The Wallets were founded as an experimental group by accordionist Steve Kramer.

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". The album saw the band described as "art rockers who not only want to groove but know how to groove".

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. The Wallets performed their final show at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis on January 23, 1989.

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

The band received several Minnesota Music Awards ("Minnies"), with ten nominations in 1987

from Wikipedia


released: September 22, 1996
Wide Angle Records TTW 8674
(12” Dance Single)

 The Wallets
Totally Nude (Extended Mix)
b/w Totally Nude (LP version)

  • Steve Kramer - Accordian, Keyboards, Vocals

  • Erik Anderson - Drums

  • Jim Clifford - Bass

  • Rod Gordon - Keyboards

  • Max Ray - Saxophone

produced by: Allen Toussaint
recorded by: Clarence R. Toussaint and Danny Jones
recorded at: Sea-Saint Studio, New Orleans, Louisiana mixed at Nicollet Studios, Minneapolis by Danny Jones and Steve Fjelstad
Mastered by Jack Skinner, Sterling Sound

Both these songs are included in 17 Songs

A - Totally Nude (Extended Mix)
The Wallets

- b/w -

B - Totally Nude (LP Version)
The Wallets

released: 22 October 1986
Twin/Tone Records - TTR 8685
(vinyl ) (cassette)

The Wallets
Take It

  • Steve Kramer - Accordian, Keyboards, Vocals

  • Erik Anderson - Drums

  • Jim Clifford - Bass

  • Rod Gordon - Keyboards

  • Max Ray - Saxophone

produced by: Allen Toussaint
recorded by: Clarence R. Toussaint and Danny Jones
recorded at: Sea-Saint Studio, New Orleans, Louisiana mixed at Nicollet Studios, Minneapolis by Danny Jones and Steve Fjelstad
Mastered by Jack Skinner, Sterling Sound

1. Ghosts
The Wallets
2. (I Wanna Go To) Hollywood
The Wallets
3. Letter From Kazuko
The Wallets
4. Take It
The Wallets
5. Vietnamese Cowboy
The Wallets
6. Totally Nude
The Wallets
7. Sometimes
The Wallets
8. Because You're Mine
The Wallets
9. Mother And Daughter
The Wallets
10. Party In Senegal
The Wallets

These songs are included as part of: 17 Songs


released: 10 November 1988
Twin/Tone Records - TTR 88140
(vinyl ) (cassette) (CD)

The Wallets
Body Talk

  • Steve Kramer - Accordian, Keyboards, Vocals

  • Erik Anderson - Drums

  • Jim Clifford - Bass

  • Rod Gordon - Keyboards

  • Max Ray - Saxophone

produced by: Steve Kramer
recorded by: Steve Fjelstad
recorded at: Creation Studios, Minneapolis, MN

1. (Like A) Zombie
Wallets
2. Body Talk
Wallets
3. Afumato
Wallets
4. The Cowboy Song
Wallets
5. The Beat Is Up
Wallets
6. Skin Deep
Wallets
7. I Want My Body Back
Wallets
8. (You Sure Make Me) Feel
Wallets
9. 100 Dragons
Wallets

released: 24 March 1989
Twin/Tone Records - TTR 88154
(CD only)

The Wallets
17 Songs

  • Steve Kramer - Accordian, Keyboards, Vocals

  • Erik Anderson - Drums

  • Jim Clifford - Bass

  • Rod Gordon - Keyboards

  • Max Ray - Saxophone

All songs were originally released on:
Take It - debut LP (Twin/Tone)
Totally Nude - 12" Dance single (Wide Angle )
Catch a Falling Star - EP (Spiffola)

1. Totally Nude (LP Version)
The Wallets
2. Jimbo
The Wallets
3. Sometimes
The Wallets
4. I Want To
The Wallets
5. (I Wanna Go To) Hollywood
The Wallets
6. Because You're Mine
The Wallets
7. How To Keep Time To Music
The Wallets
8. Take It
The Wallets
9. There Was An Old Lady
The Wallets
10. Letter From Kazuko
The Wallets
11. Ghosts
The Wallets
12. Gonzoi Polka
The Wallets
13. Mother And Daughter
The Wallets
14. Party In Senegal
The Wallets
15. Africlause
The Wallets
16. Vietnamese Cowboy
The Wallets
17. Totally Nude (Extended Mix)
The Wallets