Sunday, December 27, 2020

The 1981 Listening Post - Franke and the Knockouts - Franke and the Knockouts

Franke and the Knockouts - Franke and the Knockouts


#107

March 1981

Franke and the Knockouts

Franke and the Knockouts

Genre: MOR Rock

3.5 out of 5


Highlights:

Tonight

Tell Me Why (which is mislabeled on the stream as Running Into the Night and Vice Versa)


Franke has an Oscar. True story. He co-wrote “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” for Dirty Dancing. That probably made him a gazillionaire. Good for him.

This is in that late 70s Billy Joel/Steve Forbert world. It’s a bit of soul and a bit of rock with a dash of flaming trash can doo wop sensibility. 

Dammit. 

This is ANOTHER album that you know label execs got their hands on and fucked up the running order. The first side is filled with pap and mediocre balladry. 

Flip it over and the energy kicks off with “Tonight”, a perfectly acceptable piece of stadium/roller rink rock. I mean I could hear a little Night Ranger in these guys. 

Sure it sounds like Top 40 Tubes but, we all bought that back then, didn’t we?



https://music.apple.com/us/album/franke-the-knockouts-original-recording-remastered/1049260377

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