Knock knock. Who's there? Open your door to Dr. Frank

          First there was Mozart, then came Dr. Frank. The lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for 'Lookout! Records' the Mr. T Experience, released his debut solo album, "Show Business is My Life", on April 27, 1999.

          Dr. Frank, who resides in the California bay area, has been recording with his existing band, the Mr. T Experience, since the mid-eighties.

          Although it has been only in recent years that the MTX has gained much recognition, Dr. Frank says that even after thirteen years, he never imagined he would come this far. "It took me thirteen very uncertain years to get to the'moderately-successful-underground-rock-act' level [my career] is a cliché borne out by my experience that persistence eventually does produce results."

          The Mr. T Experience went through a multitude of past members before Joel Reader, the bassist, and Jym, the drummer, finally came together with Dr. Frank to complete the pop-punk trio that fans have come to adore.

          Together, Dr. Frank, Joel, and Jym have released two full-length albums: 1995's "Love is Dead", and 1997's "Revenge is Sweet, And So Are You". (They just completed their new LP, which is due for a fall release.) Over the past thirteen years, the Mr. T Experience has released a total of nine full-length records, including "Everybody's Entitled to Their Own Opinion", "Milk Milk Lemonade", and "Road to Ruin", a cover album done as a tribute to punk pioneers, the Ramones.

          Not unlike other doctors of music, including the infamous Dr. Feelgood, (who you may remember from days gone by), the epithet 'Dr.' is purely suppositious. When questioned about how exactly 'Dr.' Frank came to be, he mentioned none other than his own mother. "My mother, like most mothers, planned for me to be a doctor when I grew up. So certain was she that her dream would become a reality that she began addressing me as 'doctor' around the age of three. 'Dinner's ready, Doctor.' 'You're grounded, Doctor.' 'Doctor, you're wanted on the telephone.' Etc. Even though I never actually make it through medical school, the name somehow stuck."

          "Show Business is my Life" is a thirteen-song submersion into an eclectic array of musical styles. In response to how he thinks fans of the MTX will react to "Show Business is My Life", he claims to be encouraged thus far.

"I wasn't really sure if people would accept it. My hope is that fans of the MTX are largely fans of my songs, and that they'll be interested in the songs in whatever form they are cast in. So far, this seems to be the case, though that doesn't mean they'll necessarily buy the record, which is the other hope floating around."

          "I Made You and I Can Break You", and "Sad, Sad Shadow" are acoustic tracks, "Bitter Homes and Gardens" has a country vibe, while "This Isn't about You Anymore" turns to a Bossa Nova beat.

          "She All Right" is an engaging song which Dr. Frank describes as being a "1930's-style white-folk-blues tune". Undoubtedly, a style of music that has been overlooked for more than half a century.

          "Thinking of You", arguably the most beguiling track on the record, consists of Dr. Frank's vocals over a Twangin' Country Micro Jammer - a toy guitar.

          "Knock Knock (Please Let Me In) is a sequence of knock-knock jokes used to persuade the narrator's girlfriend to let him back into the house after she locked him out. "Knock knock. Who's there? Dwayne. Dwayne who? The rain is falling down on me, I'm freezing in the cold"

          "She Turned Out to be Crazy" deals with a series of relationships that have gone dreadfully wrong. This song is not autobiographical, but rather written about a character Dr. Frank says he saw on an episode of Jerry Springer. How's that for inspiration?

          "Show Business is My Life" does not have one eminent style, but rather a diverse arrangement that melts together to create a brilliant record anyone can enjoy, regardless of musical tastes. If you are interested in purchasing this miniature masterpiece, it is available through Lookout! Records mail order, which you can access via the Internet at www.lookoutrecords.com. Happy Listening!