Aztec Camera

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Aztec Camera
Origin Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Genres Indie pop
New Wave
Alternative rock
Post-Punk
Years active 1980 - 1995
Labels Postcard, Rough Trade, Sire, WEA
Associated acts Roddy Frame

Aztec Camera were a Scottish New Wave band from Glasgow. They were a sensitive, tuneful pop band formed in 1980 and centered around the then teenage singer-songwriter, Roddy Frame.[1] Their album Love was among the nominations for Best British Album at the 1989 BRIT Awards.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The band's line-up changed numerous times in its first few years. The constant member has been guitarist / vocalist / singer-songwriter Roddy Frame. Founding members included Campbell Owens (bass) and Dave Mulholland (drums). Craig Gannon was a member from 1983 to 1984. Guitarist Malcolm Ross (formerly of Josef K and Orange Juice) joined the band in 1984, and played on the Knife album. By the time of their third album, Love (1987), Frame was the only de facto member of the band: this and future albums credited to Aztec Camera were actually performed by Frame and studio musicians hired on a track-by-track basis.

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 and John Gilhooly, who championed several Glasgow before they hit the big time.

The band's first UK 7" single was released by Glasgow based indie label Postcard Records in March 1981, and contained the songs "Just Like Gold" and "We Could Send Letters". An acoustic version of the latter song appeared on the influential C81 compilation cassette, released by NME in early 1981. A second single, "Mattress Of Wire", was also the last Postcard Records release before the group signed for fellow independent record label, Rough Trade. U.S. releases were on Sire Records.

Aztec Camera's debut album, High Land, Hard Rain, was released in April 1983. The album was successful, gathering significant critical acclaim for its well-crafted, multi-layered pop. The band went on to release a total of six albums, although most of these were essentially written and played by Frame. The albums included Knife (1984), Love (1987), Stray (1990), Dreamland (1993) and Frestonia (1995).

After the release of Aztec Camera's sixth album, Frestonia, Frame finally decided to record under his own name, and left the major record label, WEA.

Popular songs by Aztec Camera include "Oblivious", "Still On Fire", "Walk Out to Winter", "Somewhere in My Heart", and "Good Morning Britain" (a duet with former The Clash guitarist Mick Jones). "Somewhere in My Heart", the second single from Love, remains their biggest hit, reaching #3 on the UK Singles Chart. "Good Morning Britain" was considered to be a comeback for them, as previous single "The Crying Scene" had only reached #70 in the UK.[1]

A 'Best of' collection was released in 1999.

[edit] Musicians

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)
  • Drums
    • Dave Mulholland (1981-1983)
    • Patrick David Hunt (1982)
    • Dave Ruffy (1984-1985)
    • Steve Jordan (1987)
    • Frank Tontoh (1990)
    • David Palmer (1993)
    • Jeremy Stacey (1995)

[edit] Other musicians

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

[1]

[edit] Compilations

  • The Best of Aztec Camera (1999) - UK #36[1]

[edit] EPs

[edit] Singles

Year Single UK Singles Chart[1] UK Indie Chart U.S. Modern Rock Australia[5] 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" /
"Jump"		 34 - - - Knife
1984 "Still on Fire" - - - - Knife
1985 "Backwards and Forewards" - - - - Knife
1987 "Deep & Wide & Tall" - - - - 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" - - - - Frestonia

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 35. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
  2. ^ Knife Swedish Chart Position @ finnishcharts.com Retrieved June 2009
  3. ^ Billboard Album Positions @ Allmusic.com Retrieved July 2009
  4. ^ Stray Swedish Chart Position @ finnishcharts.com Retrieved June 2009
  5. ^ Somewhere In My Heart @ finnishcharts.com Retrieved June 2009
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