Beverly's Frank Maloney Releases Debut Album at Beverly Records Store

Any artist looking for a drum roll to build up sales for their CD release party might consider the Frank Maloney ploy - arrive for the family’s 45th annual Christmas Open House caroling party populated by generations of singers.

The Beverly/Morgan Park homegrown talent and St. Ignatius graduate has been making and writing original music for two decades but not until his return home for Christmas this year did he get to show off his new album: “At Least We Can Say We Tried” by Frank Maloney & His Big Country Unit, a rock and blues infused outlaw country band.

The Maloney holiday party held December 16th -- with roots in Rogers Park in the late 1970s -- featured traditional Christmas caroling in which everyone participates at the insistence of Frank’s parents John and Reen, who have raised their family at 109th and Oakley since 1987, the year Frank was born.

“There’s always been music in our house,” said Frank, whose sister Elizabeth contributes vocals on the record.

The house reverberates with full voice Christmas music for nearly two hours after dinner. This year Frank stepped forward for a solo. His deep, soothing voice matched the peaceful imagery of “Silent Night” to bring a gentle conclusion to the evening’s singing.

To the surprise of most, there were hundreds of stocking stuffers to go: Frank Maloney and His Big Country Unit CDs for purchase and gifting at the discount party price of $10.

One couple slipped the CD into their Avalon player heading home and texted back:

“I thought we were going downtown, but Frank took us on a detour to Austin, Texas,” said Chicagoan Aaron Fogle. “He scratched a honky-tonk I didn’t know I had. Thanks for sharing.”

Maloney, sister Elizabeth and brother John were sponges for their parents’ eclectic musical choices ranging from Sarah Vaughn to Billie Holiday to Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, all played on vinyl at high volume.

At the age of 12, Frank began writing songs while mimicking his heroes with an air guitar and a full-length mirror. Later he taught himself to play real guitar with the help of friends, the Internet and cousin Tony Wiltgen, who walked him through his first four guitar chords and then cut him loose.

At 14, Maloney took to the skins. By 15 he was playing drums in bars along Western Avenue, yet, he wasn’t confident enough to step away from the mirror to show off his guitar chops and, he reasoned, “Everyone needs a drummer.”

“I never remember wanting to do anything else but play music from when I was a little kid,” said Maloney.

Maloney started a “few punk bands” forcing his foray into lead vocals, followed by emo bands and an indie-rock band called Roses and Sake that did fairly well, he said, and he still has a “bunch of merch” - T-shirts and posters from those days.

The debut album is made up of original compositions. Maloney - a lone writer - likes to lay the bare bones of a song on his band members who are persuaded to “add their own flair” en route to a finish and polished composition.

According to Maloney, he was inspired to write some songs a dozen years ago up in Door County, Wisconsin. With the help of 11 musicians - most of whom have day jobs – the scheduling for recording sessions “took some doing” and more than a year to get everyone into the studio.

“In my opinion, our patience paid off,” said Maloney. “I'm very proud of the album we made. I'm also very relieved to have it finished, after 13 years.

“Having the first record behind me and knowing that I have an excellent group of musicians to draw from has me putting the finishing touches on album number two already. I don't want to wait another 13 years.

“It’s hard to get people to listen to your music. With the amount of music available via streaming services, it can be hard to stand out. But I just try to make the best songs I possibly can and hope that they resonate with people. And if they don't, I'm still having fun making music. So I kind of can't lose.”

Twenty years ago Maloney was one of many local teens spending Saturdays pulling out gems from the bins at Beverly Records. Today his new CD is on sale with a “community discount” price of $10.

Beverly Records owner Jack Dreznes says he is “proud to support the dozen or so local bands' records” he stores and shelves for sale.

Beverly Records is located at 11612 South Western Avenue in Chicago.

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