The Pursuit of Happiness (Beat Farmers album)
{{Infobox album
| name = The Pursuit of Happiness
| type = studio
| artist = the Beat Farmers
| cover = The Pursuit of Happiness (Beat Farmers album).jpg
| alt =
| released = 1987
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio = Indigo Ranch, Malibu, CA
| genre =
| length =
| label = Curb/MCA{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vBVjDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1980-IA168|title=Goldmine Record Album Price Guide|first=Martin|last=Popoff|date=September 8, 2009|publisher=Penguin}}
| producer = Dave Jerden
| prev_title = Van Go
| prev_year = 1986
| next_title = Poor and Famous
| next_year = 1989
}}
The Pursuit of Happiness is an album by the American band the Beat Farmers, released in 1987.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/beat-farmers-mn0000038661/biography|title=Beat Farmers Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=AllMusic}}{{cite news |last1=Arnold |first1=Thomas K. |title=Montana's Music Takes 'Lot of Guts' |work=Los Angeles Times |date=23 May 1987 |department=Calendar |page=1}} The band supported the album with a North American tour that included shows with Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper.{{cite news |last1=MacInnis |first1=Craig |title='Howdy!' says Country Dick Montana of the Beat Farmers |work=Toronto Star |date=25 Sep 1987 |page=E18}}{{cite news |last1=Gleason |first1=Holly |title=Farmers Dish Out Country-Flavored, Home-Grown Fun |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1 Jan 1988 |department=Calendar |page=27}}
The first single, "Dark Light", peaked at No. 27 on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart.{{cite news |last1=Infusino |first1=Divina |title=New LP is boom or bust for Beat Farmers |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=July 25, 1987 |page=C1}}{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |title=Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008 |date=2008 |publisher=Record Research Inc. |page=28}} "Hollywood Hills", for which a video was shot, was also released as a single.{{cite news |last1=Faris |first1=Mark |title=Earthy Name Hasn't Hurt Farmer's Beat |work=Akron Beacon Journal |date=September 25, 1987 |page=C1}}
Production
Recorded at Indigo Ranch, in Malibu, the album was produced by Dave Jerden.{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Jae-Ha |title=Beat Farmers cultivate their music |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=September 18, 1987 |department=Weekend Plus |page=11}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZHP-r9-eqdAC&pg=PA781|title=Alternative Rock|first=Dave|last=Thompson|date=September 14, 2000|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation}}{{cite news |last1=Infusino |first1=Divina |title=Local news |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=February 4, 1987 |page=D7}} Founding member Buddy Blue was replaced by Joey Harris. Country Dick Montana sang on the cover of Johnny Cash's "Big River".{{cite web |title=Beat Farmers |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/beat-farmers/ |website=Trouser Press |access-date=14 September 2022}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TbRsHp57CqwC&pg=PA39|title=The American Book of the Dead|first=Oliver|last=Trager|date=December 4, 1997|publisher=Simon and Schuster}} "Rosie" is a cover of the Tom Waits song.{{cite news |last1=Hiltbrand |first1=David |title=Farmers Rock at Cabaret |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=5 Oct 1987 |page=E4}} Steve Berlin played saxophone on the album.{{cite news |last1=Healy |first1=James |title=Beat Farmers Get Down to Business in Wake of Buddy Blue's Departure |work=Omaha World-Herald |date=August 9, 1987 |department=Entertainment}} In a dig at the PMRC, the band allegedly included a "positive" subliminal message on the album.
Critical reception
{{album ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/pursuit-of-happiness-mw0000196696|title=Beat Farmers Pursuit of Happiness|website=AllMusic}}
|rev2 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
|rev2score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=1 |page=485}}
|rev3 = Houston Chronicle
|rev3score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news |last1=Racine |first1=Marty |title=Records |work=Houston Chronicle |date=August 16, 1987 |department=Zest |page=11}}
|rev4 = Los Angeles Daily News
|rev5 = MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide
|rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |date=1999 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |pages=85–86}}
|rev6 = The Philadelphia Inquirer
|rev6score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite news |last1=Tucker |first1=Ken |title=The Beat Farmers The Pursuit of Happiness |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=23 Aug 1987 |page=G9}}
}}
The Vancouver Sun called the album "rocking with the familiar tough R&B favored by guitarist Jerry Raney, reeling with the hilarious depravity favored by wildman drummer Country Dick, and soaring with the touch of majesty brought into the fold by Harris."{{cite news |last1=Mackie |first1=John |title=Beat Farmers harvest even better crop |work=Vancouver Sun |date=8 Aug 1987 |page=D9}} The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote: "Blunt, vehement rock that regularly partakes of a country lilt, this is the West Coast quartet's best album yet."
The Houston Chronicle noted that "few if any rock bands have a better understanding of the essential difference between ego and art." The Los Angeles Daily News concluded: "Until either Rainy or Harris cuts a path as striking as Montana's, the Farmers will be just another good rockin' roots band with a joke instead of a great band with a sense of humor." The Times determined that "although the Farmers hold rank as possibly the greatest bar-band in the world, this is a patchy collection redeemed mostly by the efforts of the new guitarist, Joey Harris."{{cite news |last1=Sinclair |first1=David |title=Back to the hot Rod – Rock Records |work=The Times |date=May 28, 1988}} The Oregonian listed the album among the 10 best of 1987.{{cite news |last1=Tomlinson |first1=Stuart |title=Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree: 10 Albums to Get You Started |work=The Oregonian |date=December 13, 1987 |page=B17}}
AllMusic deemed "Hollywood Hills" "one of the finest tracks the group ever recorded."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| title1 = Hollywood Hills
| length1 = 4:17
| title2 = Ridin'
| length2 = 4:08
| title3 = Dark Light
| length3 = 4:06
| title4 = Make It Last
| length4 = 3:59
| title5 = Key to the World
| length5 = 3:22
| title6 = God Is Here Tonight
| length6 = 3:38
| title7 = Big Big Man
| length7 = 3:53
| title8 = Elephant Day Parade
| length8 = 2:42
| title9 = Rosie
| length9 = 2:22
| title10 = Texas
| length10 = 3:24
| title11 = Big River
| length11 = 2:38
}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{The Beat Farmers}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pursuit of Happiness}}