Roddy Frame

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Roddy Frame
Aztec-camera-roddy-frame.png
Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera in Los Angeles, California - 1987
Background information
Birth name Roddy Frame
Born (1964-01-29) 29 January 1964 (age 49)
East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland
Genres Rock
Occupations Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments Vocals, electric guitar
Labels 1980–present
Associated acts Aztec Camera
Website RoddyFrame.com

Roddy Frame (born 29 January 1964[1]) is a singer-songwriter and musician from Scotland. He was the founder of the 1980s indie band Aztec Camera, and has undertaken a solo career since the dissolution of the band.

Contents

Early life [edit]

Frame was born in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Frame became interested in music in the mid-1970s and was inspired by David Bowie.[2]

Music career [edit]

Aztec Camera [edit]

At the age of 16, he became involved with Postcard Records and his band Aztec Camera began to record a string of low budget singles, such as "Just Like Gold" and "Mattress of Wire".[3][4] The latter drew attention from John Peel a presenter on BBC Radio 1.[citation needed]

In 1983, Aztec Camera released High Land, Hard Rain,[5] their first album on Rough Trade Records, though this did not include the first two Postcard singles. It featured the hit single "Oblivious", and Aztec Camera were recognised as one of the key acts on the Rough Trade label. On tracks such as "Walk Out to Winter" and "Back on Board", Frame sang poetic lyrics about love, both lost and found, two themes he would revisit with an increasingly mature outlook through a number of subsequent albums.[5] In late February 2013, a white cotton t-shirt with the cover art of the band's debut album was produced by Frame and sold on his solo website.[6]

However, after High Land, Hard Rain, Frame signed the band to WEA. Aztec Camera's second album, Knife, released in 1984, was produced by Dire Straits' guitarist/singer, Mark Knopfler. The album was highlighted by the hit single "All I Need is Everything".

Beginning with Aztec Camera's third album, 1987's Love, Frame became the group's only member, augmented by a wide array of session musicians for both studio recordings and live dates. Essentially Frame was a now a solo artist, working under the Aztec Camera brand name.

Love spawned 1988's "Somewhere In My Heart", which reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart and is still a staple of FM radio in the UK. Frame performed a duet with one of his musical heroes, Mick Jones of The Clash, on his 1990 single "Good Morning Britain", which showcased an overtly political streak that sometimes featured in his work. He also recorded with the Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. Frame decided to abandon the name Aztec Camera in 1996 after the 'group' released their final album, Frestonia, for WEA.[5]

Solo career [edit]

At that point, Frame started to pursue a solo career under his own name. His first solo album, the critically acclaimed The North Star, came out in 1998, and featured the single "Reason For Living".[5] There was a change of gear for 2002's Surf, an album of acoustic songs that also attracted widespread critical acclaim, and was generally seen as a return to Frame's best songwriting form.[7] The track "Small World" was used as the theme music to the BBC TV comedy series, Early Doors. Frame also made his first appearance at the Glastonbury Festival in 2003. His next album, Western Skies, was released in May 2006.

In 2006 he released a live album, Live at Ronnie Scott's (performed on 29 May 2005), followed in 2007 Live at The Blue Note, Osaka (performed on 21 September 2006).[8][9]

Collaborations [edit]

Frame has maintained a long-term friendship with Edwyn Collins, who was also signed to Postcard Records in the 1980s, with his band Orange Juice, alongside Aztec Camera. Frame performed with Collins in November 2007 during Collins' first concert after he suffered a serious illness,[10] and the pair played again at the Glastonbury Festival in June 2008.

Dan Carey and Rob Da Bank, whose band name is Lazyboy, collaborated with Frame on the song "Western Skies";[11] Frame then re-recorded the song for a solo album of the same name and has performed an acoustic rendition of the song in live settings, with the inclusion of a harmonica solo.[12][13]

Cover versions [edit]

Frame has recorded cover versions of "In My Life" by The Beatles,[14] "Bad Education" by Blue Orchids, Cyndi Laupers', "True Colors" and a slowed-down version of "Jump", originally recorded by Van Halen.[5]

Touring [edit]

Frame toured the UK throughout October 2011 with a small backing band.[15]

Solo discography [edit]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "1964 – Born on this day, Roddy Frame, guitarist, singer". This Day In Rock. This Day In Rock. 29. Retrieved 15 October 2012. 
  2. ^ Hodgkinson, Will (16 August 2002). "Home entertainment". Guardian (London). Retrieved 15 March 2008. 
  3. ^ "Aztec Camera – Just Like Gold / We Could Send Letters". Aztec Camera on Discogs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  4. ^ "Aztec Camera – Mattress Of Wire". Aztec Camera on Discogs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  5. ^ a b c d e "Biography by Michael Sutton". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 23 June 2009. 
  6. ^ "Shop". Roddy Frame. Roddy Frame. Febnruary 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013. 
  7. ^ "Roddy Frame". Redemption Records. 2003. Retrieved 15 March 2008. 
  8. ^ "Shop". Roddy Frame. Roddy Frame. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  9. ^ "Lyrics & Production Notes". Killermont Street. Killermont Street. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  10. ^ "The Soulful Survivor". Evening Standard. 20 November 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2008. 
  11. ^ "Lazyboy Featuring Roddy Frame – Western Skies". Discogs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  12. ^ "Roddy Frame – Western Skies". Discogs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  13. ^ Chris James (31). "Roddy Frame - Western Skies" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  14. ^ "Various – Instant Karma 2002 (A Tribute To John Lennon)". Discogs. Discogs. 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  15. ^ Dave Simpson (14 October 2011). "Roddy Frame – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2013. 
  16. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 211. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

External links [edit]

Aztec Camera
  • Roddy Frame
Studio albums
EPs
  • Aztec Camera
Compilations
  • The Best of Aztec Camera
Authority control
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