As the Pixies frontman once told Splendid, Frank Black has maintained ownership of his solo catalog master recordings since at least the release of 1996’s Cult of Ray. “[T]hat’s the heart and soul of any record company — the masters that they own,” he said. Well, now we can all enjoy the “heart and soul” of his efforts as Black is streaming all of his non-Pixies releases, including his eponymous solo debut, fellow pre-Cult of Ray record Teenager of Year, all Frank Black and the Catholics albums, and the entire Black Francis, as well as Grand Duchy (his collaboration with wife, Violet Clark) output, via his official site (just click his head).
“We are hoping to load other releases (Pixies, b-side compilations, etc.) in the future,” Black Francis wrote in an announcement. As if this isn’t enough big news from Doolittle land: “The old [Frank Black and the Catholics] mobile recording unit has finally come out of storage and is set up at Jason Carter’s recently expanded Wavelength Studios,” he added. “I cannot WAIT to get down there and record some new ditties.”
At least one man has earned his indie rock crown.