IM: WHUSDJ
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Bluegrass Rules
Country Dick Montana, nee Dan McLain, (5-11-55 – 11-08-95) was the drummer and lead vocal on various songs for the 80s San Diego country rock band “The Beat Farmers”. While battling throat cancer, he spent time in the recording studio, not knowing what his voice would be like after surgery. These recordings became the basis for a solo album, released after his death. I consider “The Devil Lied To Me” as one of my essential CDs for any collection. The track listing is as follows:
- Indigo Rider (5:40)
- Rich Man’s Town (3:58)
- The Home Front, Part One (1:31)
- Headed Out For Texas (2:26)
- Picture Of You (2:29)
- Anywhere (4:06)
- I Wanted You To Know (3:46)
- The Home Front, Part Two (:54)
- Listen To Her Heart (2:28)
- Hurt By Love (3:08)
- Party Dolls And Wine (3:31)
- It’s Only Cocaine (3:17)
- Green Door (2:26)
- Trendy Shitbag (3:07)
- The Home Front, Part Three (:12)
- King Of The Hobos (1:36)
- Tweak Twuck/Bum Rap (1:21)
- Suddenly There’s A Valley (2:12)
- The Only Whore Around (2:20)
The musical backing is first class, including fellow Beat Farmers Joey Harris and Jerry Raney on rhythm guitars; Dave Alvin on lead guitar, Rosie Flores on slide guitar. Supporting vocals are provided by blues singer Candye Kane, Katy Moffatt, Dave Alvin, Stella McCoy, Jerry Raney, Joey Harris, and Mojo Nixon. The liner notes indicate there may be a second volume released in the future. I hope that is the case. The songs are quite diverse as a group, at least two of them dating back to the mid fifties – “Green Door” was a pop hit for Jim Lowe, and “Suddenly There’s A Valley” was popularized by a Gogi Grant recording. “The Devil Lied To Me” was released in 1996 on Bar/None Records, and is highly recommended for any collection. The legendary Country Dick lives on through his music, this CD being some of the best. Dick, in the liner notes, states: “A sweeping, high-octane concept saga chronicling one man’s pursuit of decency, discovery of the gutter, and triumphant withdrawal as he stumbles onto the meaning of it all!” I couldn’t have said it better. Cheers, Dick!
