Knife is the second album by Scottish indie pop group Aztec Camera, released on 21 September 1984. It reached number 14 on the UK Albums Chart â their highest showing at that time. It also charted at No. 29 on the Swedish Albums Chart.
An expanded version of the album was released on CD in 2012, which included remixes, b-sides and live tracks from the associated singles from the album.
Shortly after New Years Day 1984, Aztec Camera went through a significant line-up change that saw the retention of frontman Roddy Frame and bassist Campbell Owens, adding drummer David Ruffy, guitarist Malcolm Ross of Orange Juice and keyboardist Guy Fletcher of Dire Straits. Author Dave Thompson wrote in his book Alternative Rock (2000) that this shift altered Frame's vision for the band; taking cues from Elvis Costello, Frame set about making what Thompson said was the "far wordier, if no less obsessively introspective canvas" which became Knife. It was produced by Mark Knopfler, also of Dire Straits. Thompson said Frame and Knopfler was "a marriage which guaranteed musical standards to match Frame's aspirations."
During 1984, Aztec Camera's profile had been outmatched by the popularity of the Smiths, who Thompson said had borrowed from Frame's musical intent and made it more accessible. "All I Need Is Everything" was released as a single in September 1984.
Thompson wrote that the "dubious recruitment" of Knopfler became a "godsend as Frame's earlier fragility starts turning towards darker, earthen energies."
All songs written by Roddy Frame.
Side one
Side two
Citations
Sources