Talk:Frank Black

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Article Milestones Date Process Result November 5, 2006 Good article nominee Listed January 31, 2007 Featured article candidate Promoted Current Status: Featured article (musicians)

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Contents 1 Birthplace? 2 Puerto Rico 3 Damaged vocal chords 4 Lyle Workman 5 Nimrod's Son referencing unknown bible story 6 Lyrical/Musical quirkiness 7 Thompson vs Black 8 "Pray For the Girls" & other work 9 That's the Jaina Blues 10 Comment 11 Country Music Influence (& folk influence) 12 Image:FrankBlack.jpg 13 Frank Black discography article 14 Name Change? 15 New album, Bluefinger 16 Last video 17 Politics?

[edit] Birthplace?

According to Frank Black's official website,

"Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV. Charles was “born alive” April 6, 1965 (despite his desire to have been conceived a decade earlier) in Boston (though some sources suggest Long Beach). Several years later, his family moved to Boston and the world of music would never be the same." [1]

Does anyone know which city is the correct birthplace for Frank Black? BlankVerse ∅ 06:08, 23 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Also, the All Music Guide website says Frank Black was "born in California" [2]. BlankVerse ∅ 06:19, 23 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Hi, I run the website in question and that unfortunate quote was the result of a prior edit not being completed properly. He was, in fact, born in Boston, and that correction will appear on the site as soon as we get its backend functioning again. -Dean Katsiris

[edit] Puerto Rico

The article states that Puerto Rico's motto is "Isla Del Encanto" (Island of Charm). However, the Wikipedia entry for Puerto Rico states that its motto is (Latin) "Joannes Est Nomen Eius" / (Spanish) "Juan es su nombre" / (English) "John is his name". Which is correct?

[edit] Damaged vocal chords

On the frankblack.net forums Frank himself had this to say on this subject:

'I can say that I have had no vocal damage. Although going to vocal lessons in recent years has really brought a lot of my voice back. Back from where? Just life, wear and tear, it happens to everybody. My voice feels better than it has in years (thanks, coach!).'

So Frank responds to something that originated from this very page and it takes three months to trickle down to us so we can fix it. Kinda sad. Everyking 23:26, 11 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Lyle Workman

As you can see by following the Lyle Workman link, he performed on not only The Cult of Ray, but on the albums Frank Black and the Catholics and Oldballs. Also on The Cult of Ray, Lyle is guitar left. He is guitar right on FB&TC's.

[edit] Nimrod's Son referencing unknown bible story

In the "Singing and songwriting style" section, Nimrod's Son is invoked with this:

"He has also used the Bible as a source for his stories,
most notably in the incestuous tale of "Nimrod's Son""

Someone please find evidence of a biblical incestuous tale of Nimrod's son; I don't think such a story exists. The name Nimrod (in the song), being a sigularly biblical in nature, and having possible specific reference to a biblical hunter and a biblical king, probably came from the bible--just not in any incestuous story.

Maybe nix the mention of Nimrod's Son as being biblical in source, and find another suitable instance, such as "Build High," which (I'm not sure, so I won't add it to the article) possibly refers to the Tower of Babel. Edbanky 18:23, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Lyrical/Musical quirkiness

I will look at doing this myself, but I can imagine others being more qualified. It wouldn't hurt to give separate recognition and treatment to both his musical acrobatics (with examples) and lyrics (with examples). Both are mentioned, with some examples. Anyone care to flesh these ideas out?

For instance, although I "know it when I hear it," I am technically inept for translating specific aspects into accurate words (as someone did with the "19 quavers" mentioned regarding the Marsist).

Specifically, where do haikus show up in his lyrics? Just curious. Edbanky 18:34, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

I think that haikus are used in Hang Wire on Bossanova:

"they're going higher

wind is whistling on the barbs

your head's a hammer"

and

"that man is a liar

the day is like a warm night

salt rusts the cold line"

Ouioui 21:32, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

On the subject of quavers, unless I'm grossly misunderstanding the concept, there are 20 in "The Marsist" riff, not 19. I'm taking quavers to mean individual notes making up the riff before it repeates. Somebody miscounted...I'm taking that line out. Anazgnos 22:46, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Thompson vs Black

So the article is titled "Frank Black" but refers to him throughout as "Thompson". I'm thinking it should be "Black". Whaddya think? --Jolomo 04:35, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

I've done a little rewriting, and I left references to Thompson in the biography up to the point where he adopted the name "Frank Black" (1993). It's "Black" thereafter...except for the part where it mentions his divorce. 70.183.63.108 18:30, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Pray For the Girls" & other work

I am sitting here listening to the Powerpuff Girls soundtrack, and there is a Frank Black track on it called "Pray for the Girls". I'd like to see it in the discography, but it is not clear where it would belong. --psu256 18:35, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

Maybe that could go in a "Trivia" section? The song was also included on the iTunes b-side compilation, FWIW. There are a few other things that might be appropriate for a "Trivia" section, such as the Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day record that never saw official release. 71.131.199.247 21:14, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

If the discography were expanded to include all compilation appearances, that's where it would go. Anazgnos 22:08, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

Also, I'd like to see a reference to "Man of Steel" off the "Songs in the Key of X" X-files tribute album. Again, included later on a compilation album (in this case, "Oddballs"), but its original source is significant in relation to his interest in sci-fi. Calzero 16:37, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] That's the Jaina Blues

Very clever whoever put in the "Jains" category tag, but...the dude wrote a song that referenced Jainism...I've never seen anything suggesting that he's a practicing Jain. I took it out. Anazgnos 22:07, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Comment

I think the article was well written. Note that references should go after punctionation as per Wikipedia:References#Footnotes_come_after_punctuation so you need to make adjustments to the lead section. / Fred-Chess 15:05, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

I'd also appreciate if you clarified reference 21. / Fred-Chess 15:07, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

I believe I've addressed those comments. CloudNine 15:26, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

I promoted it because the most of the article is so well written. There is still a comparatively weak section called "Musical_style" and it would improve the article if you rewrote that with proper references. / Fred-Chess 15:57, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Country Music Influence (& folk influence)

It seems to me that this is an increasingly important aspect of Frank's music, and I regard it as a major omission. I've added a line in the "musical style" section, but I think this needs to be fleshed out. Perhaps someone can help?

Obviously, the Nashville albums are prominent in this discussion. I don't know anything about the studio musicians he worked with. There is a cover version of the song "dark end of the street", which Frank is quoted ( http://www.frankblack.net/songs/Default.asp?mode=search#quotes ) as being familiar with the Gram Parsons version. So there's one reference.

Also, he's toured and co-written stuff with Reid Paley ( external link : http://www.reidpaley.com/ , and myspace : http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=27777300 ), who's style is very honky tonk / rockabilly.

Maybe someone with musical expertise can describe the "swinging" feel of a tune like Black Rider?

Another thing? Looking around at interviews, Frank's a little defensive about the country influence ( external link : http://forum.frankblack.net/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16533&SearchTerms=country ), preferring to summon his folk background. Personally, I think "rock'n'rollers" should remember that country was part of the origin of RnR and has periodically re-influenced it. So, like, get over it. But also Frank's folk influence maybe needs to be fleshed out in the styles/influences section. What exactly constitutes folk influence beyond acoustic guitar, soft singing, etc? I haven't done the research... maybe someone else wants to pitch in? Calzero 18:01, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Image:FrankBlack.jpg

Why are we using Image:FrankBlack.jpg at all? It's a fair use promotional image, and we have more than enough images of him that are free license here (some of which we are using). --Brandt Luke Zorn 22:14, 10 February 2007 (UTC)

Never mind, did it myself. --Brandt Luke Zorn 23:14, 10 February 2007 (UTC)

Probably because the free images barely show the subject in question (being blocked by a microphone in most cases), are blurred or are taken too far away from the subject. CloudNine 10:08, 11 February 2007 (UTC)

Infobox image changed to a free image. CloudNine 11:56, 11 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Frank Black discography article

It's turned up as an uncategorized article and I'm not sure what category it belongs to. Frank Black isn't a category and I didn't think it fit in with the Pixies category. If you want to come up with a category to put it in, do so and remember to remove the uncategorized template. DandyDan2007 13:01, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Name Change?

Recently on frankblack.net, Charles Thompson said he re-adopted the Black Francis persona and changed his username to reflect it.

That's a pain. I'll update the article soon and put in a move request once he's released the album. CloudNine 11:39, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

He didn't exactly say that. In a series of cryptic, mostly-Dutch posts on his forum about the forthcoming album Bluefinger, he identified the album as being credited to "BlackFrancis". Given the loosy-goosy, freewheeling and off-the-cuff context, it's not the same as him coming out in an interview as saying "oh yes, I'm going back the old stage name." I just think it's jumping the gun to go crowing about this name reversal as if there were really anything solid to go on at this point. Anazgnos 23:02, 30 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] New album, Bluefinger

He has also announced the name and tracklisting for his new ablum on frankblack.net, and the album has since leaked onto the web... is this noteworthy or what?

I'll add that to the article once we get more concrete sources. CloudNine 11:39, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

I have said album, if that is of use. --Discharger12 17:06, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

Well, I put it in, as well as creating a rudimentary album page, with the cite back to the official site. Also, I'm listening to the album at this moment, so I'm pretty sure it exists. :) Anazgnos 19:14, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Last video

The current version of this page says his only video since 4AD was Robert Onion and that the last widely released video was Headache. I haven't verified the absolute last video but there *was* a video for Men In Black on The Cult of Ray which was played on MTV. [3]

Verified that information ("Men in Black" appears to be the last) and corrected the article. CloudNine 10:14, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Politics?

I would find interest in knowing something about Black's political leanings, if it's possible to acquire any such information. 10:14, 24 March 2007 (CET)

I can't say I've found any information about his political outlook, apart from commenting how the welfare state in Puerto Rico is, in his words, "fucked up", and a metaphorical reference to enviromentalism. CloudNine 15:21, 4 April 2007 (UTC)