Garth- the way the pent up emotion in the verse lyrics leads to the drama in the chorus...I can hear him singing this. Very, very good songwriting in any decade! Not strong enough for the big guys? Many would disagree.
Stunningly good vocal and production.
Thanks for including the backstory.

Robert

Exactly!!! I think you really sold this short in your description Floyd. It IS a killer song....cleverly crafted and holding a lot of heart! I particularly love:

weatherman says that it won't let up
god, let him be right for a change
conditions are right
i'm holding her tight
and i'm praying for rain

Tight, a bit of humor, and a big payoff. This should be a hit!!! Take care. Greg

Loved this right out of the gate. This sits right up there with the songs being played on the radio. With all the TV shows like the Voice and all the talent there is out there trying to make it, it just boggles the mind. So many good songs, players and singers and so few make a decent living..

Super lyric and backtrack and just an awesome vocal. Well done Floyd

My dad being a vegetable farmer would often be praying for rain, but not for the same reason. My mom and him did seem to be awful chummy if it did rain.

I especially like how you stop at the end of "and i'm praying for rain" (end of verse?) giving real emphasis to the next phrase "i'm praying for rain" (start of chorus?). Sorry, I never know what is considered the verse or chorus of a song.

Another contribution where you continue to surprise which is typical of the quality delivery from you Floyd. However, not for a second any less than the quality we've come to enjoy every time you contribute.

This is a fantastic production. I would go out on a limb and state that those drums drive the delivery better than a dedicated studio team could have performed. Yes, this is a really fantastic. Those Nashville houses ought to be paying real close attention .

So I produce Mickey Mouse music?

"...set the scene in the first verse to get a great payoff in the chorus, and continue to hit all the marks as you go along."

Now there is advice to live by!

Thanks, David.