Reid Paley
Encyclopedia
Reid Paley is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been performing and recording both solo and with his trio since the mid 1990s.
blues-band-from-hell The Five, which he founded in Pittsburgh, PA
. In the first year of the band’s existence The Five released limited pressings of a vinyl single Napalm Beach b/w Excite Me and an EP Act of Contrition The band later moved to Boston and spent several years headlining clubs and playing to enthusiastic crowds before breaking up in the late 1980s. A vinyl LP
entitled The Five was released posthumously.
, singing his songs and playing a 1955 Gretsch
archtop guitar
plugged into a 1965 Fender Super Reverb
amplifier.
After a series of self-released tapes available only at shows, Sub Pop
released his solo debut, the vinyl single Time For You b/w The Best Of All. Paley's first solo album Lucky's Tune was produced by Frank Black
(formerly and again Black Francis), and released by GoodNoise in 1999. This was followed in 2000 by the album Revival, featuring Paley accompanied by Robert Lee Oliver on the three-string bass and James Murray
on the trap kit
, and produced by Eric Drew Feldman
, who along with Jim Duffy also guests on the album. The album was released by eMusic
, and is the first recorded appearance of the Reid Paley Trio.
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Paley played across the USA and Western Europe, including numerous tours as support for Frank Black
. Paley and Black have also collaborated on the writing of a number of songs, some of which appear on the Frank Black
albums Honeycomb
("Another Velvet Nightmare"), Fast Man Raider Man
("I'm Not Dead (I'm In Pittsburgh)", "Golden Shore", "Dog Sleep", "Down To You"), and Christmass ("Don't Get Me Wrong"). A Frank Black & the Catholics recording of Paley's "Take What You Want" appears on their limited edition single "Everything Is New."
Paley toured the UK in 2004 and 2006, and plays the occasional festival, including the Vienna Festwochen/Into The City in Vienna, Austria (with Eric Drew Feldman
sitting in on keys), and the Blues Rules Festival in Crissier, Switzerland in May 2010 (with Jerome O'Brien sitting in on upright bass).
In 2007 the album Approximate Hellhound vs The Monkey Demon was released by Metaphor Rhythms. It was produced by Paley and, like all his previous releases, was recorded on analog tape. On this album he was accompanied by Eric Eble on Czechoslovakia
n upright bass and James Murray
on the trap kit
. As of 2011, this remains the current lineup of the Reid Paley Trio.
Reid Paley lives in Brooklyn, New York.
recorded an album of new songwriting collaborations, appearing under the moniker Paley & Francis.
The Paley & Francis album (also titled Paley & Francis) was produced by Jon Tiven
, and features Reid Paley and Black Francis on guitars and vocals, accompanied by Muscle Shoals
legends Spooner Oldham
on piano and David Hood
on bass. The album was released in October 2011 on Sonic Unyon
in North America, and on Cooking Vinyl
in the UK & Europe.
Paley & Francis debuted live in early September 2011 with club performances in Albany NY, Buffalo NY, and Hamilton Ontario (unannounced), and as one of the headliners of Hamilton Ontario's Supercrawl Festival. The band for these performances consisted of Reid Paley & Black Francis on guitars and vocals, Eric Eble (of the Reid Paley Trio) on bass, and David Varriale on drums.
Paley & Francis
Paley & Francis
Paley & Francis
Paley & Francis
Early career
In the 1980s, Paley was singer, front man, and writer for post-punkPost-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
blues-band-from-hell The Five, which he founded in Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. In the first year of the band’s existence The Five released limited pressings of a vinyl single Napalm Beach b/w Excite Me and an EP Act of Contrition The band later moved to Boston and spent several years headlining clubs and playing to enthusiastic crowds before breaking up in the late 1980s. A vinyl LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
entitled The Five was released posthumously.
Solo work / Reid Paley Trio
Returning to Brooklyn in the early 1990s, Paley continued writing and began performing solo in rock clubs on the Lower East SideLower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
, singing his songs and playing a 1955 Gretsch
Gretsch
The Gretsch Company was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a twenty-seven year old German immigrant recently arrived in the US. Friedrich Gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and drums, until his death in 1895. His son, Fred, moved operations to Brooklyn, New York in 1916...
archtop guitar
Archtop guitar
An archtop guitar is a steel-stringed acoustic or semi-acoustic guitar with a full body and a distinctive arched top, whose sound is particularly popular with blues and jazz players.Typically, an archtop guitar has:* 6 strings...
plugged into a 1965 Fender Super Reverb
Fender Super Reverb
The Fender Super Reverb was a guitar amplifier made by Fender. It was introduced in 1963 and was discontinued in 1982. This was essentially a Fender Super amplifier with built-in reverb and vibrato. The original Super Reverb amplifiers were all tube design and featured spring reverb. There were...
amplifier.
After a series of self-released tapes available only at shows, Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
released his solo debut, the vinyl single Time For You b/w The Best Of All. Paley's first solo album Lucky's Tune was produced by 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...
(formerly and again Black Francis), and released by GoodNoise in 1999. This was followed in 2000 by the album Revival, featuring Paley accompanied by Robert Lee Oliver on the three-string bass and James Murray
James Murray
-Politicians:* Lord James Murray , MP for Perthshire* James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl , Whig MP and lord of the Isle of Man from 1736–1764* Hon. James Murray -Politicians:* Lord James Murray (1663–1719), MP for Perthshire* James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl (1690–1764), Whig MP and lord of the Isle...
on the trap kit
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, and produced by 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...
, who along with Jim Duffy also guests on the album. The album was released by eMusic
EMusic
eMusic is an online music and audiobook store that operates by subscription. It is headquartered in New York City with an office in London and owned by Dimensional Associates. As of September 2008 eMusic has over 400,000 subscribers....
, and is the first recorded appearance of the Reid Paley Trio.
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Paley played across the USA and Western Europe, including numerous tours as support for 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...
. Paley and Black have also collaborated on the writing of a number of songs, some of which appear on the 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...
albums Honeycomb
Honeycomb (album)
Honeycomb is the tenth studio album by American alternative rock musician Frank Black, released in July 2005 on Back Porch Records. His first original solo work since 1996's The Cult of Ray, Honeycomb was recorded in Nashville, and features notable local session musicians, such as Steve Cropper and...
("Another Velvet Nightmare"), Fast Man Raider Man
Fast Man Raider Man
Fast Man Raider Man is a solo double album by Frank Black released in 2006.-Disc one:#"If Your Poison Gets You" - 2:56#"Johnny Barleycorn" - 4:50...
("I'm Not Dead (I'm In Pittsburgh)", "Golden Shore", "Dog Sleep", "Down To You"), and Christmass ("Don't Get Me Wrong"). A Frank Black & the Catholics recording of Paley's "Take What You Want" appears on their limited edition single "Everything Is New."
Paley toured the UK in 2004 and 2006, and plays the occasional festival, including the Vienna Festwochen/Into The City in Vienna, Austria (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...
sitting in on keys), and the Blues Rules Festival in Crissier, Switzerland in May 2010 (with Jerome O'Brien sitting in on upright bass).
In 2007 the album Approximate Hellhound vs The Monkey Demon was released by Metaphor Rhythms. It was produced by Paley and, like all his previous releases, was recorded on analog tape. On this album he was accompanied by Eric Eble on Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
n upright bass and James Murray
James Murray
-Politicians:* Lord James Murray , MP for Perthshire* James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl , Whig MP and lord of the Isle of Man from 1736–1764* Hon. James Murray -Politicians:* Lord James Murray (1663–1719), MP for Perthshire* James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl (1690–1764), Whig MP and lord of the Isle...
on the trap kit
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. As of 2011, this remains the current lineup of the Reid Paley Trio.
Reid Paley lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Paley & Francis
In the fall of 2010 in Nashville, Reid Paley and Black Francis/Frank BlackFrank 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...
recorded an album of new songwriting collaborations, appearing under the moniker Paley & Francis.
The Paley & Francis album (also titled Paley & Francis) was produced by Jon Tiven
Jon Tiven
Jon Tiven is a composer, guitarist and record producer. He has produced albums by Wilson Pickett, Frank Black and Don Covay as well as a series of tribute albums paying tribute to the songwriting of Don Covay, Arthur Alexander, Otis Blackwell, Curtis Mayfield, and Van Morrison.-Early career:He was...
, and features Reid Paley and Black Francis on guitars and vocals, accompanied by Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, also known as The Swampers, are a group of American soul, R&B, and country studio musicians based in the town of Muscle Shoals, Alabama...
legends Spooner Oldham
Spooner Oldham
Dewey Lindon "Spooner" Oldham is an American songwriter and session musician. An organist, he recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and at FAME Studios on such hit R&B songs as "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge, "Mustang Sally" by Wilson Pickett and "I Never Loved a Man" by Aretha...
on piano and David Hood
David Hood
David Hood , is a bassist from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He also plays the trombone and is a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame....
on bass. The album was released in October 2011 on Sonic Unyon
Sonic Unyon
Sonic Unyon Recording Company is an independent record label based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The retail store is located on Wilson Street near James Street North)...
in North America, and on Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl is a UK-based independent record company, founded in 1986. Its original orientation was toward contemporary folk music—notably Billy Bragg, and Michelle Shocked's Texas Campfire Tapes, recorded on a Sony Walkman, one of its first releases...
in the UK & Europe.
Paley & Francis debuted live in early September 2011 with club performances in Albany NY, Buffalo NY, and Hamilton Ontario (unannounced), and as one of the headliners of Hamilton Ontario's Supercrawl Festival. The band for these performances consisted of Reid Paley & Black Francis on guitars and vocals, Eric Eble (of the Reid Paley Trio) on bass, and David Varriale on drums.
Reviews
Reid Paley- "One of America's best -- and most underrated -- songwriters." --PopMattersPopMattersPopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
(Jennifer Kelly)
- "What? You want some kind of description of the artist and his music? Just fucking listen to the guy and enjoy his prowess." -- 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...
a.k.a. Black Francis
- "He's got mischief in his eye, Elvis in his joints, and booze everywhere else." --NY RockNY RockNY Rock is a music website that covers the New York City music scene. Founded in 1996, it contains music and movie news, interviews, concert reviews, a gig guide, feature articles and blogs....
(Jeanne Fury)
- "Everyone has a favorite drinking album, be it Sinatra's Only the Lonely or the Old 97's' Too Far to Care. Right now, mine is Revival (on emusic), the second full-length by Reid Paley." -- Seattle WeeklySeattle WeeklySeattle Weekly is a freely distributed newspaper in Seattle, Washington, United States. It was founded by Darrell Oldham and David Brewster as The Weekly...
(Kurt B. Reighley)
- "Just another impossibly excellent piece of work flying low, under the radar..." -- Ink 19 (James MacLaren)
- "It’s so distinctive that it takes a while for your listening organs to balance the gruff, hoarse voice with the excellent playing but the vocals fits perfectly with the honestly drunk blues of ‘Stay Awhile’ or the funny/profane ‘Yr Polish Uncle’. That song displays the other good thing about this record, the foul-mouthed and dark wit that produces lines like “shut your mouth and you’ll piss yourself a story/ about the spastic monkey and the whore” over a frenetic rock’n’roll rhythm that will have your spitting your dinner over the stereo in mirth." -- Sounds XP UK (Ged)
- "The Reid Paley Trio is simply rock and roll distilled to its purest form – a form that harkens back to when parents feared it, before Disney marketed it to pre-pubescents, before more people bought video games simulating playing a guitar than actually picked up a recording of someone playing a guitar.." --Jezebel Music (Brian Salvatore)
- "So many critics wax how Reid Paley is underrated, undiscovered talent -- but it's actually true. He's an immensely talented singer-guitarist-songwriter. When you listen to that subtly swinging rock and his deep bellow, it's easy to tell something special is afoot. This is the "real thing", but it doesn't comfortably fit in any category to reach the masses." --Cheap Thrills (Rob V)
Paley & Francis
- "What you get is two compelling performers and their songs...The fact that Paley and Francis wrote this album together over the course of three afternoons and then recorded it in two is part of its charm." -- Boston Phoenix
- "...the first full-length collaboration between Reid Paley and Black Francis winds up getting better the more you play it." - American Songwriter
- "Their voices and dark humor blend wonderfully—Francis' mid-range singing lifts Paley's deeper, more resonant sound, and the former's wit and word play are anchored by the other's irony and sarcasm...every song's a gem." - - Valley Advocate
- "...a great record from two musicians that sound like they’ve always played together." - - Slug Magazine
- "Despite the speed with which they were written and recorded the album never feels rushed or half hearted. There is a clear chemistry between the pair and without it they would not be able to pull off an album of this calibre in such a short space of time ...a strangely compelling listen." - - Tape to Tape UK
- "...in Paley & Francis their rapport is evident. Many listeners will have high expectations of Black Francis, and they won’t be disappointed." - - Shout4Music.com
- "...the songs come from a real place and, stripped of the luxury of endless edits and rewrites, cut right to the heart." - - TheWaster.com
- "...it’s now been proven that if you stick two prolific songwriters in a hotel suite for a couple of days, they’ll come out with a killer LP." - - Pop Damage
- Album of the Week - - QRO Magazine
Discography
Reid Paley- Time For You / The Best Of All, Sub PopSub PopSub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
vinyl single, 1997 (Produced by James MurrayJames Murray-Politicians:* Lord James Murray , MP for Perthshire* James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl , Whig MP and lord of the Isle of Man from 1736–1764* Hon. James Murray -Politicians:* Lord James Murray (1663–1719), MP for Perthshire* James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl (1690–1764), Whig MP and lord of the Isle...
) - Lucky's Tune, LP, 1999 (Produced by 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...
a.k.a.Black Francis, released by GoodNoise) - Revival, LP, 2000 (Produced by 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...
, released by eMusicEMusiceMusic is an online music and audiobook store that operates by subscription. It is headquartered in New York City with an office in London and owned by Dimensional Associates. As of September 2008 eMusic has over 400,000 subscribers....
) - Revival, LP, 2001 (Produced by 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...
, released by German label XXS with 4 songs from Lucky's Tune as bonus tracks) - Approximate Hellhound, LP, 2007 (Produced by Reid Paley, released by Metaphor Rhythms)
Paley & Francis
- Paley & Francis, LP, 2011 - Collaboration with Black Francis (Produced by Jon TivenJon TivenJon Tiven is a composer, guitarist and record producer. He has produced albums by Wilson Pickett, Frank Black and Don Covay as well as a series of tribute albums paying tribute to the songwriting of Don Covay, Arthur Alexander, Otis Blackwell, Curtis Mayfield, and Van Morrison.-Early career:He was...
, released by Sonic UnyonSonic UnyonSonic Unyon Recording Company is an independent record label based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The retail store is located on Wilson Street near James Street North)...
in the North America, and Cooking VinylCooking VinylCooking Vinyl is a UK-based independent record company, founded in 1986. Its original orientation was toward contemporary folk music—notably Billy Bragg, and Michelle Shocked's Texas Campfire Tapes, recorded on a Sony Walkman, one of its first releases...
in the UK & Europe)
External links
Reid PaleyPaley & Francis
Reviews
Reid Paley- fuckingnostalgic.com review of 7/24/2011 NYC solo show supporting Black Francis
- Interviewed on WZBC Boston 10/6/2011 (Connecting the Notes with Matthew Ray) - Download
- Interviewed on PiratePods 11/20/2010 (Paloma) - Download
- Interviewed on AllFM Manchester UK (Caroline Rennie) - Stream
- http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/5551/Live Set and Interview on WFMU (Trash, Twang & Thunder with Meredith OchsMeredith OchsMeredith Ochs is an American radio commentator, DJ, writer and musician.Ochs is a commentator for National Public Radio's All Things Considered and has appeared on Talk of the Nation. She is also a frequent guest on All Songs Considered....
) - Stream ] - Solo Set at the Billy Ruane Memorial Birthday Bash in Cambridge - Stream at #17
- Lucid Culture
- Village Voice
- http://www.nypress.com/print-article-2720-print.html Revival review in NY Press (Jim KnipfelJim KnipfelJim Knipfel , is an American novelist, autobiographer, and journalist.A native of Wisconsin, Knipfel, who suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, is the author of a series of critically acclaimed memoirs, Slackjaw, Quitting the Nairobi Trio, and Ruining It for Everybody, as well as two novels, The...
) ] - MurphGuide
- SF Weekly
- CMJ Weekly
Paley & Francis
- Paley & Francis review in the Boston Phoenix 9/7/2011
- Paley & Francis release info at RockEdition.com
- Black Francis collaboration with Reid Paley announced
- Black Francis and Reid Paley to Release 'Paley & Francis'
- Supercrawl Festival, Hamilton, Ontario "One of the headliners at this year’s edition of Supercrawl is Paley & Francis..."