Aztec Camera
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Aztec Camera was a Scottish New Wave music band from Glasgow.
History
The line-up of the band changed several times over the years, but the constant member has been guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Roddy Frame. Founding members included Campbell Owens (bass) and Dave Mulholland (drums). Ex-Bluebells bassist Craig Gannon was a member from 1983 through 1985, before joining The Smiths. Guitarist Malcolm Ross (formerly of Josef K and Orange Juice also joined in 1983, and appeared on the Knife album.Though generally considered to be born out of the New Wave movement, Aztec Camera's music is mostly acoustic oriented and might be better described as guitar pop. There is no doubt that the band took some musical and lyrical inspiration from Elvis Costello. Aztec Camera opened for Costello on a U.S. tour early in their career.
The band's first UK 7" single was released by Glasgow-based indie label Postcard Records in January, 1981, and contained the songs "Just Like Gold" and "We Could Send Letters". The latter song appeared on the influential C81 compilation cassette, released by NME in 1981.
Aztec Camera's debut album, High Land, Hard Rain, was released in 1983. However, Owens and Mulholland left the group before the release, leaving Frame to complete the album alone. The album was quite successful, gathering significant critical acclaim for its well-crafted, multi-layered pop. The band would release a total of six albums. After the release of Aztec Camera's sixth album, Frestonia, Frame finally dissolved the band to go solo.
Popular songs by Aztec Camera include "Oblivious", "Somewhere in My Heart", "Good Morning Britain" (a duet with former Clash guitarist Mick Jones).
The group have also done cover versions of "Bad Education" by Blue Orchids, and a slowed-down version of "Jump" by Van Halen.
Discography
Albums
- High Land, Hard Rain (1983)
- Knife (1984)
- Love (1987)
- Stray (1989)
- Dreamland (1993)
- Frestonia (1995)
- The Best of Aztec Camera (1999)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||
| US Hot 100 | US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | UK | |||
| 1981 | "Just Like Gold" | - | - | - | ||
| 1981 | "Mattress of Wire" | - | - | - | ||
| 1982 | "Pillar to Post" | - | - | - | High Land, Hard Rain | |
| 1983 | "Oblivious" | - | - | - | #18 | High Land, Hard Rain |
| 1983 | "Walk Out To Winter" | - | - | - | High Land, Hard Rain | |
| 1984 | "All I Need Is Everything / Jump" | - | - | - | #34 | Knife |
| 1984 | "Still on Fire" | - | - | - | Knife | |
| 1987 | "Deep & Wide & Tall" | - | - | - | Love | |
| 1988 | "How Men Are" | - | - | - | #25 | Love |
| 1988 | "Somewhere In My Heart" | - | - | - | #3 | Love |
| 1988 | "Working In A Goldmine" | - | - | - | #31 | Love |
| 1990 | "The Crying Scene" | - | #3 | - | - | Stray |
| 1990 | "Good Morning Britain" | - | #12 | - | #19 | Stray |
| 1992 | "Spanish Horses" | - | - | - | Dreamland | |
| 1993 | "Dream Sweet Dreams" | - | - | - | Dreamland | |
| 1993 | "Birds" | - | - | - | Dreamland | |
| 1995 | "Sun" | - | - | - | Frestonia | |
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