Franke & the Knockouts - Below the Belt

Name: Franke & the Knockouts
Album: Below the Belt
Year: 1982
Style: Power Pop
Similar Bands: Foreigner, Bad Company, Journey, Scorpions, Mr. Big, Boston, Loverboy
"One-Word" Review:
Based Out Of: New Brunswick, New Jersey
Label: Millennium, RCA

 Cover, Notes, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

Below the Belt (1982)

1. Never Had It Better 4:06
2. Without You (Not Another Lonely Night) 3:45 (single, top 25 hit)
3. Just What I Want 4:34
4. Any Way That You Want Me 3:40
5. Morning Sun (Dream On) 4:12 /
6. Shakedown 5:14
7. Keep On Fighting 4:34
8. Have No Fear 3:59
9. Gina 4:00

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Peter Solley - Producer, Arrangements
• Franke Previte - Vox, Co-Producer, Arrangements (Bull Angus, Brave New World, Disco Kids, Russ Taff, Scandal, Cyndi Lauper, Seiko, Richie Sambora, Patty Smyth, Jennifer Rush)
• Billy Elworthy - Guitar, Co-Producer, Arrangements (Michael Bolotin [Bolton])
• Blake Levinsohn - Keys, Co-Producer, Arrangements
• Tommy Ayers - Keys, Synth, Backing Vox, Co-Producer, Arrangements (Trigger, Dumptruck)
• Leigh Foxx - Bass, Co-Producer, Arrangements (Brian Briggs, Paley Bros, Benny Mardones, Randy Vanwarmer, Nicole Wills, Iggy Pop, Deborah Harry, Henry Lee Summer, Debbie Harry, Yoko Ono, Blondie, Clayton Bruce Ost, Holly & the Italians, Sonny Kenn Band, Karen Lawrence & the Pinz)
• Steve Klein - Engineer
• Patrice Carroll - Asst. Engineer
• Al Wotton - Drums (Mark Farner, Rachel Sweet, Mitch Ryder)
• Ricky Hitchcock - Guitar (Peter Oxendale, Ian Page, Walker Bros, Duane Eddy, Alvin Stardust, Tony King Sound, Dave Pope, Lewis Furey. Joe Bourne, David Dundas, London Symphony Orch, Sphinx, Hank Marvin Guitar Syndicate, R&J Stone, Graham Dee, Karen Cheryl, Miquel Brown, Alec R Constandinos, Stardust, Edna B. Jerano, Love & Kisses, Marion, Vince Cadillac, Steven Schlaks, more)
• Richie Puente - Percussion (Foxy, George & Gwen, Latimore, Amant, Osmonds, Ish, Niteflyte, Alliance, Viola Wills, Mink DeVille, Les Brown, Peter Frampton, Debbie Jacobs-Rock, Johnnie Taylor)
• Benny Harrison - Backing Vox (Peter Criss, Richie Scarlet, Joe Lynn Turner, Melidian, Arcara, Citizens, Joe Bonamassa, Alexis P Suter Band)
• Mike Fuller - Masteting
• Spencer Drate - Art Direction
• Andrew Frances - Creative Coordinator
• Brian Zick - Cover Illustration
• Robert Burger - Back Illustration
• Michael Klefner - Mgmt

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but the cover and back and band name screams pub rock & power pop with a penchant for 50's retro style. Get a real working man's small town americana vibe with the cover action in the front seat of a pink caddie with tiger print seats. The boxing glove keychain is a nice touch, standing for the Knockouts.

Album Review: The amount of harmonic power pop bands that lived through the 70's and 80's is astounding. So many bands wanted to be Foreigner or Bad Company or Boston. Their big claim to fame came after this record, around 1984, when they wrote & recorded "Hungry Eyes" and "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," both songs featured in Dirty Dancing, winning Franke an Acadamy Award. Also, Bon Jovi Drummer Tico Torres joined them for a bit after this album's release.

Stand Out Track: Never Had It Better

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