Poor & Famous

Last updated

Poor & Famous
Poor.Famous.jpg
Studio album by
Released1989
StudioIndigo Ranch, Malibu, CA/The Complex, Los Angeles, CA/A&M Studios, Los Angeles, CA/Hit Single, San Diego, CA
Genre Rock
Label Curb/MCA
Producer Thom Panunzio
The Beat Farmers chronology
The Pursuit of Happiness
(1987)
Poor & Famous
(1989)
Viking Lullabys
(1994)

Poor & Famous is an album by the American band the Beat Farmers, released in 1989. [1] [2] It was produced by Thom Panunzio and executive produced by Denny Bruce. Its release was delayed by months by Curb/MCA, which urged the band to write "hit" songs. [3] The band supported the album with a North American tour. [4]

Contents

The album is the band's first to include all original songs (with writing help from Steve Marshall on "Wait So Long" and "The Trouble with You"; David & Douglas Farange on "If I Can Hold"; Mojo Nixon on "King of Sleaze"; and frequent collaborator Paul Kamanski on "Time in Between"). [1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]

The Chicago Tribune said that the album "finds cow-punk pioneers the Beat Farmers moving, both musically and lyrically, into the rock mainstream." [8]

Trouser Press called the album "a confusing mess that tries to cover too many stylistic bases", noting that its "barren personality deprives [the songs] of intensity." [9]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Socialite"3:40
2."Hideway"5:13
3."What I Mean to Say"3:38
4."Wait So Long"4:10
5."Wheels"2:35
6."Girl I Almost Married"3:10
7."If I Can Hold"3:41
8."King of Sleaze"3:12
9."The Trouble with You"2:55
10."Time in Between"4:35

Personnel

References

  1. 1 2 Arnold, Thomas K. (28 September 1988). "Beat Farmers Are Beating Chests Over New Album". Entertainment. Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
  2. "Disc Drive". Calgary Herald. 27 July 1989. p. D5.
  3. Mackie, John (19 November 1988). "Farmers returning to rock Vancouver". The Vancouver Sun. p. D16.
  4. Mackie, John (12 August 1989). "Mayhem and sleaze as the raucous Beat Farmers come bouncing back". The Vancouver Sun. p. E12.
  5. "Beat Farmers – Poor & Famous: Overview". AllMusic.
  6. Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 431.
  7. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 50.
  8. Heim, Chris (28 July 1989). "Top o' the pops". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 80.
  9. "Beat Farmers". Trouser Press. Retrieved 5 June 2025.