1989 studio album by Phranc
I Enjoy Being a Girl is an album by the American musician Phranc , released in 1989.[ 1] [ 2] She supported the album with a North American tour.[ 3]
Production
The album was produced by Victor DeLorenzo .[ 4] "I Enjoy Being a Girl " is a cover of the 1958 Rodgers and Hammerstein composition from Flower Drum Song .[ 5] [ 6] "M-A-R-T-I-N-A" is about Martina Navratilova .[ 7] "Bloodbath" criticizes Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher .[ 8] "Myriam and Esther" is dedicated to Phranc's grandmothers.[ 9] "Rodeo Parakeet" is about Phranc's bird that enjoys riding on dogs.[ 10] "Toy Time" is a tribute to Toys "R" Us .[ 11]
The album cover art was in part inspired by a photo of Alice Faye .[ 12] Orson Bean wrote the liner notes.[ 13]
Critical reception
The Calgary Herald determined that the "heavy-handed protest anthems are the album's weaker entries."[ 19] The Globe and Mail deemed the album "a delightful piece of work: funny, committed, romantic and charming."[ 20]
The Washington Post wrote that Phranc "has a warm but not particularly lovely voice, and her strumming is basic at best, but she's a folk singer in the true sense of the word—she seizes her inspiration of the moment and makes music about it."[ 21] The Houston Chronicle praised the "earnest, endearing quality not unlike Jonathan Richman."[ 17]
AllMusic wrote that "'Myriam and Esther', a traditional folk ballad with a distinctly female perspective, is the type of earnest song that only Phranc seems able to pull off in post-modern times."[ 14]
Track listing
All tracks composed by Phranc; except where indicated
"Folksinger" – 2:05
"I Enjoy Being a Girl" (Oscar Hammerstein , Richard Rodgers ) – 3:16
"Double Decker Bed" – 2:02
"Bloodbath" – 2:54
"Individuality" – 2:31
"Rodeo Parakeet" – 3:01
"Take Off Your Swastika" – 3:30
"Toy Time" – 2:34
"M-A-R-T-I-N-A" – 2:36
"Myriam and Esther" – 3:41
"Ballad of Lucy + Ted" – 4:19
"Moonlight Becomes You " (Johnny Burke , Jimmy Van Heusen ) – 2:27
Personnel
Phranc – producer, vocals, guitar
Victor DeLorenzo – producer
Connie Grauer– backing vocals, arranger, keyboards
Jimmy Eanelli – bass guitar, 12-string guitar
Brian Ritchie – mandolin
Kim Zick – percussion, drums
Scott Leonard – engineer
Release details
References
^ Heim, Chris (2 June 1989). "Feminist-folkie Phranc...". Friday. Chicago Tribune . p. 50.
^ Potter, Mitch (23 June 1989). "A Phranc, fearless addition to neofolk set". Toronto Star . p. E8.
^ Hoekstra, Dave (December 1, 1989). "Dave's Dawn Patrol". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times . p. 7.
^ Hochman, Steve (26 Feb 1989). "Phrancly Speaking". Calendar. Los Angeles Times . p. 69.
^ Cromelin, Richard (22 July 1989). "Folk Singer Enjoys Being Phranc at Last". Calendar. Los Angeles Times . p. 1.
^ Erskine, Evelyn (15 Nov 1989). "Phranc talk with your average punk folksinger". Ottawa Citizen . p. H2.
^ a b Gettelman, Parry (2 July 1989). "Music". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel . p. 6.
^ Heaton, Michael (July 28, 1989). "Women for everyone's taste". The Plain Dealer .
^ Ploetz, Elmer (August 11, 1989). "If in music, as in physics, there's an equal and opposite reaction...". Gusto. The Buffalo News . p. 41.
^ DeVault, Russ (September 21, 1989). "Phranc-ly, She's a Unique Folk Singer". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . p. D3.
^ "Phrancly, My Dear". Scene. Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph . May 8, 1992. p. 1.
^ Morrison, Sheila (28 Jan 1990). "Phranc's motley musical blend". Entertainment. The Province . p. 87.
^ Stout, Gene (January 26, 1990). "Gender-Bending Phranc Mixes Hip Humor with Folk Tradition". Seattle Post-Intelligencer . What's Happening. p. 7.
^ a b "I Enjoy Being a Girl Review by Denise Sullivan" . AllMusic . Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ "Phranc" . Robert Christgau . Retrieved 22 March 2023 .
^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music . Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 528.
^ a b Racine, Marty (August 20, 1989). "Records". Zest. Houston Chronicle . p. 8.
^ Spin Alternative Record Guide . Vintage Books. 1995. p. 299.
^ Mayes, Alison (3 Aug 1989). "Phranc: I Enjoy Being a Girl". Calgary Herald . p. F5.
^ Dafoe, Chris (3 Aug 1989). "I Enjoy Being a Girl Phranc". The Globe and Mail . p. C6.
^ Brown, Joe (11 Aug 1989). "Feminine Folk, Rockin' Proud". The Washington Post . p. N23.