The Beat Farmers, one of roots rock's most beloved but unsung combos, is finally getting their due with a deluxe reissue of their classic 1985 debut album, Tales of the New West, due April 2 from Blixa Sounds.
This deluxe CD reissue features all 12 tracks from the original album released on Rhino Records, as well as a second disc, Live at the Spring Valley Inn, 1983, a 21-song recording of The Beat Farmers on their home turf of San Diego that helped land the band a record deal.
Tales of the New West features The Beat Farmers classic lineup of singer-guitarists Jerry Raney and Buddy Blue, bassist Rolle Dexter and drummer-singer Country Dick Montana and the band's trademark double-barrel attack. The Farmers had the unique talent to deliver a mix of earnest roots rock with killer riffs on originals like Blue's "Lost Weekend" and Raney's "Showbiz" and choice covers of the Velvet Underground's "There She Goes Again" and Bruce Springsteen's "Reason to Believe." They capped it all off with the over-the-top lunacy of Country Dick on tracks such as "California Kid" and "Happy Boy."
Steve Berlin, of Los Lobos, co-produced Tales of the New West, and blows sax on "Showbiz." Other special guests on the album include Chip and Tony Kinman of Rank & File, Peter Case of the Plimsouls, Sid Griffin of The Long Ryders, the Bangles' Vicki Peterson as well as future Beat Farmer Joey Harris and "Bigger Stones" songwriter Paul Kamanski. …...more
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