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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Randy and Spiff (the morning guys on Fox 97 in Atlanta, “good times and great oldies”) used to do “Happy Boy” every Friday
That is the song I was talking about…it makes me happy lol.
Perfect for Friday AM rush hour…
That and Todd Rundgren’s ‘Bang on the drum all day’
A couple of others: Jonathan Edwards’s “Shanty” and Otis Day and the Nights’ “Shout.” At least they were big here…
“Happy Boy” was a staple on KFAT in Gilroy, CA.
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…
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.
‘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’
Everyone knows my post for Wednesday! lol… The other stuff is varied…a very Americana sound they have in all of their songs.
Dying on stage had to be horrible for everyone else. Too young, but a great way to go, doing what you love. I imagine dying of a heart attack on my bike when I’m 103. It used to be 93. It might move again.
Agree about dying on stage (in a literal way), as for out at 103- LOL.
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.
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.
“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! 🙂
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.
Cool, I hope I get to check them out further. Perhaps I should write down their name before I forget it again! 🙂
lol… it’s up our alley I believe. Very Americana rootsy stuff.
You did it, Max, I just wrote down their name for my Sunday Six. I always look for new artists for that feature! 🙂
Cool man…I’ve listened to this album all week…you can’t go wrong.
New to me and great fun!
I thought you would like this one.
I have heard these guys on the Outlaw station but never followed up to listen more. Definitely checking them out more closely.
They are really good and fun also…very rootsy. The album is fantastic to me.
Sounds like rockabilly to me. Listened to Goldmine. How tragic to die on stage, but he was doing what he loved. Thanks for the spotify playlist.
That song definitely is…they vary in their other music.
Such an unexpected thing to happen.
Yootoob don’t want to show me the other two. I’ll listen to them later- if they let me. This is very RBilly.
That main song I picked out is but the rest vary… it’s an Americana Rootsie thing.
I did know the name…
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.
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.
I have a Buddy Blue record that he cut before he died. Eclectic and very cool. I was premature on his passing. He died after Dick but left the band early in their career.
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.
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.
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.
Another case on should have been. Upsetting Me is a good one. Just listened to his Dive Bar Casanova album. Real good stuff.
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.
BR 549? I smell a fan.
The Cool show Phil!