Twin/Tone Records
The Phones
James Riley Jeff Cerise Brad Mattson Rick Taves
Formed in 1979, three-fifths of the Phones had been in a heavy metal cover band. Flint was their name. Their curcuit was the high schools of Minnesota, plus a few out of state gigs. But people stoped asking them back, and the money got smaller. Then they got blackballed by a school superintendent when they showed to play a high school formal not quite formal, and perhaps a bit loud and drunk.
They met as students at Moorhead State in Moorhead, MN, 250 miles northwest of Minneapolis, across the river from Fargo, N.D. R.T.’s father was a minister. Jeff was the jock. Brad had been playing drums since childhood, when he'd play in his father's country band back home in Louisiana. Jim liked girls, and Steve slept with his guitar. Steve and Jim were asked to join the other three when Flint gave up.
The years of roadwork paid off though. In the years since, the Phones have built a strong following throughout the Midwest. They were able to pay for all their equipment, earned enough money to put out two singles on their own and record their first album. They brought the finished tapes to Twin/Tone, the label liked what they heard, and a deal was made. The resulting LP, Changing Minds was released in 1983
(from a 1984 Twin/Tone bio)
released: August 26, 1983
Twin/Tone Records - TTR 8231
(vinyl)
The Phones
Changing Minds
Steve Brantseg - lead guitar, vocals, accoustic guitar
Jeff Cerise - lead vocals, percussion
Brad Mattson - drums, percussion
Jim Riley - bass, vocals
Rick Taves - rhythm guitar, vocals, electric and accoustic six and twelve string guitars, vocals
Produced by Miles Wilkenson and The Phones
Recorded by Miles Wilkenson
Recorded at Sound 80 Studios, Creation Studios, and Knutone Recording
Mastered at Sterling Sound
released: August 24, 1984
Twin/Tone Records - TTR 8438
(vinyl)
The Phones
Blind Impulse
James Riley - bass, vocals
Brad Mattson - drums, percussion
Rick Taves - guitar, vocals
Jeff Cerise - vocals, saxophone, percussion
withSteve Brantseg - guitar, guitar synthesizer, vocals
Mike Youngman - Percussion
Produced by Miles Wilkenson and The Phones
Recorded by Miles Wilkenson
Recorded with the Stark/Mudge Mobile Unit and at Cookhouse Studios, Minneapolis
Mastered by Howie Wienberg at Masterdisk