Beat Farmers – Goldmine

CB sent me a link to The Beat Farmers. I knew heard of them but at first, I was thinking hard punk. I then realized and I remembered. I first heard of the Beat Farmers in the 1980s. WKDF in Nashville was at one time the premiere rock station in Nashville. Anyway, during some spots they would play a song by the Beat Farmers that was both strange, dark, and fun. I’ll get to that one on the next Beat Farmers post-Wednesday.

I’ve listened to this album at least 5-6 times this week. The hardest part was picking one song to post on…so I’m going to pick one but include two. The one I picked has a rockabilly feel to it but that is not necessarily the sound of the entire album.

The Beat Farmers formed in San Diego California in 1983. They went to a studio with a $4000 budget, and they recorded Tales Of The New West. The album was released in 1985. The members were Country Dick Montana, Jerry Raney on guitar, Rolle Dexter on bass, Buddy Blue on guitar, and Joey Harris on guitar. They did a tour opening up for the Blasters and then signed a 7 Record Deal with CURB Records…which turned out to be a mistake…they fought for years to get away from them.

They also had several solo projects like Country Dick’s Petting Zoo, Country Dick’s Garage, Jerry and Joey acoustic, Jerry and Buddy jam nights, and the Pleasure Barons. Country Dick was recording a solo effort. Dick also worked with Mojo Nixon.

Together they released 6 albums and 15 singles + EPs. The band came to a halt on November 8, 1995, when Country Dick Montana died on stage. They have occasionally got together since then.

Below is the album Tales Of The New West… Give it a listen. They have a great base sound and their songs vary.

A cover of The Velvet Underground There She Goes Again

Goldmine

Well you can’t say that you are mine no moreWe’re history, I’m walking right out the doorWell you can have your men and your liquor tooBut without me baby whatcha gonna doBaby you lost a goldmine when you lost me

I was faithful and I shared everything that I ownI was always there when you cried babe I’m feeling aloneBut I ain’t no chump and you’re gonna findThat those men that you’ve been seeing are the hurting kindAnd I don’t need you running on back to me

Well the smile that you’re wearing gonna disappearWhen you see that I was rightWell you’ll rue the day that you pushed me tillI walked right out of your life

Well there’s plenty of women that can keep me satisfiedAnd I don’t need your cheating or your foolish liesWell I ain’t gonna miss none of your embraceSo go shake that thing in someone else’s faceBaby you lost a goldmine when you lost me

Well folks have got to reap just what they sowAnd you got some things-a coming to you don’t you knowYou’ll get no more loving or sympathyFrom the lonesome fool that you thought was meBaby you lost a goldmine when you lost me

…

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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.

40 thoughts on “Beat Farmers – Goldmine”

  2. Guy died on stage! Wow, that has to be highly disturbing to his band mates and the crowd. I don’t recognize their name but that ‘Happy Boy’ John mentioned rang a bell right away. It seemed to be a staple on ‘zany’ morning shows back then. Will try to give a listen to a couple of these shortly…

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    1. Yep….Happy Boy! Love that one.
      It’s a great album Dave…not a rockabilly band but they cover a lot of bases…I think you will like them.

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      1. ‘Goldmine’ is sounding pretty good- quite rockabilly-ish and retro but I like it. Wouldn’t have guessed it was the same lads that did ‘Happy Boy’

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      2. Everyone knows my post for Wednesday! lol… The other stuff is varied…a very Americana sound they have in all of their songs.

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  3. I remember them from our very early days in Nashville. They played at some of the street concerts they had back then…Summer Lights…the Italian Street Fair…stuff like that. There was a second wave of what they were calling Cowpunk with Jason and the Scorchers leading the way and The Beat Farmers were part of that scene.

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    1. I remember them by Happy Boy….that was also when I discovered Webb Wilder. I saw him at Summer Lights also back then and in the 90s.

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  4. “Goldmine” sounds mighty sweet, Max. I continue to be amazed with CB and he finds all this cool music. The Beat Farmers are entirely new to me. Based on that song, I’m curious to check out the rest of the album – hopefully, I can find the time for it! 🙂

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    1. I heard one song by them in the 80s…a quirky song that I will post Wednesday before my Max Picks…I also like their cover of the Velvet Underground song.

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  9. CB is a Happy Boy when he hears and sees this music get some ink. Thing about Dick was it wasn’t a surprise. Going out bashing. I’d guess that a few drummers would chose that as a way to cash in. Buddy went before him. After those two I’d be looking for a new gig if I was in the band.

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    1. That is called going out with his boots on…and yes that is doing something you love so that isn’t all bad.
      Yea I like the way they treated the band after they died…they said no more band but do charity shows or whatever…nothing big or serious.

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      2. I need to check more of their solo stuff out. This was instantly likable…I think Christian is going to do something on them soon. Thanks again CB. More people knew them than I thought.

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      3. I’m surprised by the Happy Boy cut but makes sense, radio stations would use a cut like that to add humor to their shows. I can honestly say that I never heard then on the radio.
        No problem fella. Love it when folks hear stuff they like.
        Like I said Buddy has some accessible stuff. Alvin was hooked up with him. ‘Guttersnipes and Zealots’ was the first solo album by him. I’m listening to another solo by him right now. Jump music, very catchy. He’s more in tune with Dave’s brother Phil. Bluesy, jazzy.

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      4. Yea I thought I would surprise people before my picks post but they know…but that is cool.
        You know…many of these songs were commercial enough to really do something. They just didn’t fit the time fortunately or they wouldn’t be this good.
        I’m listening to Upsetting Me by him right now…very low key and jazzy.

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  10. Okay, so I am an old fart, nothing here to see, or here. These dudes are good. I admit, that during the 80s, I checked out of the music scene, my own choice. CB tends to slip things in under the radar when no one is looking, another one bites the dust. CB and Max should have their own TV show on channel BR 549.

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