The Pixies – RPM Online

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Black Francis – ’07-11′ (Edsel)

What we have here is the prolific frontman from The Pixies Black Francis releasing a tonne of music – 129 tracks to be precise and spread out over 9 CD’s and presented inside an impressive 12″ hardback book. It’s eight albums from a really prolific period in his career. Francis described the records as, “ a time when I felt free to write albums, or bodies of work, that were organised under the banner of a theme or unified concept… Some of the stories are incomplete or they mutate into each other. It is not always beginning, middle, and end with a moral (thank the gods!) Sometimes they are just flashes of the unexplained. ”

Some of the material is released for the very first time and everything has been remastered specifically for this release by Phil Kinrade at Alchemy Mastering at AIR. Also, the 40-page companion booklet features exclusive new artwork, along with an introduction and album-by-album liner notes by Black Francis himself. For fanboys and girls it’s an impressive tome, hell by anyone’s standard this is impressive.

‘Sv n F ng rs’ is a seven track mini album first released in 2007. For this album, Black Francis wrote around the idea of demigods, starting with Cú Chulainn of Eire, who apparently had seven fingers and seven toes on each hand and foot.

“It’s stripped down, minimal soloing, short, to the point, good for 20 minutes at a high rate of speed to get you the fuck out of town if only just.” – Black Francis.

Captured in 2008 on the ‘Bluefinger’ / ‘Svn Fngrs’ tour, ‘Live in Nijmegen’ features Black Francis backed by Jason Carter and Dan Schmid on ferocious performances of tracks such as ‘Threshold Apprehension’, ‘You Can’t Break A Heart And Have It’ and ‘Get Away Oil’.

In 2011 Francis teamed up with Reid Paley to record the album ‘Paley and Francis’ of mainly folk like tunes but with an edge. theres no thigh slapping happening here and the opening rough edges of ‘Curse’ is excellent and once Francis vocals hit the speakers theres an edge to proceedings. ‘On The Corner’ could be a jazzy outtake from a Tom Waites adventure. Definately a late night record and one that shows off another side of Black Francis thats for sure. A bit of Green On Red in places.

Also in 2011 Francis manged to record the album ‘The Golem’ is a soundtrack Francis wrote a few years earlier and released it at the San Francisco Film Festival released as a five disc set in 2010. it was rocked up and released in 2011 This version contains only the substantial songs, leaving out the reprises and themes that were included with the box set. I’ve never seen the film nor have I ever heard the full original five disc score so have nothing to compare it to but as a stand alone album this will very much do the balladeering of ‘The Flower Song’ is wonderful alongside the more traditional rock songs like ‘Bad News’. theres still a lot going on here as the sounds head out on a roller coaster ride and work on shuffle or as an evening set aside for a wander through the varied work of Francis.

“Every once in a while, the sound person or whoever manages to get a decent live recording in, and sometimes they luck out and the band plays pretty well, too. This is one of those nights”– Black Francis. Having all these records in one compact set with insightful liner notes is a joy. Wrapping up the resent pixies reissues and previous set of Frank Black and the Catholics collection these are good times for fans of Blacks work so dig deep and wrap up this fine body of work. all in all there is a lot of value for your money in this set and well worth investigating. My advice is to dive in people get yourself submerged in a sea of Black Francis the rewards are obvious from such a talented guy.

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

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Frank Black – ‘Frank Black Francis’, ‘Honeycomb’, Fast Man Raider Man’ (Demon Records)

Having been a big fan of The Pixies and always admired the songwriting skills of Frank Black it was always a joy to spin those epic first few solo records especially the opening trio of albums from ‘Self Titled’ through ‘Teenager Of The Year’ (being a particular favourite) and ‘Cult Of Ray’. You could never tie Black to one sound or style and as he progressed through his solo output he certainly wasn’t afraid to experiment or throw a curveball the listener’s way.

From those late 80s flawless output through the early 90s and the demise of pressing vinyl a lot of Franks CD output got lost and it’s great to see all these years later some of those more experimental records get a new lease of life on the old black circle format. (even if it’s not strictly on black wax) but you know what I mean.

First up this month is a double album version of the ‘Frank Black Francis’ album spead as I said over two records as part of a bigger campaign which will eventually see throughout 2021 no less than twelve solo records hitting the vinyl format and many being on vinyl for the first time.

‘Frank Black Francis’ also includes solo acoustic demos from 1987 ahead of the first Pixies Studio session. Plus, a second LP of revisited classic Pixies songs. And as Frank Black elucidates: “It had come to my attention that a forgotten old demo, recorded by my own hand on my own boom box in my old apartment, had resurfaced and would I be willing to release it? As a time capsule it seemed fairly interesting, but as a full release it seemed lacking for the customers; and so while I was in London, waiting for something to happen in my lovesick life, Keith Moliné and Andy Diagram, David Thomas’ Two Pale Boys, took me into their atelier and let me cry into my lager while they helped me augment the demo from the crypt. At some point, I think I took off into the night and encouraged them to do whatever the hell they wanted; I think I may have been a bit of a drag on the session. Being the consummate professionals they are (they had played on the Catholic’s ‘SHOW ME YOUR TEARS’ record recently, so I know they were…very good eggs) Keith and Andy really did not have a problem with this lost man paradigm, and I think their deconstructive and self-referential art methods are absolutely lovely. Their treatment of ‘PLANET OF SOUND’ remains one of my favourite versions.”

Just like a lot of the recent PJ Harvey releases they were accompanied by a separate collection of Demo recordings this ‘Frank Black Francis‘ was songs that were a work in progress and how a prolific writer gets things done. From the opening ‘Holiday Song’ its billy Bragg inspired workings where the bare songs are collected with spoken musings left in as Black communicates with the control room. Probably something dedicated fans will really appreciate and pour over but maybe not for a first time fan of music looking to get into the music of Frank Black. Closing with the same song but with added brass and percussion for real insight. The more out there jazzy leanings of ‘Subbacultcha’ might confuse less avid fans. However ‘Monkeys Gone To Heaven’ is intriguing and interesting.

The Pixie tracks will have wider appeal for sure but not something casual fans will gravitate towards. but a treat for hardcore Black fans.

2005’s ‘Honeycomb’ is an album of Nashville collaborations with legendary musicians including Steve Cropper, ex-Presley guitarist Reggie Young, Anton Fig, and Spooner Oldham. Unusually for a Frank Black album, it has 3 cover songs, including “Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day” by Doug Sahm. In many ways, another experimental record from Black where he really does stretch his songwriting to the limit and with the three covers shows his eclectic taste for sure. I always had a soft spot for this record as it reminded me in places of one of my favourite bands Green On Red especially on songs like ‘I Burn Today’. It’s a gentle album where the songs are given space to really breathe and grow and having not played this record for several years it was a joy to revisit. It won’t be so long between plays that I’ve promised myself.

Finally in this round-up of releases ‘Fast Man Raider Man’, released in 2006, is a double album backed by a team of all-star musicians: Al Kooper, Bob Babbitt, Levon Helm, Lyle Workman, Steve Cropper, Jim Keltner, Rick Gilbert, Simon Kirke, Ian McLagan, Chester Thompson, Dave Philips and Spooner Oldham. The album includes, ‘Johnny Barleycorn’, ‘In The Time Of My Ruin’ and ‘If Your Poison Gets You’. An interesting cover of ‘Dirty Old Town’. ‘Wanderlust’ still sounds fantastic and the horn honking of ‘Dog Sleep’ would fit rather nicely into a set from Urban Voodoo Machine. ‘Fast Man’ has almost forthy musicians contributing to its rich tapestry from the jazzy smokey tones of ‘My Terrible Ways’ to some countrified rock and roll of ‘Fitzgerald’ via straight-up pop of ‘Fare Thee Well’ it’s Black doing what he does best and twist your melon with his take on Americana and Stax as opposed to his Rock with The Catholics which just about offers something for everyone all dusted down with his instantly recognisable tones of that voice with his abstract and broad stroke lyrics.

there are moments of sublime playing and sometimes as you’re switching off a pedal steel break reels you back in. Whist these three are classic Black they are something of an acquired taste and not as accessible as those early records nor as Rock as his barroom noise he makes with the Catholics which will no doubt be reviewed with the next set of Frank Black Releases but until then these will be most welcome as vinyl fights back and Frank Black adds more weight (140gms) to his canon of work.

To purchase ‘Frank Black Francis’ go – Here

To purchase ‘Honeycomb‘ go – Here

To purchase ‘Fast Man Raider Man‘ go – Here

Author: Dom Daley

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Frank Black deluxe reissues first time on vinyl

Frank Black / Black Francis
Official deluxe vinyl album re-issues
‘Frank Black Francis’ , ‘Honeycomb’ and ‘Fast Man Raider Man’
each released on vinyl for the first time
on 14th May 2021

On 14th May Demon Records is proud to release three Frank Black albums which have never been available
on vinyl before.
Each is lovingly issued on 140g coloured vinyl: ‘Frank Black Francis’ will be available as 2LPs on white vinyl,
‘Honeycomb’ on translucent-honey vinyl and ‘Fast Man Raider Man’ as 2LPs on translucent vinyl.
These three releases are part of an ongoing series of twelve vinyl Frank Black / Black Francis reissues in
2021.
‘Frank Black Francis’ includes solo acoustic demos from 1987 ahead of the first Pixies Studio session. Plus,
a second LP of revisited classic Pixies songs. And as Frank Black elucidates: “It had come to my attention
that a forgotten old demo, recorded by my own hand on my own boom box in my old apartment, had
resurfaced and would I be willing to release it? As a time capsule it seemed fairly interesting, but as a full
release it seemed lacking for the customers; and so while I was in London, waiting for something to happen
in my lovesick life, Keith Moliné and Andy Diagram, David Thomas’ Two Pale Boys, took me into their atelier
and let me cry into my lager while they helped me augment the demo from the crypt. At some point, I think I
took off into the night and encouraged them to do whatever the hell they wanted; I think I may have been a
bit of a drag on the session. Being the consummate professionals they are (they had played on the
Catholic’s SHOW ME YOUR TEARS record recently, so I know they were…very good eggs) Keith and Andy
really did not have a problem with this lost man paradigm, and I think their deconstructive and self-referential
art methods are absolutely lovely. Their treatment of PLANET OF SOUND remains one of my favorite
versions.”
2005’s ‘Honeycomb’ is an album of Nashville collaborations with legendary musicians including Steve
Cropper, ex-Presley guitarist Reggie Young, Anton Fig and Spooner Oldham. Featuring ‘I Burn Today’, ‘Lone
Child” and ‘Honeycomb’ plus unusually for a Frank Black album, it has 3 cover songs, including “Sunday
Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day” by Doug Sahm.

While ‘Fast Man Raider Man’, released in 2006, is a double album backed by a team of all star musicians: Al
Kooper, Bob Babbitt, Levon Helm, Lyle Workman, Steve Cropper, Jim Keltner, Rick Gilbert, Simon Kirke, Ian
McLagan, Chester Thompson, Dave Philips and Spooner Oldham. The album includes, ‘Johnny Barleycorn’,
‘In The Time Of My Ruin’ and ‘If Your Poison Gets You’.
In regard to ‘Honeycomb’ and ‘Fast Man Raider Man’ Frank Black explains:
“In my last year of high school there was a show some of the students put on at the close of the year; one of
the faculty played a bit of organ and wanted to do an old number, and he brought me and a few other fellers
together to do IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR, a classic penned by Wilson Pickett and Steve Cropper. We did an
encore of the tune at the big dance a few weeks later. I didn’t really know who Steve Cropper was at the
time, but of course, I would eventually. Years later my ambition to touristically pay homage to BLONDE ON
BLONDE picked up pace when my friend Jon Tiven and producer for these sessions moved to Nashville and
reminded me (as he did every 6 months for 10 years) about my little tourist trip idea. From the embers of
burned up marriage is always a fine place to workshop some tunes, and so to Nashville I did go, and
wouldn’t you know that Steve Cropper himself was there with guitar in hand? He arrived along with other
legendary types, too numerous to list here now, many of whom were veterans of Dylan sessions themselves;
typical band conversation in Dan Penn’s laundry room, where we put the amps: “Didja y’all play on that
LAND OF 1000 DANCES?” “Yeah, I think I was on that one…”. I kept my head down and did my best to be a
band leader, wondering if I was in way over my lowered head. It turns out I was in way over my head, but the
pickers and tinklers from the American rock and roll canon were real swell about the whole affair and walked
me through it. For the next sessions on FMRM we moved over to Cowboy Jack Clement’s house and I
continued my dubious role as ringleader; an image of a fully suited Levon Helm, the late shift drummer for
the session one night, arriving in a protective cloud of cannabinoid myst at 3am, exuding gentlemanly
camaraderie and veteran charm: this remains my greatest memory. I can’t say I rang every bell I tried to ring,
but these records were such a burst of energy that allowing the burst to be the burst was the view of choice. I
am most proud of those songs I penned with my good friend Reid Paley, who has been an influence since
the early Pixies’ days.”

To purchase Frank Black Francis go Here

To purchase Honeycomb go Here

To purchase Fast Man Raider Man go Here

The series of 2021 releases in full:

9 of these 12 releases have never been released on vinyl before.

19-Feb-21 Frank Black – The Cult Of Ray (Blue Vinyl)

previously available on vinyl in 1996

19-Feb-21Frank Black – Oddballs (Silver Vinyl)

b sides compilation previously available on vinyl in 2013

14-May-21 Francis Black Francis (White Vinyl)

2LP previously unavailable on vinyl

14-May-21 Honeycomb (Translucent Honey Vinyl)