Rank and File by E.J. Wells
Rank and File were instrumental in pioneering the "cowpunk" movement of the mid 80's.
Regardless of what members were once in the lineup (Junior Brown, Alejandro Escovedo), Rank and File ARE/WERE Chip and Tony Kinman. Period.
The Kinman brothers started their professional (recording) music careers in the popular late '70s LA punk band THE DILS. Rank and File occurred in the 80's, and three albums were produced.
The first, "Sundown," is a brilliant (by any standards) excursion into the dark (and oft times humorous) American West. This is the album with Alejandro Escovito playing guitar and singing (a bit). Sundown featured "Amanda Ruth," which was later recorded by the Everly Brothers on their comeback album.
The second album, "Long Gone Dead," was a slicker recording, but somehow clouded the charm of the band. Still in all, it has many gems on it, including the haunting "Hot Wind," and a great version of the Dils hit "The Sound of the Rain."
The 3rd album, and the only one released on CD (at the time), is the self titled "Rank and File," which marked the death of the band. Not without some points of interest, this record seemed to try to meld the Kinmans sense of dark western vision with the burgeoning popularity of "hair bands." The result was commecially disasterous.
The Kinman brother went on to form BLACKBIRD, which was an artistic success, yet a commercial failure. I personally LOVED Blackbird, and still play their self-titled (Scotti Brothers) release on a very regular basis.
Chip and Tony currently have a band called COWBOY NATION, and just released their third CD titled "Cowgirl A-Go-Go," which is chock full of great songs, and finds the brothers comfortably back in the saddle, doing what they do like no others.
All 3 Rank and File albums are available through Rhino Records hand made division.
Cowboy Nation is readily available at Amazon.com and better record stores.
Blackbird is harder to find, but available through the Kinmans Website: www.CowboyNation.com
Bio written by: Haymaker |
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