Positively Phranc Explained

Positively Phranc
Type:	Album
Artist:	Phranc
Cover:	Positively Phranc.jpg
Released:	1991
Recorded:	1991
Genre:	Folk, folk punk, punk pop^[1]
Length:	30:42
Label:	Island^[2]
Producer:	Warren Bruleigh, Phranc
Prev Title:	I Enjoy Being a Girl
Prev Year:	1989
Next Title:	Goofyfoot
Next Year:	1995

Positively Phranc is an album by the American musician Phranc, released in 1991.^{[3] [4]} Phranc promoted the album by touring with Morrissey.^[5] Phranc was dropped by Island Records after the album's release.^[6]

Production

"Gertrude Stein" is Phranc's cover version of Jonathan Richman's "Pablo Picasso"; D.J. Bonebrake played drums on the song.^[7] "Tipton" is a tribute to transgender jazz musician Billy Tipton.^[8] "Surfer Girl", a duet with Syd Straw, is a cover of the Beach Boys song.^[9] "Outta Here" is about the deaths of friends due to AIDS.^[10] Dave Alvin played guitar on "Hitchcock".^[11] Two Nice Girls sang on "I'm Not Romantic".

Critical reception

The Gazette wrote that "Phranc proves that all anyone really needs is six strings and a point of view."^[12] The Chicago Tribune opined that Positively Phranc "is miles ahead of her first two albums, offering wit, a sense of balance, musical diversity and polished artistry that simply wasn't there before."^[13]

Trouser Press noted that the album "intermittently brings tasteful electric accompaniment into the picture while narrowing the lyrical focus to mostly concentrate on romance."^[14] Entertainment Weekly lamented that "Phranc pens ironic little ditties, high on giggles but low on the insights that should come out of a lesbian's daily life in the straight world."^[15] Robert Christgau considered "'64 Ford" to be the album's best track.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Phranc; except where indicated

1. "I Like You"
2. "I'm Not Romantic"
3. "'64 Ford"
4. "Hitchcock"
5. "Tipton"
6. "Dress Code"
7. "Why?"
8. "Gertrude Stein" (Jonathan Richman)
9. "Surfer Girl" (Brian Wilson)
10. "Outta Here"

Personnel

• Phranc - Producer, vocals, guitar
• Warren Bruleigh - Producer

Release details

align=center	Country	align=center	Date	align=center	Label	align=center	Format	align=center	Catalog
	1991	Island	CD	422-848 282-2
			Cassette	422-848 282-4
	1992	PolyGram	CD	848282

External links

• Advocate review

Notes and References

1. Book: Kramarae . Cheris . Spender . Dale . Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women: Global Women's Issues and Knowledge . 2004 . Routledge . 1210.
2. News: Pener . Degen . Phranc, As in Frank or Neil . The New York Times . 15 Aug 1993 . A4.
3. Ehrlich . Dimitri . Positively Phranc by Phranc . Interview . May 1991 . 21 . 5 . 48.
4. Dery . Mark . Frankly Phranc . Guitar Player . Oct 1991 . 25 . 10 . 14.
5. News: Sndyer . Michael . Lesbian Folk Singer – Phranc Sparkles In Diamond Tribute . San Francisco Chronicle . January 30, 1994 . Sunday Datebook . 41.
6. Book: Gaar . Gillian G. . She's a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock and Roll . 1992 . Seal Press . 386.
7. News: Brown . Joe . Phranc Approach For Individual Folk . The Washington Post . 5 July 1991 . N13.
8. News: Phrancly, My Dear . Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph . 8 May 1992 . E1.
9. News: Takiff . Jonathan . Vocal Feminists Are Reaching New Audiences . Philadelphia Daily News . 9 Apr 1991 . Features Yo! . 27.
10. News: Erskine . Evelyn . Direct sting of punk is still Phranc's music . Ottawa Citizen . 29 June 1991 . E3.
11. News: Grobaty . Tim . Positively Phranc . Press-Telegram . March 24, 1991 . B5.
12. News: Lamey . Mary . Girls, cars, mud-wrestling: Phranc covers musical map . The Gazette . 24 Dec 1991 . C10.
13. News: Heim . Chris . Morrissey and Phranc . Chicago Tribune . 21 June 1991 . Friday . M.
14. Web site: Phranc . Trouser Press . 4 February 2023.
15. Farber . Jim . Positively Phranc . Entertainment Weekly . 4 February 2023.