Frank Black (album)
Encyclopedia
Frank Black is the first solo album from the American
alternative rock
musician Frank Black
. The album was recorded in 1992 and released on 9 March 1993 via 4AD
, after the breakup of the Pixies.
The album was similar in style, both musically and lyrically, to the Pixies' last album Trompe le Monde. Frank Black was characterized by a focus on UFOs and science fiction, although he explored other eclectic subjects, such as in "I Heard Ramona Sing", a song about the Ramones
, which also appears on the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Soundtrack.
Two singles from the album - "Los Angeles" and "Hang on to Your Ego" - were released in 1993. "Los Angeles" is featured on the game Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
, about a possible solo record. He told Norton he was keen to record again, even though he had no new material; as a result, the two decided on a covers album
. However, by the time Francis visited a recording studio
again in 1992, he had "plenty of tunes and musical scraps".
He collaborated with Eric Drew Feldman
to record new material; they began by trimming down the number of covers to one, The Beach Boys
' "Hang On to Your Ego". Feldman became the album's producer, and played keyboard and bass guitar
on several songs, with former Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago
on lead guitar. Francis recorded the album during the hiatus and breakup of the Pixies in late 1992 and early 1993. He then adopted the stage name "Frank Black" (inverting his old persona "Black Francis") and released the results as Frank Black in March 1993.
. The album was similar in style, both musically and lyrically, to the Pixies' albums Bossanova and Trompe le Monde. Feldman later said that the first record connected his solo career with Trompe le Monde, "but at the same time it is an island, like nothing else he [Black] did".
In live performances, Black said the song Czar was about folk singer John Denver
, particularly his energy crisis
-era activism and his unsuccessful attempt to become a space tourist.
of Beach Boys fame and Terry Sachen (in the album sleeve the song is erroneously credited to Brian Wilson and Tony Asher).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
musician Frank Black
Frank Black
Black Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
. The album was recorded in 1992 and released on 9 March 1993 via 4AD
4AD
4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...
, after the breakup of the Pixies.
The album was similar in style, both musically and lyrically, to the Pixies' last album Trompe le Monde. Frank Black was characterized by a focus on UFOs and science fiction, although he explored other eclectic subjects, such as in "I Heard Ramona Sing", a song about the Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
, which also appears on the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Soundtrack.
Two singles from the album - "Los Angeles" and "Hang on to Your Ego" - were released in 1993. "Los Angeles" is featured on the game Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, abbreviated to THAW, is a video game that was released for the PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo GameCube and PC on October 18, 2005. Part of the Tony Hawk series, the game was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision.The PC version of the game was ported and...
Recording and production
While the Pixies' 1991 album Trompe le Monde was being recorded, Black, known as Black Francis at the time, had discussions with the album's producer, Gil NortonGil Norton
Gil Norton is a British record producer known for his work with such bands as Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters, Tribe, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Feeder, The Distillers, Maxïmo Park, Counting Crows, Terrorvision, The Triffids, Del Amitri, James, The Feelers, The Beekeepers,...
, about a possible solo record. He told Norton he was keen to record again, even though he had no new material; as a result, the two decided on a covers album
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
. However, by the time Francis visited a recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
again in 1992, he had "plenty of tunes and musical scraps".
He collaborated with Eric Drew Feldman
Eric Drew Feldman
Eric Drew Feldman is an American keyboard and bass guitar player. Feldman has worked with Captain Beefheart, Fear, Snakefinger, The Residents, Pere Ubu, Pixies, dEUS, Katell Keineg, Frank Black, The Polyphonic Spree, Tripping Daisy, Reid Paley, Charlotte Hatherley, Custard, and PJ Harvey.He was...
to record new material; they began by trimming down the number of covers to one, The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
' "Hang On to Your Ego". Feldman became the album's producer, and played keyboard and bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on several songs, with former Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago
Joey Santiago
Joey Santiago is a Filipino-American guitarist and composer. Active since 1986, Santiago is best known as the lead guitarist for the American alternative rock band Pixies. After the band's breakup in 1993, Santiago produced musical scores for film and television documentaries, and he formed The...
on lead guitar. Francis recorded the album during the hiatus and breakup of the Pixies in late 1992 and early 1993. He then adopted the stage name "Frank Black" (inverting his old persona "Black Francis") and released the results as Frank Black in March 1993.
Music
Frank Black was characterized by a focus on UFOs and science fiction, although he explored other eclectic subjects, such as in "I Heard Ramona Sing", a song about the RamonesRamones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
. The album was similar in style, both musically and lyrically, to the Pixies' albums Bossanova and Trompe le Monde. Feldman later said that the first record connected his solo career with Trompe le Monde, "but at the same time it is an island, like nothing else he [Black] did".
In live performances, Black said the song Czar was about folk singer John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
, particularly his energy crisis
1979 energy crisis
The 1979 oil crisis in the United States occurred in the wake of the Iranian Revolution. Amid massive protests, the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, fled his country in early 1979 and the Ayatollah Khomeini soon became the new leader of Iran. Protests severely disrupted the Iranian oil...
-era activism and his unsuccessful attempt to become a space tourist.
Track listing
All songs written by Frank Black except track 3, written by Brian WilsonBrian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
of Beach Boys fame and Terry Sachen (in the album sleeve the song is erroneously credited to Brian Wilson and Tony Asher).
- "Los AngelesLos Angeles (Frank Black song)"Los Angeles" is a single written and performed by Black Francis, it was the first track on his solo debut album Frank Black, released in 1992. It served as the main theme song for the short lived but cult phenomenon VH1 talk show Late World with Zach. It was also featured in the soundtrack of Tony...
" - 4:08 - "I Heard Ramona Sing" - 3:40
- "Hang On to Your Ego" - 3:24
- "Fu Manchu" - 3:02
- "Places Named After Numbers" - 2:52
- "Czar" - 2:42
- "Old Black Dawning" - 2:02
- "Ten Percenter" - 3:28
- "Brackish Boy" - 1:35
- "Two Spaces" - 2:25
- "Tossed" (Instrumental Version) - 4:09
- "Parry the Wind High, Low" - 4:32
- "Adda Lee" - 2:00
- "Every Time I Go Around Here" - 3:31
- "Don't Ya Rile 'Em" - 2:52
Personnel
- Frank BlackFrank BlackBlack Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
: Vocals, guitar - Joey SantiagoJoey SantiagoJoey Santiago is a Filipino-American guitarist and composer. Active since 1986, Santiago is best known as the lead guitarist for the American alternative rock band Pixies. After the band's breakup in 1993, Santiago produced musical scores for film and television documentaries, and he formed The...
: Guitar - Eric Drew FeldmanEric Drew FeldmanEric Drew Feldman is an American keyboard and bass guitar player. Feldman has worked with Captain Beefheart, Fear, Snakefinger, The Residents, Pere Ubu, Pixies, dEUS, Katell Keineg, Frank Black, The Polyphonic Spree, Tripping Daisy, Reid Paley, Charlotte Hatherley, Custard, and PJ Harvey.He was...
: Bass, keyboards, synthetics - Nick VincentNick VincentNick Vincent is an American rock and roll, jazz, and studio drummer, producer and composer. Artists he has performed and/or recorded with include Frank Black, Donnie and Marie, Art Garfunkel, John Fogerty, Carole King, Jackie DeShannon, Ann-Margret, Hilary Duff, Hanson, Charlotte Hatherley, Ian...
: Drums, percussion - John LinnellJohn LinnellJohn Sidney Linnell is an American musician, is known primarily as one half of Brooklyn, New York alternative rock duo They Might Be Giants...
: Saxophone