Roddy Frame (born January 29 1964, East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland) is the founder of the 1980s indie band, Aztec Camera, and more recently a solo performer.
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Career
Between 1981 and 1982 Frame was co-productive in fronting Postcard Records, where he began to befriend and record a string of low budget singles such as "Just Like Gold" and "Mattress of Wire". The latter single drew attention from BBC Radio 1 DJ, John Peel. In 1983, the band released "High Land, Hard Rain," their first LP on Rough Trade record, though this did not include the first two Postcard singles. It spawned the hit single "Oblivious", and Aztec Camera were recognised as one of the key acts on the Rough Trade, though The Smiths would soon supplant them. 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". Their third album, ,"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. Frame duetted 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 they released their final album, Frestonia, for WEA. From that point, Frame pursued a solo career. His first solo album The North Star came out in 1998, and featured the single "Reason For Living". There was a change of gear for 2002's Surf, an album of acoustic songs that attracted widespread critical acclaim, and was generally seen as a return to Frame's best songwriting form. The track "Small World" was used as the theme music to the BBC TV comedy series, Early Doors. Frame also made his first-ever appearance at the Glastonbury Festival in 2003. His next album, Western Skies, was released in May 2006. Frame has also recorded cover versions of "Bad Education" by Blue Orchids, and a slowed-down version of "Jump", originally recorded by Van Halen. In 2006 he released the live album Live at Ronnie Scott's, followed in 2007 by another, Live at The Blue Note, Osaka.
Solo discography
- The North Star - (Independiente, 1998)
- Surf - (Redemption, 2002)
- Western Skies - (Redemption, 2006)
- Live at Ronnie Scott's - (2006)
- Live at The Blue Note, Osaka - (2007)
See also
References
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums, 19th, London: Guinness World Records Limited, p. 211. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
