Kiss of Death

Katie Elder had four sons. After she dies, her sons return home to Clearwater, Texas for her funeral. One son, the youngest named Bud (Michael Anderson Jr.) was living at home with her. The other three sons return home from their various locations. It is a small family reunion, although for a sad occasion. The eldest son, John (John Wayne) is a tough, well-known gunslinger. The second son, Tom, (Dean Martin) is a gambler. And the third son, Matt, (Earl Holliman) is the quiet one, but tough too. After coming home for the funeral, the sons are shocked to learn that the mother didn’t have any land or money because the father lost it gambling. As they further look into the matter further, they realize that something crooked happened and now they are determined to get justice.

Although it was the Lords' third release, The Method to Our Madness sounds more like a debut. The band is bursting with energy and the production, by Chris Tsangerides, is much rawer than that on The Lords of the New Church or Is Nothing Sacred? The opening salvo is "Method to My Madness," a four-on-the-floor rocker with a vocal contribution by I.R.S. Records impresario Miles Copeland, who admonishes Stiv Bator, "Now don't go tellin' secrets/This record's gotta sell!"

"… hits a fair compromise, modulating both the volume and the velocity to lighten the mood and cut the stylishness … resembles a cross between Iggy's Raw Power and Idol's Rebel Yell."