The Farmer's Boys
Promotional photo
Promotional photo
Background information
OriginNorwich, England
Genres
Years active1981–1985
LabelsWaap, Backs, EMI
Past membersBarry "Baz" McGuilty
Mark Kingston
Ian "Stan" Thirkettle
Richard Adrian "Frog" Frost
Andy Hearnshaw
Websitethefarmersboys.com

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]

History

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.

Discography

Albums

  • 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 Hands

Compilation albums

Singles

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 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'

A concert was recorded and broadcast from the Lyceum Theatre in London on 7 September 1983. The Farmer's Boys played the second half-hour, whilst another Norwich band the Higsons played the first half. Tracks played:

  1. "Whatever Is He Like?"
  2. "Matter of Fact"
  3. "Who Needs It?" (with Terry Edwards from The Higsons on saxophone)
  4. "More Than a Dream" (with Terry Edwards on saxophone)
  5. "I Woke Up This Morning"
  6. "Soft Drink"
  7. "The Way You Made Me Cry"
  8. "For You"

References

  1. 1 2 3 Strong, Martin C. (2003) "Farmer's Boys", in The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0
  2. 1 2 3 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.
  3. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 195. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. Lazell, Barry:"Indie Hits 1980–1989", 1997, Cherry Red Books, ISBN 0-9517206-9-4
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