Positively Phranc

Positively Phranc is an album by the American musician Phranc, released in 1991.[3][4] Phranc promoted the album by touring with Morrissey.[5] Phranc was dropped by Island Records after the album's release.[6]

Positively Phranc
Studio album by
Phranc
Released1991
Recorded1991
GenreFolk, folk punk, punk pop[1]
Length30:42
LabelIsland[2]
ProducerWarren Bruleigh, Phranc
Phranc chronology
I Enjoy Being a Girl
(1989)		 Positively Phranc
(1991)		 Goofyfoot
(1995)

Production

"Gertrude Stein" is Phranc's cover version of Jonathan Richman's "Pablo Picasso"; D.J. Bonebrake played drums on the song.[7] "Tipton" is a tribute to transgender jazz musician Billy Tipton.[8] "Surfer Girl", a duet with Syd Straw, is a cover of the Beach Boys song.[9] "Outta Here" is about the deaths of friends due to AIDS.[10] Dave Alvin played guitar on "Hitchcock".[11] Two Nice Girls sang on "I'm Not Romantic".[12]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Robert Christgau(choice cut)[14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[15]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[16]
Martin C. Strong6/10[17]
The Tampa Tribune[12]

The Gazette wrote that "Phranc proves that all anyone really needs is six strings and a point of view."[18] The Chicago Tribune opined that Positively Phranc "is miles ahead of her first two albums, offering wit, a sense of balance, musical diversity and polished artistry that simply wasn't there before."[19]

Trouser Press noted that the album "intermittently brings tasteful electric accompaniment into the picture while narrowing the lyrical focus to mostly concentrate on romance."[20] Entertainment Weekly lamented that "Phranc pens ironic little ditties, high on giggles but low on the insights that should come out of a lesbian's daily life in the straight world."[21] Robert Christgau considered "'64 Ford" to be the album's best track.[14]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Phranc; except where indicated

  1. "I Like You"
  2. "I'm Not Romantic"
  3. "'64 Ford"
  4. "Hitchcock"
  5. "Tipton"
  6. "Dress Code"
  7. "Why?"
  8. "Gertrude Stein" (Jonathan Richman)
  9. "Surfer Girl" (Brian Wilson)
  10. "Outta Here"

Personnel
  • Phranc - Producer, vocals, guitar
  • Warren Bruleigh - Producer

Release details
Country Date Label Format Catalog
1991 Island CD 422-848 282-2
Cassette 422-848 282-4
1992 PolyGram CD 848282

References
  1. Kramarae, Cheris; Spender, Dale (2004). Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women: Global Women's Issues and Knowledge. Routledge. p. 1210.
  2. Pener, Degen (15 Aug 1993). "Phranc, As in Frank or Neil". The New York Times. p. A4.
  3. Ehrlich, Dimitri (May 1991). "Positively Phranc by Phranc". Interview. 21 (5): 48.
  4. Dery, Mark (Oct 1991). "Frankly Phranc". Guitar Player. 25 (10): 14.
  5. Sndyer, Michael (January 30, 1994). "Lesbian Folk Singer – Phranc Sparkles In Diamond Tribute". Sunday Datebook. San Francisco Chronicle. p. 41.
  6. Gaar, Gillian G. (1992). She's a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock and Roll. Seal Press. p. 386.
  7. Brown, Joe (5 July 1991). "Phranc Approach For Individual Folk". The Washington Post. p. N13.
  8. "Phrancly, My Dear". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. 8 May 1992. p. E1.
  9. Takiff, Jonathan (9 Apr 1991). "Vocal Feminists Are Reaching New Audiences". Features Yo!. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 27.
  10. Erskine, Evelyn (29 June 1991). "Direct sting of punk is still Phranc's music". Ottawa Citizen. p. E3.
  11. Grobaty, Tim (March 24, 1991). "Positively Phranc". Press-Telegram. p. B5.
  12. Garcia, Wayne (April 19, 1991). "Phranc Positively Phranc". Tampa Bay Times. The Tampa Tribune. p. 19.
  13. "Positively Phranc Review by Denise Sullivan". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  14. "Phranc". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  15. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 528.
  16. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. pp. 872–873.
  17. Strong, Martin C. (2003). The Great Indie Discography (2nd ed.). Canongate. p. 453.
  18. Lamey, Mary (24 Dec 1991). "Girls, cars, mud-wrestling: Phranc covers musical map". The Gazette. p. C10.
  19. Heim, Chris (21 June 1991). "Morrissey and Phranc". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. M.
  20. "Phranc". Trouser Press. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  21. Farber, Jim. "Positively Phranc". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
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