Category: Front

The Front – The Front (1989)

by Record Facts

The Front is an American rock band, originally formed in 1984 in Kansas City, Missouri, who enjoyed a brief popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Although originally offered a recording contract in 1987 with Sire/Warner Brothers Records; The Front signed an exclusive management contract with Scott and Doc McGhee of McGhee Entertainment; the team behind Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, Scorpions and Skid Row.

A bidding war began with The Front ultimately signing with CBS Records in 1989. They released one eponymous, full-length album on Columbia Records, produced by Grammy Award-winning music studio engineer Andy Wallace with two singles released: Fire and Le Motion.

Their first release, Fire, peaked at position No. 29 on The Billboard Rock chart in 1990, was a minor radio hit and the corresponding video was in stress rotation on MTV by January 1990. The Front toured the U.S. with many acts of the period including Bang Tango, Jason Bonham, Enuff Z’nuff and Alice Cooper. In the spring of 1990, The Front toured Europe with Lenny Kravitz and headlined dates in Berlin and Düsseldorf, Germany when Lenny returned to the states with throat problems. The Front ended 1990 returning to Europe as a featured artist on the Monsters of Rock Tour with notable headlining acts Aerosmith and Whitesnake.Dates included August 25, 1990 at Dortmund, Westfalenhalle, and September 1, 1990 in Mannheim, Maimarktgegelände Eisstadion.

Blessed with a shock of dark wavy hair and the ability to ape Jim Morrison, singer Michael Anthony Franano probably thought he was on the fast track to Cult-like stardom when he and the Front bolted into the national spotlight. CBS Records seemed to share that opinion and the Kansas City band’s first single “Fire” from this eponymous debut received a sizable radio and MTV push.

There was just one problem. Franano’s songwriting bore no resemblance to the objects of his reflection and the “fire” he and his band were hoping to ignite ended up more like a bright but brief spark. The Front’s supporting musicians delivered performances that bore no more of a resemblance to the Doors (or the Cult, or any capable group) than did Franano’s songwriting. Guitarist Mike Greene, Bassist Randy Jordan, Keyboardist Bobby Franano and one-named drummer Shane packed a limp commercial-rock punch essentially void of subtlety and invention. Released in 1989, this derivative debut from the Front is just about as prosaic as rock music can get.

The Front was the first act to be a featured artist on both MTV‘s Headbangers Ball and 120 Minutes on the same weekend; essentially the template for alternative rock that would be huge only a couple of years later. The Front also holds the distinction of being the last major artist to release a vinyl 45 rpm record on Columbia Records.

 

Tracklist

1.  Fire – 4:34
2.  Sunshine Girl – 4:24
3.  Pain  (Vocals [Additional] – Kat Dyson) – 3:03
4a. Sweet Addiction – 3:30
4b. (Segue) – 1:33
5.  Ritual – 7:12
6.  Le Motion – 4:10
7.  Sister Moon – 2:35
8.  In The Garden – 3:32
9.  Violent World – 6:37
10.  Sin – 5:56

Band members

  • Michael Anthony Franano – Lead Vocals, Guitar, B3 Organ, Principle Songwriter
  • Mike Greene – Lead/Rhythm guitars
  • Randy Jordan – Bass guitar/Backing vocals
  • Bobby Franano – Keyboards
  • Shane Miller – Drums

Companies, etc.

Credits

Notes

Format: CD, Cassette, Vinyl LP, Vinyl 45
Recorded at Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec, Canada
Mixed at Quantum Sound Studio, Jersey City, New Jersey
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Rock

Label: CBS Records