Posted on

The Beach Boys — 653, 654

ALBUMS: Pet Sounds (1966) Shut Down Volume 2 (1964)

MVC Rating:  Pet Sounds, 5.0/$$$$$; Shut Down 4.0/$$$$

So, we’ve had the Beat Farmers, Beat Rodeo and the Beat. Before we get to another band with a ‘Beat’ in it, let’s go to the Beach.

This  copy of ‘Pet Sounds’ is a little worn. My rock roots were decidedly Beatles, Rolling Stones, the Who, Al Green, Hendrix, Janis, Otis Redding, Allmans and so on.

The Beach Boys didn’t sound like those. To my rock n roll ears, the Beach Boys tilted slightly toward Pat Boone’s version of ‘Tutti Frutti’ not Little Richard’s definitive take.

The Beach Boys on the west coast, specifically Southern California, seemed so white-surfer- boy with a decidedly middle class orientation — and there’s nothing wrong with that.

But for all their initial radio beach and car songs, there was genius at work from Brian Wilson. Listening to arguably their best work, ‘Pet Sounds,’ one is struck  by the arrangements and interlocking melodies, a jazz sensibility.  ‘God only Knows’ is a near perfect song. Sloop John is perennial.

Shut Down has Fun, Fun, Fun, which is definitely worth the three Funs. Shut Down also had some talking interludes which reminded me of a Zappa interlude if Zappa wasn’t so cynical. Come to think of it Zappa was actually making fun of the Beach Boys. Interestingly on Pet Sounds, there is some secret freak out at the end of the album after ‘Caroline No.’

Counting down my 678  vinyl records  before I die of  brain disease.

Posted on

The Beat Farmers — 656, 655

ALBUMS: Tales of the New West (1985), Van Go (1986)

MVC  Rating: ‘Tales’ 4.0/$$, Van Go  3.0/$$

Now this group I haven’t listened to in more than a decade but I remember a time in the 1980s that some of my close Birmingham News friends thought this (first record anyway) was the greatest thing since sliced  beets. We even had a tradition that lasted years where we passed around a can of beets. Never opened it mind you, just passed it along, the same can.

I don’t know how it started exactly but at the height of Beat Farmer mania, someone bought a can of beets to a party held by say Will and Adele. So then Bob and Tondee have a party and guess what:  Will has a can of beets behind his back. Surprise! Beets! Tag you’re it!

(I know it, sounds like a B-52’s song but that’s what happens when you are living in your own private Idaho). This little beet shenanigans was going on about 1985-86

When the Beat Farmers came to Birmingham we all went to the Nick to see them. Or was it still the The Wooden Nickel at that time? Anyway, the band lived up to its reputation as being one of the best bar bands anywhere.

I have to say, and stop me if you can, but I truly believe that The Beat Farmers’ style was rootsy,  and grounded in the beat.

And they were  funny. If not a little profane.

Their funny songs were often sung by the now deceased Country Dick  Montana, who had to be midway between 6 and 7 feet tall and had a bass voice so low, it made the china chatter when we put one of his songs on in the  house. Here’s a sample lyric from California Kid with Country Dick on beat vocals (at the risk of revealing what we all thought was funny when we were 20-somethings.

She undid my boots, she untied my jeans
She untied my tubes I had tied in my teens
‘Bout that time the front door was kicked in
And there stood some scumball all covered in sin
He said “that’s my woman” I said “that’s no lie”
I blew a hole in him just as big as the sky

I got my Colt Forty Five, right by my side
I’m the California Kid, I hope you’re quite prepared to die

Whew! The Beat Farmers ladies and gentlemen.

They also had a song called Happy Boy which was silly enough to be a regular feature on the Dr. Demento show.

Country Dick died Nov. 8, 1996 with his boots on in the middle of a song, massive heart attack at age 40.

The video below will feature one of their more ‘normal’ songs.

Counting down my 678  vinyl records  before I die of  brain disease.