Tales of the New West
Studio album by
the Beat Farmers
Released1985
LabelRhino
ProducerSteve Berlin, Mark Linett
The Beat Farmers chronology
Tales of the New West
(1985)		 Glad 'N' Greasy
(1986)

Tales of the New West is the debut album by the American band the Beat Farmers, released in 1985.[1][2] The band signed a one-album deal with Rhino Records.[3] The album peaked at No. 186 on the Billboard 200.[4] It had sold more than 40,000 copies by the end of 1985.[5] An expanded edition of Tales of the New West was reissued in 2004.[6]

The Beat Farmers dismissed the "cowpunk" label, noting their blues, folk, and roadhouse rock influences.[7]

Production

Recorded for $4,000, the album was produced by Steve Berlin and Mark Linett.[8] "Reason to Believe" is a cover of the Bruce Springsteen song. "Never Goin' Back" was written by John Stewart.[9] "There She Goes Again" is a cover of the Lou Reed song.[10] The Kinman brothers provided backing vocals.[11] "Where Do They Go" is about the end of old friendships.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Robert ChristgauB[13]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[14]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[15]

Trouser Press wrote that "the quartet does the '50s-come-'80s neo-country-rock stomp with enthusiasm, economy and not a hint of phoniness or self-consciousness."[11] The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that "the sound is a mix of Creedence Clearwater and Them—rollicking rock-country music with roaring, ragged vocals."[15] Robert Christgau noted that, "like so many roots bands, they write good songs and cover better ones."[13] The Star Tribune listed Tales of the New West as the fifth best album of 1985.[16]

The Gazette concluded that "this amazing, blenderized, junk-food LP consists of equal parts rock 'n' roll, blues, folk, R & B, C & W and humor, put together by four guys and a couple of friends who play music because they're not qualified to do anything else."[17] The Globe and Mail opined that "the 'humorous' tunes—'California Kid' and 'Happy Boy'—aren't funny."[18] The Los Angeles Times determined that "some of the carefree barroom exercises are clumsy, but the best of them give the album an intriguing tension that grows out of the conflict between commitment and independence."[19]

AllMusic labeled the album "a casual masterpiece, a great little record that delivers a fistful of killer tunes and a few laughs with plenty of sweat and not much fuss."[9] In 1995, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote that it "remains one of the '80s cornerstones, a masterful mix of roots-rock influences with taste and restraint, as well as great songs."[20]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Bigger Stones" 
2."There She Goes Again" 
3."Reason to Believe" 
4."Lost Weekend" 
5."California Kid" 
6."Never Goin' Back" 
7."Goldmine" 
8."Showbiz" 
9."Lonesome Hound" 
10."Where Do They Go" 
11."Selfish Heart" 
12."Happy Boy" 

References

  1. ↑ "Beat Farmers Biography by Mark Deming". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  2. ↑ Leland, John (Aug 1985). "The Beat Farmers: A Field Study". Spin. Vol. 1, no. 4. p. 20.
  3. ↑ Infusino, Divina (30 Jan 1985). "Beat Farmers sowing seeds of success". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. C4.
  4. ↑ "Top Pop Albums". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 24. Jun 15, 1985. p. 77.
  5. ↑ Infusino, Divina (25 Sep 1985). "Beat Farmers get serious with new recording deal". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D7.
  6. ↑ Wolgamott, L. Kent (9 Apr 2004). "The Reissue Imprint". Lincoln Journal Star. p. X10.
  7. ↑ Damsker, Matt (3 Mar 1985). "Rustic Rock from the Last Outpost". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 59.
  8. ↑ "Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 7. Feb 16, 1985. p. 74.
  9. 1 2 3 "Tales of the New West Review by Mark Deming". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  10. ↑ Ravago, Steve (25 Oct 1984). "The Week in Music". Zones. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 12.
  11. 1 2 "Beat Farmers". Trouser Press. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  12. ↑ Miley, Scott L. (25 Aug 1985). "Underground Rock Movement Brings New Bands to the Fore". The Indianapolis Star. p. 5E.
  13. 1 2 "The Beat Farmers". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  14. ↑ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 50.
  15. 1 2 Rea, Steven (10 Feb 1985). "The Beat Farmers Tales of the New West". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. K13.
  16. ↑ Bream, Jon (26 Jan 1986). "Music with a message gave '85 pop scene a lift". Star Tribune. p. 1G.
  17. ↑ Griffin, John (11 Apr 1985). "Beat Farmers win the New West". The Gazette. p. C3.
  18. ↑ Lacey, Liam (2 May 1985). "Inside the Sleeve Pop". The Globe and Mail. p. E5.
  19. ↑ Hilburn, Robert (5 May 1985). "Pop Music Disc Derby". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 58.
  20. ↑ Pick, Steve (29 Sep 1995). "Ten years ago...". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 4E.
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