The Farmer's Boys were a British band from Norwich, England. They formed in the early 1980s and were briefly called 'Bang Goes My Stereo' before changing their name to 'The Farmer's Boys'.[1]
Initially a three piece act, the band employed a drum machine which gave them a somewhat distinctive sound, which combined elements of country and Western, disco and punk. The band's faux 'rural bumpkin' imagery and self-deprecating humour was an important part of their appeal, but led to some scathing reviews in the metropolitan music press. The band played many gigs with The Higsons and for a while was identified as one of the hubs of the 1980s Norwich scene, an eclectic collection of post-punk acts that fused indie and dance to varied degrees.
Early singles were released on local Norwich labels, with the band's first single, "I Think I Need Help", released in April 1982. This attracted airplay from John Peel who became a champion of the band and invited them for several sessions, with David Jensen doing likewise (they recorded three sessions for the latter in 1982–83).[2] In January 1983, "More Than a Dream" was their first single for EMI, a reissue of an independent single that gained some national airplay.[2] Their next single "Muck It Out" was a near-hit, and was followed by their debut album Get Out and Walk.
In 1984, a cover of "In the Country" – previously recorded by Cliff Richard – stalled just outside the Top 40 despite considerable national airplay and promotional TV appearances. This marked the nearest the band came to chart success. The subsequent album With These Hands followed, with the addition of a drummer both on record and live gigs moving the band further away from its early 'indie' sounds. Two more singles were released before the band split in 1985,[2] citing the enigmatical reason of "electrical differences".
Post-split, Baz and Mark went on to form The Avons in 1985.[1] Mark later joined The Nivens. Stan formed Dr Fondle. Frog joined The Higsons and played keyboards in a Julian Cope tour in the late 1980s and original guitarist Andy left early on to join Serious Drinking.[1] In the 2000s, Bar, Mark and Stan played as the McGuilty Brothers.
Discographyedit
Albumsedit
1983: Get Out and Walk (EMI, 1077993) – UK No. 49[3] (produced by Frog and Pete Hammond, except "For You" and "Matter of Fact", accompanied by a special edition 12-inch single featuring 12" versions of "For You", "Probably One of the Best Investments I Ever Made", "Soft Drink" and "Muck It Out")
"T.O.S.D." "Muck It Out" (demo) "Drinking and Dressing Up" (demo) "Something I Ate" (demo) "I Don't Know Why" (demo)
"Apparently"
January 1984
98
—
7"
FAB1
"Uncle Freddie"
12"
12FAB1
"In the Country"
July 1984
44
—
7"
FAB2
"Mama Never Told Me"
7" pic. disc
FABP2
12"
12FAB2
"Mama Never Told Me" "Matter of Fact"
"Phew Wow"
October 1984
59
—
7"
FAB3
"Portrait of a Legend (Part 1)"
12"
12FAB3
"I Built the World"
February 1985
107
—
7"
FAB4
"Sometimes"
12"
12FAB4
"Sometimes" "Probably One of the Best Investments I Ever Made" (live) "Sport for All"
BBC Radio 1 'In Concert'edit
A concert was recorded and broadcast from the Lyceum Theatre in London on 7 September 1983.[citation needed] The Farmer's Boys played the second half-hour, whilst another Norwich band the Higsons played the first half. Tracks played:
"Whatever Is He Like?"
"Matter of Fact"
"Who Needs It?" (with Terry Edwards from The Higsons on saxophone)
"More Than a Dream" (with Terry Edwards on saxophone)
"I Woke Up This Morning"
"Soft Drink"
"The Way You Made Me Cry"
"For You"
Referencesedit
^ abcStrong, Martin C. (2003) "Farmer's Boys", in The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN1-84195-335-0
^ abRoberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 195. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
^Lazell, Barry:"Indie Hits 1980–1989", 1997, Cherry Red Books, ISBN0-9517206-9-4
External linksedit
The Farmer's Boys Official/Unofficial site
March 14, 2024
farmer, boys, german, metal, band, farmer, boys, band, were, british, band, from, norwich, england, they, formed, early, 1980s, were, briefly, called, bang, goes, stereo, before, changing, their, name, promotional, photobackground, informationoriginnorwich, en. For the German metal band see Farmer Boys band The Farmer s Boys were a British band from Norwich England They formed in the early 1980s and were briefly called Bang Goes My Stereo before changing their name to The Farmer s Boys 1 The Farmer s BoysPromotional photoBackground informationOriginNorwich EnglandGenresIndie popsynthpopnew waveYears active1981 1985LabelsWaap Backs EMIPast membersBarry Baz McGuiltyMark KingstonIan Stan ThirkettleRichard Adrian Frog FrostAndy HearnshawWebsitethefarmersboys wbr com Contents 1 History 2 Discography 2 1 Albums 2 2 Compilation albums 2 3 Singles 3 BBC Radio 1 In Concert 4 References 5 External linksHistory editInitially a three piece act the band employed a drum machine which gave them a somewhat distinctive sound which combined elements of country and Western disco and punk The band s faux rural bumpkin imagery and self deprecating humour was an important part of their appeal but led to some scathing reviews in the metropolitan music press The band played many gigs with The Higsons and for a while was identified as one of the hubs of the 1980s Norwich scene an eclectic collection of post punk acts that fused indie and dance to varied degrees Early singles were released on local Norwich labels with the band s first single I Think I Need Help released in April 1982 This attracted airplay from John Peel who became a champion of the band and invited them for several sessions with David Jensen doing likewise they recorded three sessions for the latter in 1982 83 2 In January 1983 More Than a Dream was their first single for EMI a reissue of an independent single that gained some national airplay 2 Their next single Muck It Out was a near hit and was followed by their debut album Get Out and Walk In 1984 a cover of In the Country previously recorded by Cliff Richard stalled just outside the Top 40 despite considerable national airplay and promotional TV appearances This marked the nearest the band came to chart success The subsequent album With These Hands followed with the addition of a drummer both on record and live gigs moving the band further away from its early indie sounds Two more singles were released before the band split in 1985 2 citing the enigmatical reason of electrical differences Post split Baz and Mark went on to form The Avons in 1985 1 Mark later joined The Nivens Stan formed Dr Fondle Frog joined The Higsons and played keyboards in a Julian Cope tour in the late 1980s and original guitarist Andy left early on to join Serious Drinking 1 In the 2000s Bar Mark and Stan played as the McGuilty Brothers Discography editAlbums edit 1983 Get Out and Walk EMI 1077993 UK No 49 3 produced by Frog and Pete Hammond except For You and Matter of Fact accompanied by a special edition 12 inch single featuring 12 versions of For You Probably One of the Best Investments I Ever Made Soft Drink and Muck It Out 1985 With These HandsCompilation albums edit 2003 Once Upon a Time in the East The Early Years 1981 1982 Singles edit Title Date UK Singles Chart 3 UK Indie Chart 4 Label Format Cat Other tracks I Think I Need Help April 1982 15 Waap 7 WAAP3 Squit 12 12WAAP3 Squit More Squit Squittest Whatever Is He Like July 1982 8 Backs 7 NCH01 I Lack Concentration More Than a Dream December 1982 4 Backs 7 NCH03 Country Line January 1983 EMI 7 EMI5367 Muck It Out April 1983 48 7 pic disc EMIP5380 Funky Combine John 12 12EMI5380 For You July 1983 66 7 EMI5401 T O S D double 7 EMID5401 T O S D Muck It Out demo Drinking and Dressing Up demo Something I Ate demo I Don t Know Why demo Apparently January 1984 98 7 FAB1 Uncle Freddie 12 12FAB1 In the Country July 1984 44 7 FAB2 Mama Never Told Me 7 pic disc FABP212 12FAB2 Mama Never Told Me Matter of Fact Phew Wow October 1984 59 7 FAB3 Portrait of a Legend Part 1 12 12FAB3 I Built the World February 1985 107 7 FAB4 Sometimes 12 12FAB4 Sometimes Probably One of the Best Investments I Ever Made live Sport for All BBC Radio 1 In Concert editA concert was recorded and broadcast from the Lyceum Theatre in London on 7 September 1983 citation needed The Farmer s Boys played the second half hour whilst another Norwich band the Higsons played the first half Tracks played Whatever Is He Like Matter of Fact Who Needs It with Terry Edwards from The Higsons on saxophone More Than a Dream with Terry Edwards on saxophone I Woke Up This Morning Soft Drink The Way You Made Me Cry For You References edit a b c Strong Martin C 2003 Farmer s Boys in The Great Indie Discography Canongate ISBN 1 84195 335 0 a b c Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Who s Who of Indie and New Wave Music First ed Guinness Publishing p 108 ISBN 0 85112 579 4 a b Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 195 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Lazell Barry Indie Hits 1980 1989 1997 Cherry Red Books ISBN 0 9517206 9 4External links editThe Farmer s Boys Official Unofficial site The Great Outdoors Wayback Machine archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Farmer 27s Boys amp oldid 1195822149, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
