THE OBLIGATORY ST PATRICK'S DAY POSTING

The sleeve before you belongs to the debut 12" EP, from July 1991, by The Frank And Walters, a three-piece band from Cork, Ireland.

I remain thoroughly fond of many of their records, particularly those recorded and released in the earliest part of their career. I also enjoyed going along to watch them play live, and as have perhaps mentioned before, saw them one night in a tiny Edinburgh venue where they were supported by a then little-known band from the south of England calling themselves Radiohead.

It was actually the band's second EP, released in October 1991, that first brought them to my attention, courtesy of the lead track, Fashion Crisis Hits New York, being included on a C90 cassette tape compiled on my behalf by Jacques the Kipper. The initial records were released on the indie label Setanta Records which, although London-based, concentrated heavily on young Irish acts such as the lot being featured today as well as A House and The Divine Comedy. Oh and the label also gave a welcome home to Edwyn Collins at a time when no other label would go near him for fear of being associated with commercial failure. It would be Setanta Records that would release A Girl Like You.....

But back to the band in hand.

I was lucky enough to be advised by the staff in the small, independent store where I spent all my money in the early 90s that Setanta were intending to pick up on the higher profile the band were beginning to enjoy by combining the tracks on EP1 and EP2 within one CD release, and that they would be happy to order one in for me. As a result, I got my hands on the early tracks, some of which would be re-recorded and remixed for their debut LP some 12 months later on the much larger but still indie Go! Discs label. And here they are in their full glory:-

mp3 : The Frank And Walters - Walters Trip
mp3 : The Frank And Walters - Franks Right
mp3 : The Frank And Walters - Michael
mp3 : The Frank And Walters - Never Ending Staircase

The band only enjoyed one period of commercial success when the single After All reached #11 in the UK charts in January 1993, right on the back of some blistering live performances in support of Carter USM who were one of the most popular bands in the country at the time. There was just something totally irresistable about a trio who wore bright orange tops combined with purple flared velvet trousers who were fond of paying tribute to hip-hop in their own inimitable style, as this flip side cover version from the aforementioned hit single shows:-

mp3 : The Frank And Walters - Funky Cold Medina

The band have been a going concern on and off over the years, with studio albums also being released in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2006, as well as two compilation LPs and a live DVD at other times.

Oh and when Carter USM came out of retirement for a couple of gigs in 2007, it was The Frank And Walters who were asked to support.

Here's video from the hit single:-




Oh and I shouldnt forget that it has become customary to post this song every year on 17th March. It's one that got me noticed a few years back and given a very nice mention in The Guardian newspaper:-

mp3 : Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back In Town

Happy Listening. Go easy on the Guinness.