Twin/Tone Records 

The Wallets

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

- b/w -

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

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

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)