Folksinger is an album by folk singer-songwriter Phranc, released in 1985.[6][7]
| Folksinger | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 13, 1985 | |||
| Recorded | 1985 | |||
| Genre | Folk | |||
| Length | 41:06 | |||
| Label | Rhino Records[1] | |||
| Producer | Phranc | |||
| Phranc chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[2] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [1] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |  [4] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 9/10[5] |
Phranc's first solo LP fused elements of her punk rock past with acoustic folk music. She covers Bob Dylan's "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll," comments on the image of girl groups ("Everywhere I Go (I Hear the Go Go's)"), and relays the personal tragedy of suicide in "Lifelover."
Folksinger was released on Rhino Records, and was licensed to Island Records in 1990.[8] "Everywhere I Go (I Hear the Go-Go's)" is a bonus track on the Island version.
Critical reception
editAllMusic wrote that "acoustic folk music had yet to be embraced by the punk/new wave underground, making Folksinger a watershed album."[3] Trouser Press wrote that "Phranc’s not a timeless melodicist, but her wry lyrical observations and attractive singing make Folksinger a fine effort."[8] The New York Times wrote that the songs "tend to be too slight and specific for repeated listening; they don't have the resonances of 'Hattie Carroll.'"[9]
Track listing
editAll tracks composed by Phranc, except where indicated
- "One of the Girls" – 4:56
- "Noguchi" – 2:56
- "Mary Hooley" – 4:02
- "Ballad of the Dumb Hairdresser" – 3:24
- "Caped Crusader" – 2:16
- "Female Mudwrestling" – 2:12
- "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" (Bob Dylan) – 4:26
- "Amazons" – 2:34
- "Liar Liar" – 1:58
- "Handicapped" – 1:30
- "Carolyn" – 4:27
- "Lifelover" – 2:36
- "Everywhere I Go (I Hear the Go Go's)" – 2:46
Personnel
edit- Phranc - Producer, vocals, guitar
Release details
edit| Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Island | CD | 422-846 358-2 | |
| LP | 422-846 358-1 | |||
| cassette | 422-846 358-4 | |||
| 1990 | PolyGram | CD | 846358 |
References
edit- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 528.
- ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Phranc". www.robertchristgau.com.
- ^ a b "Folksinger - Phranc | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 873.
- ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 299.
- ^ "Phranc | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Oseary, Guy (September 27, 2016). Jews Who Rock. St. Martin's Publishing Group. ISBN 9781250138699 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Phranc". Trouser Press. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (December 1, 1985). "LONE GUITARISTS: A RARE BREED SINGS ON (Published 1985)". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.