Boones Farm were an early 1970s country rock band who were signed to the Columbia label. Releasing an album and two singles, they had some chart success with the song "If You Can't Be My Woman". Two of the group's members would later become the Dalton & Dubarri duo.
Background The history goes back to an Idaho band, Churchill Downs, which included Fred Darling and guitarist Gary Stovall in their line up. Finishing school, Darling and Stovall moved to Southern California. There they were doing reasonably well playing in Los Angeles clubs during the late 1960s. This ended when Darling was drafted into the army. Darling returned to Los Angeles in 1971, having done his time in the army. Stovall had put together a group and invited Darling to join. The group became the quartet, Boones Farm featuring Kent Sprague on vocals, Darling on drums, Stovall on guitar, and bassist Brad Palmer. Columbia Records eventually got wind of this group and signed them up.Rockasteria, Wednesday, July 29, 2015 - Plain and Fancy, Boones Farm - Boones Farm (1972 us, awesome rural hard rock, Vinyl edition) They had some chart success with their composition, "If You Can't Be My Woman" which was produced by Jim Messina.Cash Box, July 29, 1972 - Page 28 LOOKING AHEADCash Box, August 5, 1972 - Page 31 LOOKING AHEADBillboard, June 3, 1972 - Page 52 POP
Their booking in 1972 was handled by Associated Booking Corp which was located on 445 Park Ave, New York.Billboard, July 22, 1972 - Page 54 BOOKING AGENCIES
At some stage they took on board ex-Chase drummer, Jay Mitthauer.The Sheboygan Press, Thursday, March 1, 1973 - Page 11 Lakeland Board Books Boone's Farm Quartet
Career By June 3, 1972, their self-titled album Boones Farm had been released on Columbia KC 31408. With the Billboard reviewer calling it modified country-blues rock, it was described as a flawless production by Jim Messina. The reviewer also said that the total feel was exhilarating and enlivening, with the song picks being, "The Me Nobody Knows", "Livin' Together" and "Good Ole Feelin'".Billboard, June 3, 1972 - Page 36 Billboard Album Reviews The musicians who played on the album were, Kent Sprague on vocals and percussion, Gary Stovall on vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, Brad Palmer on vocals, bass and acoustic guitar, Fred Darling on drums, and Milt Holland on percussion.Praguefrank's Country Music Discographies, TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2022 - Boone's Farm
"If You Can't Be My Woman" The single, "If You Can't Be My Woman" was a Record World Single Pick in the June 17 edition. The reviewer noted the soft harmonic vocals and acoustic guitar strumming with the instruction for the listener to "Get into it".Record World, June 17, 1972 - Page 34 Record World Single Picks Along with "Motorcycle Mama" by Sailcat, "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" by Jim Croce and "Beautiful Sunday" by Daniel Boone, their song, "If You Can't Be My Woman" was on the Top 40 station KLEO Wichita play list for the week of July 8.Cash Box, July 8, 1972 - Page 22 Additions To Radio Playlists, A broad view of the titles many of radio's key Top 40 stations added to their "Playlists" last week, KLEO-WICHITA On July 15, it was still on KLEO's play list.Cash Box, July 15, 1972 - Page 18 Additions To Radio Playlists, A broad view of the titles many of radio's key Top 40 stations added to their "Playlists" last week, KLEO-WICHITA It was on the WIXY-Cleveland play list by July 22.Cash Box, July 22, 1972 - Page 14 Additions To Radio Playlists, A broad view of the titles many of radio's key Top 40 stations added to their "Playlists" last week, WIXY-CLEVELAND By July 29, it was on the WMEX-Boston play list. It was also charting and at #124 in the Cash Box Looking Ahead Chart, just behind "Baby I'm For Real" by Esther Phillips.Cash Box, July 29, 1972 - Additions To Radio Playlists, A broad view of the titles many of radio's key Top 40 stations added to their "Playlists" last week, WMEX-BOSTONCash Box, July 29, 1972 - Page 28 LOOKING AHEAD The following week it was at #114.Cash Box, August 5, 1972 - Page 31 LOOKING AHEAD
Further activities It was reported by Record World in the September 9 issue that the group were looking for a new manager. They had also got the attention of wine manufacturing heir David Gallo over the use of the name, Boones Farm. He was considering taking legal action against the group.Record World, September 9, 1972 - Page 14 THE COAST By JOHN GIBSON
Along with Black Oak Arkansas, the Eagles, The Chambers Brothers etc., they played at the Erie Canal Soda Pop Festival which was held on Bull Island, Indiana on labor Day in September. The concert had between 200,000 and 300,000 attendees.Indiana Rock History - ERIE CANAL SODA POP FESTIVAL (FRI 9/2-SUN 9/4)
They appeared at the KGB-AM sponsored concert at San Diego Stadium on November 12 which also had the J. Geils Band, Foghat, Jesse Colin Young and Quicksilver lined up. The event was attended by a record crowd of 51,778.Billboard, November 18, 1972 - Page 43 Talent, From The Music Capitals of the World, LOS ANGELESThe Uncool - Home Grown
On March 5, 1973, they were set to play at the Lakeland College campus in Wisconsin. At that time the line up consisted of Gary Stovall, Brad Palmer, Kent Sprague and Jay Mitthauer.The Sheboygan Press, Thursday, March 1, 1973 - Page 11 Lakeland Board Books Boone's Farm Quartet
Later years After Boones Farm broke up, Gary Stovall aka Gary Dalton and Kent Sprague aka Kent Dubarri formed the duo Dalton & Dubarri in 1973, releasing four albumsMusic Metason - ArtistInfo, Dalton & DubarriMusic Metason - ArtistInfo, Gary DaltonMusic Metason - ArtistInfo, Kent Dubarri and having a hit with "I Can Dance All By Myself".
Discography + Singles Act Release Catalogue Year Notes Boones Farm "If You Can't Be My Woman" / "Start Today" Columbia 4-45623 1972 Boones Farm " Good Old Feelin'" / "Start Today" Columbia 4-45713 1972 Praguefrank's Country Music Discographies, TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2022 - Boone's Farm
+ Album Act Release Catalogue Year Notes Boones Farm Boones Farm Columbia KC 31408 1972 Billboard, June 3, 1972 - Page 36 Billboard Album Reviews
Musicians Gary Stovall - vocals, acoustic and electric guitars Brad Palmer - vocals, bass and acoustic guitar Fred Darling - drums Kent Sprague - vocals and percussion Milt Holland - percussionPraguefrank's Country Music Discographies, TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2022 - Boone's Farm Jay Mitthauer - DrumsThe Sheboygan Press, Thursday, March 1, 1973 - Page 11 Lakeland Board Books Boone's Farm Quartet
Further reading The Sheboygan Press, Thursday, March 1, 1973 - Page 11 Lakeland Board Books Boone's Farm Quartet Venenos Do Rock, sexta-feira, 28 de maio de 2010 Boones Farm - Boones Farm (1972 US Hard-Country-Blues Rock) Johnkatsmc5 Boones Farm "Boones Farm" 1972 Southern Hard Rock Rockasteria Boones Farm - Boones Farm (1972 us, awesome rural hard rock, Vinyl edition
References
Links Discogs: Boones Farm Joe Bonamassa, Topic: Boone's Farm OoCities.org: BadCat Records - Boones Farm