Great Plains (Ohio band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Columbus, Ohio , United States |
Key people | Ron House (lead singer, primary songwriter) |
| Products | Studio albums, EPs, compilation albums |
Great Plains was a musical group originating from Columbus, Ohio that operated throughout the 1980s. The band’s lead singer and primary songwriter, Ron House, went on to establish the more widely recognized band Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments.
History
Formed in 1981, Great Plains debuted with an eight-track EP titled The Mark, Don & Mel in 1982. Their first full-length album, Born in a Barn, was released in 1984 under Homestead Records. They followed this with additional albums including Naked At The Buy Sell & Trade in 1986 and Sum Things Up in 1987. In 1989, the band issued a compilation album named Colorized! through Demon Records’ Diabolo Records label. A thorough retrospective collection encompassing their work from 1981 to 1989, titled Length of Growth, 1981-1989, featuring 50 tracks, was issued by the Old 3C label in 2000.
Reception
Renowned critic Robert Christgau assigned B+ grades to two of Great Plains’ studio albums and an A− to Sum Things Up. Reviewer Len Righi described Sum Things Up as an exceptional fusion of punk, pop, psychedelia, folk, and garage rock styles, highlighting a steady enhancement in the band's musical quality over time.
Studio albums
- Born in a Barn (Homestead) 1984
- Naked at the Buy, Sell and Trade (Homestead) 1985
- Sum Things Up (Homestead) 1987
EPs
- The Mark, Don & Mel E.P. (New Age) 1983
Compilation albums
- Colorized! (Diabolo) 1989
- Length of Growth 1981-89 (Old 3C) 2001