The Farmer's Boys

The Farmer's Boys
Promotional Picture
Background information
Origin	Norwich, England
Genres	Indie pop, synthpop, new wave
Years active	1981–1985
Labels	Waap, Backs Records, EMI
Associated acts	The Great Outdoors
Website	http://www.thefarmersboys.com/
Past members	Barry "Baz" McGuilty Mark Kingston Ian "Stan" Thirkettle Richard Adrian "Frog" Frost Andy Hearnshaw

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[]

The band's first single, "I Think I Need Help", was released in April 1982.^[2] In January 1983, "More Than a Dream" was re-issued as their first single for EMI.^[2] Several more singles and two albums, Get Out and Walk and With These Hands were released before the band split in 1985,^[2] 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 The Diagram Brothers and The Cravats seemed to be more fashionable.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]} Indeed, the influence is rarely noted but evident upon close listening.^{[citation needed]}

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 1980s and original guitarist Andy left early on to join Serious Drinking.^[1]

Discography[]

Singles[]

Albums[]

Studio 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: 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 (The Early Years 1981-1982)

BBC Radio 1 'In Concert'[]

A concert was recorded and broadcast from the Lyceum Theatre in London on 7 September 1983.^{[citation needed]} 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[]

External links[]

• The Farmer’s Boys Official/Unofficial site
• The Great Outdoors (Wayback Machine archive)