The Wallets
OriginMinneapolis, United States
GenresPost-punk
Years activeEarly 1980s–1988
LabelsTwin/Tone
Past membersSteve Kramer
Erik Anderson
Jim Clifford
Rod Gordon
Max Ray

The Wallets were a band from the Twin Cities, who recorded on the local Twin/Tone Records label in the 1980s.

History

The Wallets were founded as an experimental group by accordionist Steve Kramer and managed by Bob Hest.[1]

The Allen Toussaint-produced debut album Take It was released in 1986, described by Spin as urban soul and funk with "a Cajun smell to their work".[2] The album saw the band described as "art rockers who not only want to groove but know how to groove".[3]

Kramer decided to retire the band in spring 1988, but waited until their final album, Body Talk, was released late in the fall before announcing the split.[4] The Wallets performed their final show at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis on January 23, 1989.[5][6]

Steve Kramer and the Wallets at First Avenue c.1982

Kramer and Hest later formed an advertising agency, currently known as Hest & Kramer, Van House Weber,[7] noted for its use of music in television ads for clients such as Target Stores, MTV, Time Warner, and Buick.[8][9]

Kramer died in January 2013 at age 59.[10][11]

Musical style

The Minneapolis Star Tribune summed the band's style up as a "mix of polka, rock, rhythm-and-blues, jazz and whimsy".[12]

Awards

The band received several Minnesota Music Awards ("Minnies"), with ten nominations in 1987.[13]

Discography

Albums

  • Take It (1986), Twin/Tone
  • Body Talk (1988), Twin/Tone
  • 17 Songs (1989), Twin/Tone

EPs

  • Catch a Falling Star (1983), Spiffola 333

Singles

  • "Night Before Christmas" (1983)
  • "Totally Nude" (1986)

References

  1. ↑ Baenen, Jeff (1997) "Ex-band mates finf success in ad world", Reading Eagle, December 26, 1997, retrieved 2010-08-25
  2. ↑ Stim, Rich (July 1987). "Wallets: Take It". SPIN. pp. 26–7. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  3. ↑ "The Wallets Put Art Rock in the Pocket", San Jose Mercury News, November 16, 1986
  4. ↑ "It's official: Wallets will fold as newest album is released", Star-Tribune, November 4, 1988
  5. ↑ Bream, Jon (22 January 1989). "Wallets' Last Gig Will Reprise Many Memories". Minneapolis Star Tribune.
  6. ↑ Bream, Jon (24 January 1989). "Wallets Are at Their Zany, Brilliant Best in Farewell Show". Minneapolis Star Tribune.
  7. ↑ Archived 2007-09-12 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ Bream, Jon (1997) "Ex-Wallets finally get musical payoff - off the stage", Star-Tribune, August 24, 1997
  9. ↑ Baenen, Jeff (1998) "The Beat Goes On--to TV Jingles; Advertising: Two rock band graduates make their past pay off in music for commercials", Los Angeles Times, February 12, 1988
  10. ↑ Fischer, Reed (21 January 2013). "RIP Steve Kramer of the Wallets (1953-2013)". City Pages. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  11. ↑ Tillotson, Kristin (21 January 2013). "Steve Kramer of the Wallets dead at 59". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  12. ↑ "Going-out-of-business party", Star Tribune, December 29, 1988
  13. ↑ "Nominees announced for state music awards", Star-Tribune, April 2, 1987
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