Frank Allison: Small-Town Music in a Big-Time World Part 1

[twintone01]

I was in that first band. I moved back from LA & started playing w/ Frank. The drummer is still touring w/ Three Blue Teardrops (drawing big crowds in LA, Chicago, Europe, etc.), and Mike Feeney led the Holy Cows and was signed to an indie label. Check out the fan pages on FB for more on those bands. Those bands were/are fantastic. w/ Frank, we played Blind Pig, Harvey's club in Mount Pleasant, and all over. Some of our reel to reel stuff is great, imo, and I'd love to hear it again.

[bushmustgo]

@twintone01 - Cool story. I hired them for a couple of parties in my area (near CHI). The guy is so talented, I'm tempted to use the word genius.

I still hum & sing those songs all the time, they're a part of me. And I have a perfect harmony line to "Remus Road" that I would love to sing with Frank sometime.

I can't recommend FAATOS albums strongly enough.

[shoespeak]

I was somehow able to get a copy of Frank Allison and the Odd Sox from one of the local record places (the one above Subway on Packard) and it blows my mind every time! I listen to many different styles and artists but not many people put as much brute joy and laughter and summer in their songs as Frank. Such great music, Frank I love you!!

[danpritts]

@shoespeak - that's PJ's used records. 734-663-3441

[Bilirubin5]

Frank, great to hear you again. Missing MB.

[Svatopluk]

Miss you Frank. Sorry I couldn't tour with you all those years ago, I chose classical music instead which probably a mistake (though I've somehow made a living out of it). Wish you all the best. (the mystery bassist).

[PosterKnutbag]

looks like rob reinhart has the white album on top of the stack

[danpritts]

I suspect that PJ's Used Records would be able to set you up with copies of Frank's CDs. They don't seem to have a website per se but they seem to sell a lot on ebay. Jeff Taras, the big-bearded guy in the video (shown in the record store) is one of the owners of PJ's.

Or look them up in the phone book, they're on packard st. in ann arbor.

[430wakeup]

Saw a couple great shows while in madison, wi. made a bootleg recording from a FAOS show in chicago in early 90s...shh, don't tell frank. As mentioned in docu FAOS's music is timeless. now live in the south and country fans really dig his heartland-rock sound. thoughts on documentary: eliminate the silly sound effects while featuring the music. add a little more background of the local music scene in ann arbor during this time. good luck frank.

[FilthyMcNastie]

I loved it when Frank and the band would roll into town way up North in Big Rapids, Michigan and play The SawMill Saloon... watching Frank on stage was like watching cartoons.

God Bless Ya Frank!

-from yer pal,Piker of the frozen north

[jrteter2]

This is really interesting. Where is he now?

I guess I'll get the answers in the later installments.

My favorite unknown band is the Modern Day Saints who were from Carbondale Illinois. I would love to see a clip of them playing live.

[david2667]

Frank was absulutely the greatest entertainer I have ever seen. His songwriting and performance skills will never be equalled. Too bad the A & R people thought fun was a bad thing. Frank was so good, he should have been a worldwide legend!

[drmlabs]

YAAAAAAAA@!  Frank! Frank! Frank!

[tomabes]

You don't have to be a 4.0 to know Frank shows were the best things to come out of the 80s. I hope Frank reads these responses and knows there are a lot of us who still play his music (a lot), think about how sweaty we got at his shows (a lot), and still love the long-haired freak (a whole lot).

[Froysty]

I discovered Frank at the Blind Pig on a date with a very drunk young lady. Once she was in a secure comfortable place, I spent the rest of the night enjoying Frank & the Sox. I have every album except the second CD & even hand illustrated discs by Frank. I introduce him to 5-10 folks/year & all ask where they can see him play. Thanks to these videos I can say "here".

[GranolaEater]

Frank and the Odd Sox were easily the best band in Ann Arbor. The band was so good, and the songwriting so good, that I always expected them to break out and hit it big.

I love this documentary. It captures Frank's creativity and sense of humor. Frank's one of the truly good guys, and he deserves this recognition.

My Monkey Business CD got stolen a little while ago ... I need a new one.

[pkittens]

check out Frank's website. frankallisonmusicDOTcom

[IkeIkeler]

There's not much I can say about Frank that will fit in this space so I'll keep it short. The Frank & the Odd Sox live shows were the best times I've had at a venue of any kind. I was a rock bass player dancing?. I never danced before. Frank didn't play dance music but the girls all jumped to the floor at Lili's, Griff's Grill, Alvin's, or even Leg's Inn in BFE Northern Mich. This video just slapped me in the face with what music could have been now, if Frank was still able to record.

[ttoepfer]

Oh the fun we had.

[wendyow]

I am SO happy to see this lost documentary! I did the interview about 11 years ago and always wondered what happened to it. Frank deserves the recognition...my favorite songwriter of all time.