The BoDeans are a rock and roll and roots rock band formed in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1983 by Kurt Neumann (vocals & electric guitar) and Sam Llanas (vocals & acoustic guitar). In 1985, after adding a drummer and a bassist, the band signed a contract with Slash/Warner Records and recorded their first album. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the band had several singles in the top 40 "mainstream rock" charts. In the mid-1990s, the band had two top 10 songs in the "Adult contemporary" charts.
History
Initially, the band called themselves, Da BoDeans, a reference to the character Jethro Bodean from the Beverly Hillbillies TV show. The original duo of Kurt Neumann (vocals & electric guitar) and Sam Llanas (vocals & acoustic guitar) added Guy Hoffman (drums) in 1984. After the trio became a popular band on Milwaukee's East Side music scene, they decided to add Bob Griffin (bass). In 1985 the quartet signed a contract with Slash/Warner Records and shortened their name to simply BoDeans. Under the guidance of producer T-Bone Burnett, they entered Hollywood's Sunset Sound Factory in October to record their first album. The critically acclaimed debut Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams was released in 1986. In January 1987, a Rolling Stone reader poll voted them Best New American Band. Their second album, "Outside Looking In," was released that year. Followed by that were "Home," (1989) "Black and White," (1991) and "Go Slow Down," (1993.) Their 1993 song "Closer to Free" was selected as the theme song to the TV series Party of Five. It is also the opening song used in the movie, Heavyweights, In 1995, Joe Dirt Car, a 2 CD live set was released followed by the 1996 album, "Blend." The band took some time off in the late 1990s so Neumann and Llanas could record solo albums. Sammy created the band Absinthe and their album A Good Day To Die. Kurt released his solo album called Shy Dog on which he plays all the instruments. In 2001 the 17-song compilation The Best Of BoDeans - Slash and Burn was released on London/Slash/Rhino. In 2004 they returned with new songs on Resolution released on Rounder/Zoe. Their most recent CD, in 2005, is Homebrewed: Live from the Pabst. The group released the DVD for Homebrewed: Live from the Pabst at the end of 2005. In January 2006, Bob Griffin left the band for unknown reasons. It has been announced that a new Cd would be released in the first half of 2008.
Discography
Albums
- Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams (1986) US #115
- Outside Looking In (1987) US #86
- Home (1989) US #94
- Black and White (1991) US #105
- Go Slow Down (1993) US #127
- Joe Dirt Car (1995) (2 CD live set) US #161
- Blend (1996) US #132
- Slash and Burn (2001) (Best of)
- The Leftovers (2003) (Rarities collection)
- Resolution (2004) US #196
- (2005) (2 CD live set)
Videography
- Homebrewed: Live from the Pabst (2005) (DVD)
Music Videos
- She's a Runaway (1986)
- Fadeaway (1986)
- Only Love (1987)
- Dreams (1988)
- Good Work (1989)
- You Don't Get Much (1989)
- Good Things (1991)
- Black White & Blood Red (1991)
- Closer to Free (1993)
Singles
| Year |
Title |
Chart positions[1] |
Album |
| US Hot 100 |
US Modern Rock |
US Mainstream Rock |
US Adult Top 40 |
US Top 40 Mainstream |
| 1987 |
"Only Love" |
- |
- |
#16 |
- |
- |
Outside Looking In |
| 1988 |
"Dreams" |
- |
- |
#32 |
- |
- |
Outside Looking In |
| 1989 |
"You Don't Get Much" |
- |
#15 |
#20 |
- |
- |
Home |
| 1991 |
"Black, White, and Blood Red" |
- |
- |
#34 |
- |
- |
Black and White |
| 1993 |
"Feed the Fire" |
- |
- |
#34 |
- |
- |
Go Slow Down |
| 1996 |
"Closer to Free" |
#16 |
- |
- |
#3 |
#6 |
Go Slow Down |
| 1996 |
"Hurt By Love" |
- |
- |
- |
#33 |
#39 |
Blend |
Solo albums
- A Good Day To Die (1998) (Absinthe/Sam Llanas solo project)
- Shy Dog (1999) (Kurt Neumann solo project)
References
- ^ Chart Positions at Allmusic.com
External links
View More Summaries on BoDeans
Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA
