The Pursuit of Happiness is an album by the American band the Beat Farmers, released in 1987.[2][3] The band supported the album with a North American tour that included shows with Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper.[4][5]

The first single, "Dark Light", peaked at No. 27 on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart.[6][7] "Hollywood Hills", for which a video was shot, was also released as a single.[8]

Production

Recorded at Indigo Ranch, in Malibu, the album was produced by Dave Jerden.[9][10][11] Founding member Buddy Blue was replaced by Joey Harris.[12] Country Dick Montana sang on the cover of Johnny Cash's "Big River".[12][13] "Rosie" is a cover of the Tom Waits song.[14] Steve Berlin played saxophone on the album.[15]

In a dig at the PMRC, the band allegedly included a "positive" subliminal message on the album.[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[16]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[17]
Houston Chronicle	[18]
Los Angeles Daily News	B[19]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[20]
The Philadelphia Inquirer	[21]

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."[22] The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote: "Blunt, vehement rock that regularly partakes of a country lilt, this is the West Coast quartet's best album yet."[21]

The Houston Chronicle noted that "few if any rock bands have a better understanding of the essential difference between ego and art."[18] 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."[19] 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."[23]

AllMusic deemed "Hollywood Hills" "one of the finest tracks the group ever recorded."[16] The Oregonian listed the album among the 10 best of 1987.[24]

Track listing

References