BoDeans
Like the Rembrandts, the BoDeans are best remembered for a song that became TV show theme. “Party Of Five” was never as huge as Friends nor was “Closer To Free” a smash hit like “I’ll Be There For You” but it did all right (#16 on the Billboard Hot 100).
Closer To Free
The BoDeans, founded in ’86, hailed from Wauheska, WI, and revolved around the nucleus of Sammy Llanas and Kurt Neuman. As singers, songwriters and guitarist both had played together since high school.
In addition to the standard two guitarists, The BoDeans had bassist Bob Graffin and drummer Guy Hoffman.
The group recorded a series of critically acclaimed albums that failed to register with the buying public. They toured, opening for U2, went through a series of drummers and eventually added a keyboard player (Michael Ramos).
BoDeans
Through it all, it appeared the BoDeans were destined to work Rock’s peripheral, as a cult band
“Closer To Free” was on ‘93’s “Go Down Slow” album and was resurrected three years later for “Party of Five.” In between, the BoDeans recorded “Dirt Car Joe,” a set that included live tracks recorded between ’89 and ’95, some of which were acoustic.
‘96 saw the release of “Blend,” with the single “Hurt By Love,” which achieved minor chart success, while “Hey Pretty Girl” was used in an episode of Dawson’s Creek.
Hurt By Love
Hey Pretty Girls
Legal battles with their longtime manager over copyright ownership of the band’s first two albums ensued. As a result. the band left Warner/Slash, a major label, before landing on the Rounder imprint. Over the next two decades, The BoDeans released numerous albums but they were of little consequence.
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