On this day (March 6) in 1970 Charles Manson released the album Lie: The Love and Terror Cult. Manson recorded the album’s 14 tracks before being arrested in connection to the Tate-LeBianca murders. At the time of the album’s release, he was incarcerated while awaiting trial for the slayings.
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Most would be surprised that the leader of the infamous Manson Family was also an aspiring singer/songwriter who had ties to the Beach Boys. More specifically, he and members of his cult frequented Brian Wilson’s house for a time. He recorded several songs in Wilson’s home studio. Later, Wilson and the Beach Boys would rework one of Manson’s songs. “Never Learn Not to Love” was based on Manson’s “Cease to Exist” which appears on Lie: The Love and Terror Cult.
[RELATED: 5 Songs You Didn’t Know Serial Killer Charles Manson Wrote]
How Charles Manson Released an Album from Jail
According to Billboard, Charles Manson met record producer Phil Kaufman while they were serving time in Los Angeles County Jail. In 1968, Kaufman moved to Spahn Ranch to live among the Manson Family. While there, he pushed Manson to record the songs he would regularly play and sing while surrounded by members of his cult.
After being arrested for the Tate-LeBianca murders, Manson called Kaufman multiple times a day to demand that he release his music. The cult leader hoped that sales of the album would help fund his legal defense. That was not the case. All established labels turned Kaufman and the album away. As a result, he worked with Awareness Records to release 2,000 copies of Lie. It sold 300 copies.
Subsequent Releases and Streaming
Failing to recoup his investment on the original West Coast release, Kaufman took the album to the New York-based ESP-DISK Records to reissue the album later that year. The label released it on both vinyl and cassette. The next year, the label partnered with Movieplay to release the album in Spain. A decade later, Come Organisation released it in the United Kingdom. Then, Awareness Records rereleased the album on vinyl and CD in 1987. After several more physical releases, a remastered version of the album reached digital streaming platforms in 2023. The digital copy features the 12 extra tracks included in the 2006 ESP-Disk CD release.
While the album was originally a resounding flop, it gained popularity with true crime fans and those who have an interest in the Manson case. It has garnered millions of streams since its streaming debut. However, Charles Manson wouldn’t live to see his minor streaming success.
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