Search - Beat Farmers :: Tales of the New West

The "real" Best of the Beat Farmers

Dean Stogsdill | Colorado, USA | 09/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't imagine how many times I have seeked, "beat farmers", in search engines, in vain hope that I might find "Tales of the New West" on cd. I had over ten years of only finding it on ebay where it would be selling for $25 or more. This is the true best of the Beat Farmers. If there is anyway for you to buy this cd now, buy it now! I had the privilege of seeing the Farmers many times in the Eighties and early Nineties, so I am sure this has skewed my love for this album and band.



It is almost twenty-years-old now and it does more than stand up. It still falls down and spills beer all over you. I listen to "Tales" almost on a weekly basis. Up to this cd release, all I had was the vinyl and a cassette recorded off my old turntable that played everything just a bit too fast. Even my off-speed recording was a treasure to me. Alt-country is all over the place now, but the Farmers were there when folks that wanted rock hated country and folks that wanted country hated rock. Yet, the Farmers still managed their way through it all in a brazen, beer swillin' and spillin' style that changed my life.



R.I.P. Country Dick"

Be Aware Of New Release

J. Hanson | 07/26/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I was glad to actually get my hands on a new copy of this CD after my original casette tape bit the dust. I paid the higher than average price due to the lack of supply and being a rare CD to find. Surprise to find what I actually received was a 2004 re-release with bonus tracks not on the original release. I was happy to have the additional music but what bothers me is that is was represented as the original copy and not a new release. I could have bought this at my local Tower Records for a lower price."

Great Debut by Classic Band, with Extras

Frank A. Kocher | San Diego | 06/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The "Expanded" Tales is lightening in a bottle. This is the best music put out by the best American band to come out of the 1980's, period. This roots/rockabilly/protopunk group of San Diego music scene stalwarts were together for only two full-length discs and an EP, and here are most of the best cuts from all three. The late Buddy Blue, in particular, shines on such rockabilly gems as his 'Goldmine', 'Lonesome Hound', 'Lost Weekend', and the great 'Gun Sale at the Church', included in a demo version here that is as good as the version on the group's excellent 'Van Go' album. His singing and guitar licks are matched by Jerry Raney's harder rocking edge on 'Selfish Heart', and the wistful 'Where Do They Go'. This would be a must-have without the six cuts from the EP "Glad n Greasy", which include the superb Blue title cut, the best cover of Neil Young's 'Powderfinger' ever done, and two other great cuts, 'Delayed Reaction' and 'Death Train'. The late Country Dick Montana is in full, booming voice on cut after cut as well-his best moments being the hilarious 'California Kid' and 'Beat Generation'. The addition of several cuts from the group's live demo album at the end are cream on top of this prize. If you get this disc and don't come away convinced that Blue was one of the best rockabilly songwriters and slide guitarists of the time, Raney one of the rock guitarists ever, and Montana an all-time great entertainer, you need to look for your music soul."