The genre for Manson’s album is listed under: Contemporary folk,
psychedelic folk, and freak folk.
Lie: The Love and Terror Cult is the debut studio album by convicted criminal
and folk singer-songwriter Charles Manson. It was released on vinyl by Phil
Kaufman, through a label called Awareness Records. After established record
companies declined to become involved, Kaufman raised $3,000 and had
2,000 copies pressed. The money from album sales was used to help
finance his defense against murder charges.
Although not a commercial success, the album has received critical praise by
reviewers such as those in the All Music Guide, and it retains a following among
people interested in the Manson case, with multiple covers and samples made
by musicians from the album. Examples include artists like Guns N’ Roses and
Marilyn Manson.
The album cover is a parody of the December 19, 1969 Life magazine cover,
which featured Manson. During a 1991 interview with radio talk show host Ron
Reagan Jr.,Charles Manson stated that "That particular album was made off a
little old $7 tape recorder.