The Farmer's Boys

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 Boys
Promotional Picture
Background information
OriginNorwich, England
GenresIndie pop, synthpop, new wave
Years active1981–1985
LabelsWaap, Backs Records, EMI
Associated actsThe Great Outdoors
Websitehttp://www.thefarmersboys.com/
Past membersBarry "Baz" McGuilty
Mark Kingston
Ian "Stan" Thirkettle
Richard Adrian "Frog" Frost
Andy Hearnshaw

History

The band's first single, "I Think I Need Help", was released in April 1982. In January 1983, "More Than a Dream" was re-issued as their first single for EMI. Several more singles and two albums, Get Out and Walk and With These Hands were released before the band split in 1985, citing the enigmatical reason of "electrical differences". Their music received its first radio-play in 1981, round what was then a post-punk era, where the harder sounds of the Diagram Bros. and The Cravats seemed to be more fashionable. The softer pop sound of this Norwich band, although less popular upon arrival, could well today be seen as a prototype for bands such as The Housemartins and certainly The Higsons. Indeed, the influence is rarely noted but evident upon close listening. There was a cross-pollination between styles. They also recorded notable BBC Sessions at Maida Vale studios for John Peel, the last of which featured early versions of "Sport for All" and "Heartache" [BBC, John Peel, 1984]. Their work became very influential upon the Norwich scene, as previously mentioned with The Higsons and other offshoot outfits such as Ronnie Can You Hear Me. 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 '80s and original guitarist Andy left early on to join Serious Drinking.[1]

Discography

Singles
Title Date UK Singles Chart[2] UK Indie Chart[3] 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 "Whatever Is He Like?"
"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 — — 7" FAB4 "Sometimes"
12" 12FAB4 "Sometimes"
"Probably One of the Best Investments I Ever Made" (live)
"Sport for All"

Albums

Studio albums
  • 1983: Get Out And Walk (EMI, 1077993) UK No. 49[2] (Produced by Frog and Pete Hammond, except "For You" and "Matter of Fact")

Accompanied by: Special Edition 12-inch single featuring 12" versions of "For You", "Probably One of the Best Investments I Ever Made", "Soft Drink", "Muck It Out"

The band: Baz (vocals); Mark (bass); Frog (keyboards/guitar/drum machine; Stan (guitar)

  • 1985: With These Hands

Compilation albums
  • 2003: Once Upon A Time in the East

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