The Wallets Explained

The Wallets
Background:	group_or_band
Origin:	Minneapolis, United States
Genre:	Post-punk
Years Active:	Early 1980s–1988
Label:	Twin/Tone
Past Members:	Steve Kramer Erik Anderson Jim Clifford Rod Gordon Max Ray

The Wallets were a band from the Twin Cities, who recorded on the local Twin/Tone Records label in the 1980s.

History

The Wallets were founded as an experimental group by accordionist Steve Kramer and managed by Bob Hest.^[1]

The Allen Toussaint-produced debut album Take It was released in 1986, described by Spin as urban soul and funk with "a Cajun smell to their work".^[2] The album saw the band described as "art rockers who not only want to groove but know how to groove".^[3]

Kramer decided to retire the band in spring 1988, but waited until their final album, Body Talk, was released late in the fall before announcing the split.^[4] The Wallets performed their final show at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis on January 23, 1989.^{[5] [6]}

Kramer and Hest later formed an advertising agency, currently known as Hest & Kramer, Van House Weber,^[7] noted for its use of music in television ads for clients such as Target Stores, MTV, Time Warner, and Buick.^{[8] [9]}

Kramer died in January 2013 at age 59.^{[10] [11]}

Musical style

The Minneapolis Star Tribune summed the band's style up as a "mix of polka, rock, rhythm-and-blues, jazz and whimsy".^[12]

Awards

The band received several Minnesota Music Awards ("Minnies"), with ten nominations in 1987.^[13]

Discography

Albums

• Take It (1986), Twin/Tone
• Body Talk (1988), Twin/Tone
• 17 Songs (1989), Twin/Tone

EPs

• Catch a Falling Star (1983), Spiffola 333

Singles

• "Night Before Christmas" (1983)
• "Totally Nude" (1986)

External links

• Twin Tone Records
• Hest & Kramer

Notes and References

1. Baenen, Jeff (1997) "Ex-band mates finf success in ad world", Reading Eagle, December 26, 1997, retrieved 2010-08-25
2. Stim . Rich . July 1987 . Wallets: Take It . . 26–7 . 2010-08-25.
3. "The Wallets Put Art Rock in the Pocket", San Jose Mercury News, November 16, 1986
4. "It's official: Wallets will fold as newest album is released", Star-Tribune, November 4, 1988
5. News: Bream. Jon. Wallets' Last Gig Will Reprise Many Memories. Minneapolis Star Tribune. 22 January 1989.
6. News: Bream. Jon. Wallets Are at Their Zany, Brilliant Best in Farewell Show. Minneapolis Star Tribune. 24 January 1989.
7. http://www.hestkramer.com
8. Bream, Jon (1997) "Ex-Wallets finally get musical payoff - off the stage", Star-Tribune, August 24, 1997
9. Baenen, Jeff (1998) "The Beat Goes On--to TV Jingles; Advertising: Two rock band graduates make their past pay off in music for commercials", Los Angeles Times, February 12, 1988
10. News: Fischer. Reed. RIP Steve Kramer of the Wallets (1953-2013). 30 March 2014. City Pages. 21 January 2013.
11. News: Tillotson. Kristin. Steve Kramer of the Wallets dead at 59. 30 March 2014. Minneapolis Star Tribune. 21 January 2013.
12. "Going-out-of-business party", Star Tribune, December 29, 1988
13. "Nominees announced for state music awards", Star-Tribune, April 2, 1987