Twin/Tone Records

CURTISS A

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Curtiss A is a musician and visual artist from Minneapolis. One of the original artists on the Twin/Tone Records label, he performs one of the most popular shows in the Twin Cities, an annual tribute to John Lennon held at First Avenue.

Curtiss formed Wire, his first Twin Cities band, in 1969 and played with various permutations of that group through the 1970s. His first recording, a six-song EP, was with the Spooks, which he started with future Replacements guitarist Slim Dunlap.

In 1978, Curtiss (as Buzz Barker) released the single-cum-political rant, I Don’t Wanna Be President. Its B-side, Land of the Free, was played at Solidarity rallies as the Polish trade union protested martial law. Following those classic singles, Twin/Tone released a full-length album in 1980. The acclaimed Courtesy received four stars in Rolling Stone. Curtiss followed with two more albums on Twin/Tone, The Damage is Done and A Scarlet Letter, produced by Al Anderson of NRBQ.

from Wikipedia

released: April 17, 1978
Twin/Tone Records - TTR 7802
(6 song - 7" red vinyl EP)

Curtiss A
Spooks: 1980-1990

  • Curt Almsted - Guitar, Voice

  • Frank Berry - Guitar

  • Bob Dunlap - Guitar, Voice

  • Roger Nash - Bass, Guitar, Voice

  • Doctor Young - Drums

Produced and recorded by Paul Stark
at Blackberry Way, Minneapolis

A1 - 1980-1990
Curtiss A
A2 - Fun Is Everything (Science-Fiction World)
Curtiss A
A3 - Sinister Forces... Pecular Points Of View
Curtiss A

- b/w -

B1 - Evil Eye / Hit The Lights
B2 - Laugh It Up (It's All A Big Joke Anyway)
Curtiss A
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released: September 18, 1979
Twin/Tone Records - TTR 7912
(7" single)

Curtiss A
I Don't Wanna Be President
b/w Land Of The Free

  • Bob Dunlap - guitar

  • Buzz Barker - guitar

  • Chris Osgood - guitar (on "Land of the Free")

  • Mark Goldstein - keyboards

  • Reynaldo Toro - Bassist

  • Dave Ahl - drums

  • Curtiss A - vocals

Recorded at Blackberry Way
Produced and recorded by Paul Stark

A - I Don't Wanna Be President
Curtiss A

- b/w -

B - Land Of The Free
Curtiss A
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released: October 31, 1980
Twin/Tone Records - TTR 8019
(7" single)

Curtiss A
Afraid
b/w Larry Talbot's Disease

Afraid is from the Courtesy album

A - Afraid
Curtiss A

- b/w -

B - Larry Talbot's Disease
Curtiss A

Courtesy

released: September 11, 1980
Twin/Tone Records - TTR 8015
(vinyl) (cassette)

Curtiss A
Courtesy

  • Reynaldo Toro - bass guitar

  • Dave Ahl - drums

  • Bart Hazlett - drums

  • Bob Dunlap - telecaster

  • Buzz Barker - rhythm and effects
    - with -

  • Mark Goldstein - keyboards

  • Frank Berry - guitar on "Seen My Baby"

  • Tom Burnevik - sax on "Jelly B. Bop"

  • Billy Steiner - mouth organ on "Dark Shades"

  • Bob Strength - harmony voice on "You or You or You"

  • Dale Strength - harmony voice on "You or You or You"

  • Conk Aimless and R. Mook - howling at the moon

  • Curtiss A - sings

Produced by Paul Stark and Curt Almsted
Recorded at Blackberry Way, Minneapolis, MN
Engineered by Paul Stark

1. To Be Happy Too
Curtiss A
2. Thief In The Night
Curtiss A
3. Kickin'
Curtiss A
4. Afraid
Curtiss A
5. Assault and Battery
Curtiss A
6. Sinister Forces
Curtiss A
7. Dark Shades On
Curtiss A
8. Jelly B. Bop
Curtiss A
9. Seen My Baby?
Curtiss A
10. You or You or You
Curtiss A
11. Ride Away
Curtiss A
12. Right in the Eyes
Curtiss A
13. Humans as Art; Art as Human
Curtiss A
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released: February 14, 1983 Twin/Tone Records - TTR 8335 (vinyl) (cassette)

released: February 14, 1983
Twin/Tone Records - TTR 8335
(vinyl) (cassette)

Curtiss A
The Damage Is Done

  • Jeff Waryan - Guitar

  • Dave Larson - Drums

  • Bill Grenke - Bass

  • Frank Berry - Guitar

  • H. Ginsberg - Piano

  • Buzz Barker - Guitar and backwards masque

  • Bob Dunlap - Guitar

  • David Eiland - Saxaphones

  • Curtiss A - Songs and Singing
    (Additional vocals by Buzz, Bob, Jeff and Tilly)

Produced by Paul Stark and Curt Almsted
Recorded someplace else uptown with the Stark/Mudge Mobile Unit
Engineered by Paul Stark

1. Oh How Happy (For Larry Williams)
Curtiss A
2. Let's Stop the Fight
Curtiss A
3. It Was Heaven / Almost Magic
Curtiss A
4. The Man Who Can't Say No
Curtiss A
5. Mizarus, Mikazaru, Mazrub (Monkey See, Monkey Do)
Curtiss A
6. The Damage Is Done
Curtiss A
7. Victims of the Same Crime
Curtiss A
8. In a Trance (So Consumed)
Curtiss A
9. Open Up Your Eyes
Curtiss A
10. I Can't Talk to You
Curtiss A
11. The First to Know
Curtiss A
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released: May 19, 1988
Twin/Tone Records - TTR 87111
(vinyl) (cassette)

Curtiss A
A Scarlett Letter

  • Al Anderson - Guitar, Background Vocals

  • Buzz Barker - Guitar, Background Vocals

  • Frank Berry - Guitar (Squeeze box on "Starting to Cry")

  • Caleb - Bass Guitar

  • Tom McKean - Guitar, Background Vocals

  • Michael McKern - Drum Kit, Background Vocals

  • Willie Murphy - Piano and Background Vocals on "A Blow to Know"

  • Maurice Jacox - Background Vocals on "A Blow to Know"

  • Curtiss A - Sings

Produced by Al Anderson
Recorded at Nicolett Studios, Minneapolis, MN
Engineered by Casey Jones

1. I Am Waiting For You
Curtis A.
2. I Wanna Make You Happy
Curtis A.
3. Pearls Of Wisdom
Curtis A.
4. The Things I Wanted To Do
Curtis A.
5. I Can't Call Mary Anymore
Curtis A.
6. A Blow To Know
Curtis A.
7. These Ain't Teardrops in My Eyes
Curtis A.
8. Starting To Cry
Curtis A.
9. Heel To Tammy
Curtis A.
10. I've Got A Bone
Curtis A.
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Curtiss A from M-80

Nine songs from Curtiss A's performance at Martathon 80, the two day music festival held Sept 22-23, 1979 in the field house of the University of Minnesota.

Mike Barich’s photos of Curtiss A at M-80