Andy Fraser (Andy Fraser Band)
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1975) as The Andy Fraser Band - Andy Fraser (RIP 2015) -- vocals, bass, keyboards - Nick Judd -- keyboards - Kim Turner (RIP 2003) -- drums, percussion
line up 2 (1976) as Andy Fraser - Andy Fraser (RIP 2015) -- vocals, bass, keyboards
backing musicians: - Barry Beckett -- keyboards - Pete Carr -- lead guitar - Roger Hawkins -- drums, percussion - Jimmy Johnson -- lead guitars
line up 3 (1984) - Tony Braunagel -- drums, percussion - David Faragher -- bass - Andy Fraser (RIP 2015) -- vocals, bass, keyboards - Bob Marlette - keyboards, synthesizers - Michael Thompson -- lead guitar
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- Alternative TV (Kim Turner) - Cat Iron (Kim Turner) - Free (Andy Fras) - Sharks (Andy Fraser and Nick Judd)
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Andy Fraser Band Company: CBS Catalog: S
80731 Country/State: London, UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: UK pressing; foil cover Available: 2 Catalog ID: 5565 Price: $30.00
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Even though he'd established an extensive recording catalog as a member of John Mayall Bluesbreakers (briefly), as one of the founding members of Free, and Shark (also briefly), singer/bassist Andy Fraser didn't step out into a solo career until 1975.
With support from Sharks keyboardist Nick Judd and drummer Kim Turner (who went on to manage Fraser), he formed The Andy Fraser Band and was quickly signed by CBS Records.
Self-produced, 1975's "Andy Fraser Band" came as a major surprise to me. A big free fan, I'd always appreciated Fraser's songwriting and innovative bass work. I'd also liked his only recorded vocal performance with the band - the country flavored 'Bodie' from the LP "Highway" (don't think there are any others, but I may be wrong). Like most folks I simply didn't realize what a great voice the man had. Maybe a result of hanging out with Paul Rodgers all those years, Fraser had the same type of growling, blues-based voice. His voice may have been a tad lighter than Rodgers, but to be honest, given a couple of beers and I'd be hard pressed to tell the two apart. Showcasing ten Fraser penned songs, perhaps it shouldn't have been a major surprise, but mid-tempo rockers like 'Changed Man', 'I Wanna Be There' and 'Bring It On Home' were very much in the Free/Bad Company mode. Showcasing stark, slightly under produced AOR arrangements at times the resemblance with Bad Company was almost uncanny. Fraser even nailed some of Rodgers vocal mannerisms - check out 'Ain't Gonna Worry' or 'Double Heart Trouble' if you doubt the statement. The other highlight was Fraser's bass playing. He was always impressive in Free, but how many albums can you think of where bass serves as the lead instrument? Even more impressive, Fraser and company's performances were so good you didn't even notice the absence of a lead guitar. Of course some of the credit went to Judd for handled some of the bass lines on keyboards allowing Fraser to focus on chords and lead patterns.
Fraser's album attracted some pretty good reviews from the critics, but at a time when Rodgers and company were tearing up the sales charts, the album failed to attract an audience. Shame since it was a keeper.
"Andy
Fraser Band" track listing: 1.) Don't Hide Your Love Away (Andy Fraser) - 3:22 Hearing this classic blues-rocker for the time in years, I was amazed how much Fraser's voice sounded like Paul Rodgers. Add to that, if you want to hear some of the man's legendary bass work, this is a great place to start. The track was tapped as a British single:
- 1975's 'Don't Hide Your Love Away' b/w 'Ain't Gonna Worry' (CBS catalog number S CBS 3159) rating: **** stars 2.) Changed Man (Andy Fraser) - 4:03 Fraser getting funky ... okay, but not really his fortay. rating: *** stars 3.) Ain't Gonna Worry (Andy Fraser) - 3:48 Back to blues-rock with much better results. Fraser was one of the kings of angst-rock and he seldom sounded as pained as on 'Ain't Gonna Worry'. rating: **** stars 4.) I Wanna Be There (Andy Fraser) - 3:10 I'm not sure why this one didn't register with me. I'm guessing it may have had something to do with Fraser's strained, unpleasant vocal, or the busy and muddy arrangement. rating: ** stars 5.) Bring It On Home (Andy Fraser) - 2:50 Another mid-tempo blues-rocker; this time showcasing Nick Judd's electric piano. Okay, it nothing that was going to knock your socks off. rating: *** stars
(side
2) I liked this Fraser original, but if you wanted to hear the classic version, then check out Frankie Miller's molten cover (naturally found on his 1977 "Double Trouble" LP). rating: *** stars 2.) Keep On Loving You (Andy Fraser) - 6:06 Impressive Free-styled blues-rocker that showcased Fraser's gritty voice and his unique bass style. One of the few players who could make the bass sound like a true lead instrument. rating: **** stars 3.) Love Is All Around (Andy Fraser) - 5:20 'Love Is All Around' was about as bouncy as this album got. By the way, this was another tune that Fraser's buddy Frankie Miller covered, though Fraser's original was the better of the two. rating: *** stars 4.) Baby Forever (Andy Fraser) - 4:50 Another tune that sounded rushed and like Fraser was simply trying too hard ... rating: ** stars
The late Fraser has an elaborate website though little information on The Andy Fraser Band at:
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: In Your Eyes Company: CBS Catalog: 81027 Country/State: London, UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: UK pressing Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1686 Price: $25.00
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After releasing one promising album fronting the Andy Fraser Band, namesake Fraser broke up the band and packed it up for Muscle Shoals, Alabama where he recorded his first true solo album with a large collection of local sessions players. Produced by Brad Shapiro, 1975's "In Your Eyes" certainly had the ingredients for a promising collection. As on the debut, the biggest surprise to my ears came in the form of Fraser's husky voice. On the tracks like 'Train of Love' and the country-blues 'Gotta Steal Away' he continued to remind me of a younger, slightly constrained Paul Rodgers. For better or worse, that made for constant comparisons with Free. And since I've always been a big Free fan, that wasn't a bad thing. Another plus, unlike the debut set where Fraser's bass served as the lead instrument, this time around the arrangements featured plenty of lead guitar (courtesy of Peter Carr and Jimmy Johnson). That made for a more diverse collection of tunes, though the MS backing occasionally threatened to drown Fraser. The rollicking 'Be Good To Yourself' was probably the album's standout performance (though Frankie Miller's cover was even better), with 'Ain't No Substitute' coming in a close second. Still, in spite of a couple of nice moments, the overall result was a mild disappointment. Pleasant, but not an essential purchase for most folks.
"In Your
Eyes" track listing: 1.) Train of Love (Andy Fraser) - 4:15 Train of Love' was a great example of the album's general strengths and weaknesses. The basic song was quite good, sounding like a fancied up slice of Free-styled blues-rock. Vocally Fraser sounded in great form and while not prominent, his tasteful bass work was intact. Less impress were the Muscle Shoals touches. I'm usually a big fan of the MS sound, but here the results sounded busy and unnecessary; with the horns and blaring backing singers simply serving to distract from the underlying melody. rating: *** stars 2.) Let Your Love Come Out (Andy Fraser) - 3:55 'Let Your Love Come Out' was more soulful than you would have expected - almost like a Delbert McClinton tune. Again, the horns and female backing chorus were a bit disconcerting, but after you got over the initial surprise, the tune had a breezy, likeable groove. rating: *** stars 3.) Ease On Out (Andy Fraser) - 4:00 A bouncy, mid-tempo rocker, I've always liked Barry Backett's mini-Moog (?) on this one. A bit too busy, but still a fun tune. rating: *** stars 4.) Be Good To Yourself (Andy Fraser)- 3:25 My pick for the album's best tune, 'Be Good To Yourself' had everything you look for in a killer single - great melody; nice hook in the form of Beckett's keyboard riff, and that certain x factor. CBS certainly felt that way tapping it as the leadoff single:
- 1985's "Be Good To Yourself' b/w 'Gotta Steal Away' (CBS catalog number S CBS 3725) That said, Frankie Miller once again turned in the classic version with his cover (found on the "Full House" LP). rating: **** stars 5.) Gotta Steal Away (Andy Fraser)- 3:37 I guess one of the unwritten rules of recording at Muscle Shoals was the mandate that you record at least one straight-forward slice of country-blues. So, 'Gotta Steal Away' checked that block off for Fraser. enough said. rating: ** stars
(side 2) 1.) Listen To the Rain (Andy Fraser) - 6:02 An atypical ballad, 'Listen To the Rain' was a pretty enough ballad that would have been even better without the chirping backing vocals and with a bit of judicious editing. Clocking in at over six minutes, it was simply too long. The tune was tapped as the second UK single:
- 1975's 'Listen To the Rain' b/w 'Train of Love' (CBS catalog number S CBS 4004) rating: *** stars 2.) Leave Your Light Shine (Andy Fraser) - 3:50 Country soul? Not sure how to describe this one. Can't say Fraser's "burping" bass line did much for me either. rating: ** stars 3.) Talking 'Bout My Baby (Andy Fraser) - 3:19 Slinky tune that was a grower ... rating: *** stars 4.) Ain't No Substitute (Andy Fraser) - 4:15 'Ain't No Substitute' was the album's best mash-up of Free-styled blues and Muscle Shoals soul moves. One of the album's true highlights, though you had to wonder if Fraser had a clue what Alabama catfish tasted like ... rating: **** stars 5.) Need Someone To Love (Andy Fraser) - 5:01 One of the prettiest ballads Fraser's ever recorded, but once again the arrangement sounded unnecessarily busy and fussy. rating: *** stars
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Genre: rock Rating: 2 stars ** Title: Fine, Fine Line Company: Island Catalog: 90153-1 Country/State: London, UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: price sticker on front cover Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5570 Price: $12.00
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Andy Fraser's first two solo albums reflected markedly different musical directions so it probably shouldn't have come as a major surprise to discover he'd switched 'personalities' for 1984's "Fine, Fine Line". Recorded after Fraser had relocated to Southern California, the album found Fraser exploring mid-1980s AOR. I'm a big Fraser fan and I'd love to tell you his third album was great, but it wasn't. Songs such as the title track, 'Branded By the Fire' and 'Million Miles Away' weren't actually bad, but surrounded by a highly dated mid-1980s sound, complete with banks of synthesizers, syndrums, and treated vocals today they suffer from a highly dated sound. There were also some plain bad songs. 'Danger' and Living This Eternal Dream'' were pure AOR product that could have easily been mistaken for any mid-1970s hair band. Elsewhere I guess updating the soul classic 'Do You Love Me' must have seemed liked a good idea to his record company. It wasn't. Lucky Berry Gordy Jr. and The Contours didn't sue for musical abuse. Adding to the problem, whereas Fraser's voice previously recalled Paul Rodgers, this time out he sounded like Steve Perry (check out 'To Last Forever' if you doubt that comment) - great if you were a Journey fan, not so good otherwise. Sure, there were a couple of okay tunes. The title track and 'Chinese Eyes' were at least good slices of AOR, while 'Night To Last Forever' almost managed to out Journey Steve Perry and company. From anyone else this would have been an okay album, but from someone as talented as Fraser it was a disappointment.
"Fine,
Fine Line" track listing: 1.) Fine, Fine Line (Andy Fraser - Bob Marlette) - 3:40 Hey, did I put a Journey album on by mistake? Anyone listening to this corporate AOR tune could easily have been forgiven for making that mistake. Giving Fraser credit where deserved, the track had a nice, radio-friendly hook and the accompanying MTV was a classic slice of '80s posturing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soE63vWxZnE The tune was tapped as a single in the US and Germany, though in the States it was apparently only released as a promo 45::
- 1984's 'Fine, Fine Line' b/w 'Fine, Fine Line' (Island catalog number 7-99756) **** stars 2.) Branded By the Fire (Andy Fraser - Bob Marlette) - 4:06 'Branded By the Fire' was a big, overblown '80s era ballad that was totally forgettable to my ears. rating: ** stars 3.) Chinese Eyes (Andy Fraser - Bob Marlette - Jim Vallance) - 3:36 Guilty as charged ... 'Chinese Eyes' could have been a poster child for a corporate AOR tune. Every note on this one sounded calculated to maximize radio airplay. And in spite of that, there was something charming in Fraser's "deep" lyrics and the oriental sound effects that populated the arrangement. Another tune that was a single:
- 1985's 'Chinese Eyes' b/w 'Chinese Eyes (Island catalog number PR-629) 12" format rating: **** stars 4.) Knocking At Your Door (Andy Fraser) - 3:03 Hum, adding a touch of reggae to an AOR tune may have been a cool thing to do in 1984, but it didn't do anything to salvage a thoroughly forgettable mid-tempo rocker. rating: ** stars 5.) Million Miles Away (Andy Fraser - Graham Lyle) - 4:09 Shame to hear such a nice voice wasted on an anonymous tune that sounded like a cross between Sting and Steve Perry. rating: ** stars
(side 2) 1.) Do You Love Me (Berry Gordy Jr.) - 3:37 Taking this Motown classic and reshaping it as an AOR rocker probably wasn't Fraser's proudest moment, I can only speculate Island Records pressured him to include what marketing saw as a safe tune to release as a single:
7" format - 1984's 'Do You Love Me' b/w 'Palm of My Hand' (Island catalog number 7-89784) 12" format - 1985's 'Do You Love Me' b/w 'Do You Love Me' (album version) and Palm of My Hand' (Island catalog number PR-709) Sad to say, but pretty hideous. rating: ** stars 2.) Night To Last Forever (Andy Fraser - Bob Marlette) - 3:39 Lucky Steve Perry and company didn't hit him with a copywrite suite for this one ... even the stuttering keyboards sounded like they'd been borrowed from a Journey album. rating: *** stars 3.) Danger (Andy Fraser - Bob Marlette - Jim Vallance) - 3:23 More flabby and forgettable AOR rock. Co-writer Jim Vallance has a hysterical story that talks about working with Fraser on these tunes and getting shared writing credits for his efforts. I know nothing about the way songwriting credits equate to royalties, but Vallance got between 1% and 5% for his efforts. Needless to say, he seemed a little surprised by Fraser's "generosity". rating: ** stars 4.) One Night Love Affair (Andy Fraser - Bob Marlette) - 3:16 Well, at least 'One Night Love Affair' had a punchy, bouncy melody that made the three minutes go by quickly. This one sounded like something penned for one of those John Hughes comedies. rating: *** stars 5.) Living This Eternal Dream (Andy Fraser - Bob Marlette) - 4:51 Let's play name that '80s synthesizer ... shame, shame, shame he was allowed to record such a faceless collection. Easy to imagine you slapped on a Whitesnake album by mistake. rating: *** stars
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