In August, 1983, a yet-to-be-named band begins to play a series of unannounced dates at the Spring Valley Inn. For a case of Bud Light, the band gets the name the "Beat Farmers". In January, 1984, the BFers begin playing Bodies, a dive bar in San Diego. By March, they are signed to Rhino Records for a one album deal. Armed with a $4000 budget, they record "Tales Of The New West" (featuring the Country Dick standard "Happy Boy").