Aztec Camera
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2013) |
| Aztec Camera | |
|---|---|
| Origin | East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Genres | New wave, alternative rock, post-punk[1] |
| Years active | 1980–1995 |
| Labels | Postcard, Sire/Warner Bros. |
| Associated acts | Roddy Frame |
Aztec Camera was a Scottish New wave band formed by Roddy Frame.[2] Formed in 1980,[3] the band went on to release a total of six albums — although, most of the records were essentially written and played by Frame — High Land, Hard Rain (1983), Knife (1984), Love (1987), Stray (1990), Dreamland (1993) and Frestonia (1995).[1] "Oblivious", "Somewhere in My Heart" and "Good Morning Britain" (a duet with former The Clash guitarist Mick Jones) were popular songs for the band.
Contents |
History [edit]
Early period [edit]
The band first appeared on a Glasgow cassette only compilation of local unsigned bands on the Pungent Records label, affiliated with the Fumes Fanzine run by Danny Easson, Patrick McGlinchey and John Gilhooly. Gilhooly championed several Glasgow bands before they achieved popular success.[citation needed]
Postcard Records [edit]
The band's first single that was released in the UK was sold in a 7" format by Postcard Records, a Glasgow-based independent record label, in March 1981. The single featured the songs "Just Like Gold" and "We Could Send Letters", and an acoustic version of the latter song appeared on an influential compilation album, entitled C81 and released by NME on cassette, in early 1981. A second single "Mattress Of Wire" was the last Postcard Records release before the group signed with another independent record label, Rough Trade Records; at the same time, a deal was signed by the band to release its music in the United States (US) on Sire Records.
Rough Trade [edit]
Aztec Camera's debut album, High Land, Hard Rain, was produced by John Brand and Bernie Clarke, and was released in April 1983.[1] The album was successful, garnering significant critical acclaim, and peaked at #129 on the Billboard 200.[4]
WEA [edit]
At the time that the band's third album Love (1987) was created, Frame was the only original member of the band involved with the project; Love and future Aztec Camera albums were actually written and recorded by Frame, with session musicians utilised on a track-by-track basis.[citation needed]
After the release of Aztec Camera's sixth album, Frestonia, Frame finally decided to record under his own name and was no longer a Warner artist.
Three Aztec Camera "Best of" compilations were eventually released: The Best Of Aztec Camera was released in 1999 by Warner.ESP, a division of the Warner corporation that specialised in compilations;[5][6] in 2005, Deep And Wide And Tall was released by the Warner Strategic Marketing United Kingdom label as part of the Warner Platinum series;[7] and Walk Out To Winter: The Best Of Aztec Camera, a two-disc collection that was released by the Music Club Deluxe label in 2011.[8]
Causes [edit]
On 21 January 1985, alongside Orange Juice, Wooden Tops and Everything But The Girl, Aztec Camera raised an estimated £18,000 for the striking miners of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) through a fundraising event at the Brixton Academy—the year-long strike concluded six weeks later.[9]
In 1990, Aztec Camera contributed the song "Do I Love You?" to the Cole Porter tribute album Red Hot + Blue that was produced by the Red Hot Organization. The proceeds from the album benefited HIV/AIDS research.[10]
Awards and accolades [edit]
The band's album Love was among the nominations for "Best British Album" at the 1989 BRIT Awards.[11] "Somewhere in My Heart", the second single from Love, was the band's biggest hit, reaching No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. Following the release of the Stray album, "Good Morning Britain" was considered to be a comeback for Frame, as the preceding single "The Crying Scene" had only reached No. 70 in the UK.[11]
Musicians [edit]
Roddy Frame – guitar, harmonica, vocals (1981–1995)
Bass
-
- Campbell Owens (1981–1985, 1990)
- Will Lee (1987)
- Paul Powell (1990–1993)
- Clare Kenny (1990–1993)
- Gary Tibbs (1993)
- Yolanda Charles (1995)
Guitar
-
- Craig Gannon (1983–1984)
- Malcolm Ross (1984)
- Gary Sanford (1987–1991)
Keyboards
-
- Bernie Clarke (1981–1983)
- Tony Mansfield (1983)
- Eddie Kulak (1984–1990)
- Rob Mounsey (1987)
- Gary Sanctuary (1990–1993)
- Mark Edwards (1995)
Drums
-
- Dave Mulholland (1981–1988)
- Colin Auld (1982)
- Patrick David Hunt (1982)
- Dave Ruffy (1982–1988)
- Steve Jordan (1987)
- Dave Weckl (1987)
- Kevin Smith (1988)
- Frank Tontoh (1990)
- David Palmer (1993)
- Jeremy Stacey (1995)
The band's line-up changed numerous times during its first few years of existence, while the constant member has been founder, Frame (guitarist/vocalist/singer-songwriter). Early members included Owens (bass) and Mulholland (drums).[1] Gannon was a member from 1983 to 1984 before joining The Smiths,[12] while guitarist Ross (formerly of Josef K and Orange Juice) joined the band in 1984 and played on the Knife album.[13]
Other musicians [edit]
- Paul Carrack – keyboards (1990)
- Edwyn Collins – guitar, vocals (1990)
- Mick Jones – guitar, vocals (1990)
- Steve Sidelnyk – percussion (1990–1993)
- Ryūichi Sakamoto – keyboards (1993)
- Victor Bailey – bass (1993)
- Barry Finclair – violin (1993)
- Marcus Miller – bass (1987)
- Sylvia Mason-James – vocals (1993)
- Romero Lubambo – guitar (1993)
- Vivian Sessoms – vocals (1993)
- Naná Vasconcelos – percussion (1993)
- Sue Dench – strings (1995)
- Claudia Fontaine – vocals (1995)
- Leo Payne – strings (1995)
- Audrey Riley – strings (1995)
- Chris Tombling – strings (1995)
- Guy Fletcher of Dire Straits - Keyboards (1984)
Touring band members [edit]
1980-1982 [edit]
- Roddy Frame - guitars, vocals
- Campbell Owens - bass guitar
- Dave Mullholland - drums
- Colin Auld - drums
- Dave Ruffy - drums
Pillar To Post Tour (1982-1983) [edit]
- Roddy Frame - guitars, vocals
- Campbell Owens - bass guitar
- Dave Ruffy - drums
- Craig Gannon - guitars
- Bernie Clark - keyboards
Late 1983 tour [edit]
- Roddy Frame - guitars, vocals
- Campbell Owens - bass guitar
- Dave Ruffy - drums
- Malcolm Ross - guitars
- Bernie Clark - keyboards
Knife Tour (1984-1985) [edit]
- Roddy Frame - guitars, vocals
- Campbell Owens - bass guitars
- Dave Ruffy - drums
- Malcolm Ross - guitars
- Eddie Kulak - keyboards
Love Tour (1987-1988) [edit]
- Roddy Frame - guitars, vocals
- Dave Ruffy - drums
- Eddie Kulak - keyboards
- Paul Powell - bass guitar
- Gary Sanford - guitars
- Steve Sidelnyk - percussion
- Sylvia Mason-James - vocals
- Vivian Sessoms - vocals
Stray Tour (1990) [edit]
- Roddy Frame - guitar, vocals
- Eddie Kulak - keyboards
- Gary Sandford - guitars
- Clare Kenny - bass guitars
- Frank Tontoh - drums
- Mick Jones - guitars, vocals (formerly of The Clash, Jones performed "Good Morning Britain" during the European tour)
- Edwyn Collins - guitars, vocals (formerly of Orange Juice, Collins performed "Consolation Prize" and "I Threw It All Away" on the European tour)
Dreamland Tour (1993) [edit]
Full band tour
- Roddy Frame - guitars, vocals
- Gary Sandford - guitars
- Clare Kenny - bass guitar
- Frank Tontoh - drums
- Steve Sidelnyk - percussion
- Mark Edwards - keyboards
Acoustic tour
- Roddy Frame - guitars, vocals
- Gary Sanctuary - keyboards
Frestonia Tour (1995) [edit]
- Roddy Frame - guitars, vocals
- Gary Sandford - guitars (early 1995 only)
- Mark Edwards - keyboards
- Yolande Charles - bass guitar
- Jeremy Stacey - drums
Discography [edit]
Studio albums [edit]
- High Land, Hard Rain (1983) - UK Albums Chart No. 22, No. 154 US Billboard 200
- Knife (1984) - UK No. 14, Sweden No. 29,[14] No. 188 US
- Love (1987) - UK No. 10, No. 193 US[15]
- Stray (1990) - UK No. 22, Sweden No. 50[16]
- Dreamland (1993) - UK No. 21
- Frestonia (1995) - UK No. 100[11]
Compilations [edit]
- In and Out of Fashion (1980) – Pungent Records cassette compilation
- New Live And Rare (1988)[17]
- Red, Hot & Blue (1990)[18]
"Best of" compilations [edit]
- The Best of Aztec Camera (1999) - UK Albums Chart No. 36[11]
- Deep And Wide And Tall (2005)
- Walk Out To Winter: The Best Of Aztec Camera (2011)
EPs [edit]
- Aztec Camera (1985) - a 10" US-only release (was also available in Australia) featuring a cover of the Van Halen song, "Jump", plus four tracks that were recorded live at the Dominion Theatre in October 1984.
Singles [edit]
| Year | Single | UK Singles Chart[11][19] | UK Indie Chart | U.S. Modern Rock | Australia[20] | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | "Just Like Gold" | - | 10 | - | - | - |
| 1981 | "Mattress of Wire" | - | 8 | - | - | - |
| 1982 | "Pillar to Post" | - | 4 | - | - | High Land, Hard Rain |
| 1983 | "Oblivious" | 47 | 1 | - | - | High Land, Hard Rain |
| 1983 | "Walk Out to Winter" | 64 | 3 | - | - | High Land, Hard Rain |
| 1983 | "Oblivious" (re-issue) | 18 | - | - | - | High Land, Hard Rain |
| 1984 | "All I Need Is Everything" | 34 | - | - | - | Knife |
| 1984 | "Still on Fire" | 83 | - | - | - | Knife |
| 1985 | "Backwards and Forwards" | - | - | - | - | Knife |
| 1987 | "Deep & Wide & Tall" | 79 | - | - | - | Love |
| 1988 | "How Men Are" | 25 | - | - | - | Love |
| 1988 | "Somewhere in My Heart" | 3 | - | - | 34 | Love |
| 1988 | "Working in a Goldmine" | 31 | - | - | - | Love |
| 1988 | "Deep & Wide & Tall" (re-issue) | 55 | - | - | - | Love |
| 1990 | "The Crying Scene" | 70 | - | 3 | - | Stray |
| 1990 | "Good Morning Britain" | 19 | - | 12 | - | Stray |
| 1992 | "Spanish Horses" | 52 | - | - | - | Dreamland |
| 1993 | "Dream Sweet Dreams" | 67 | - | - | - | Dreamland |
| 1993 | "Birds" | - | - | - | - | Dreamland |
| 1995 | "Sun" | 136 | - | - | - | Frestonia |
Cover versions [edit]
- Van Halen: "Jump" (released in 1985)[21]
- Blue Orchids: "Bad Education" (released in 1987)[22]
- "The Red Flag" (traditional song released in 1988)[23]
- Edwyn Collins: "Consolation Prize" (released in 1990)[24]
- Cyndi Lauper: "True Colors" (released in 1990)[25]
- Cole Porter: "Do I Love You?" (released in 1990)[26]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Aztec Camera". Allmusic. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
- ^ Alistair Braidwood (2010). "In praise of: Roddy Frame by Alistair Braidwood". Dear Scotland. Dear Scotland. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Aztec Camera". Oxford Reference. Oxford University Press. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ John Driscoll (28). "Aztec Camera "High Land, Hard Rain"". Cool Album of the Day. Dilapidated. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Aztec Camera – The Best Of Aztec Camera". Discogs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Warner.ESP". Discogs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Aztec Camera – Deep And Wide And Tall". Discogs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Aztec Camera – Walk Out To Winter: The Best Of Aztec Camera". Discogs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ Robin Denselow (21 January 1985). "From the archive, 21 January 1985: Pop bands put on miners' benefit show". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ joe xenakis (27). "AZTEC CAMERA-DO I LOVE YOU?(PV)" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 35. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "What's New > Aztec Camera". Songbird. POTI, Inc. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ Malcolm Ross (2013). "What's New > Malcolm Ross". Songbird. POTI, Inc. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ Knife Swedish Chart Position @ finnishcharts.com Retrieved June 2009
- ^ Billboard Album Positions @ Allmusic.com Retrieved July 2009
- ^ Stray Swedish Chart Position @ finnishcharts.com Retrieved June 2009
- ^ "Aztec Camera – New Live And Rare". Discogs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Various – Red, Hot & Blue". Discoigs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Aztec Camera". Chart Stats. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ^ Somewhere In My Heart @ finnishcharts.com Retrieved June 2009
- ^ "Aztec Camera – Backwards And Forwards". Discogs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Recording: Bad Education". Second Hand Songs. secondhandsongs.com. 2003–2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Aztec Camera – How Men Are". Discogs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Aztec Camera and Mick Jones – Good Morning Britain". Discogs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Aztec Camera – The Crying Scene". Discogs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Various – Red Hot + Blue". Discogs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
External links [edit]
- Roddy Frame official website
- "Killermont Street" – a fan site for Roddy Frame and Aztec Camera
- "Roddy Frame Talk! A place for fans of Roddy Frame and Aztec Camera"
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