Box of Frogs explained
| Box of Frogs |
| Origin: | London |
| Years Active: | 1983–1986 |
| Label: | Epic |
| Associated Acts: | The Yardbirds |
| Past Members: |
|
Box of Frogs were an English rock band formed in 1983 by former members of the Yardbirds, who released their first album in 1984.[1] The core group consisted of Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith, and Jim McCarty.[1] Vocals on their eponymous album were done by John Fiddler (formerly of Medicine Head and British Lions).[1] On the second album, Fiddler sang on five songs, with guests singers Graham Parker, Ian Dury and Roger Chapman performing the remaining songs. Many musicians guested on their albums (including guitarists Rory Gallagher, Earl Slick and Steve Hackett, harmonica player Mark Feltham, and keyboardists Max Middleton and Peter-John Vettese). Former Yardbirds bandmates Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page played lead guitar on parts of their first and second albums, respectively.[1]
The group's formation and unusual band name were explained on the sticker affixed to original LP releases:
The group showed promise on the first album of rock radio friendly tunes, featuring Jeff Beck. The album was popular on college campuses. Plans were made for a US tour, but it is alleged that Samwell-Smith, Dreja, and McCarty hated the idea of the tour, much to John Fiddler's dismay. Jeff Beck, who along with Dzal Martin was considered as the lead guitarist for such a tour, was reportedly disgusted at his ex-bandmates' refusal to tour America. He took no part on the second album, Strange Land (1986), and Fiddler barely chose to do so before walking out. "Asylum" is one of the few songs Fiddler sang on, and was the only one featuring Page.
The group's two albums, Box of Frogs (1984) and Strange Land (1986), were combined for release on a single CD by Renaissance Records in 1996.[2] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album four and a half out of five stars, although he commented:
Personnel
- John Fiddler - lead and backing vocals, guitars, percussion, synthesizers
- Chris Dreja - guitar, percussion, occasional backing vocals
- Paul Samwell-Smith - bass guitar, backing vocals, percussion, synthesizers
- Jim McCarty - drums, percussion, backing vocals, keyboards
Discography
Albums
Box of Frogs (1984)
| Box of Frogs |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Box of Frogs |
| Released: | June 1984 |
| Studio: | Ridge Farm |
| Length: | 46:44 |
| Prev Title: | London 1963 – The First Recordings!
|
| Prev Year: | 1981 |
| Next Title: | Interchords |
| Next Year: | 1984 |
Personnel
Box of Frogs
- Paul Samwell-Smith - bass guitar, backing vocals, percussion, synthesizer, producer
- Jim McCarty - drums, percussion, backing vocals
- John Fiddler - lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric rhythm guitar, percussion, synthesizer, assistant producer
- Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar, percussion, backing vocals, photography
Additional musicians
- Jeff Beck - lead guitar (tracks 1, 3, 6, 9)
- Ray Majors - lead guitar, backing vocals and percussion (track 2)
- Dzal Martin - lead guitar (tracks 4, 7, 8), slide guitar (track 4)
- Rory Gallagher - slide guitar (tracks 5, 7), electric sitar (track 7)
- Mark Feltham - harmonica (track 1)
- Guy Barker - trumpet (track 7)
- Peter-John Vettese - keyboards (tracks 1, 3), piano (track 8)
- Max Middleton - keyboards (tracks 2, 4, 5, 7)
- Geraint Watkins - piano (track 9)
Production
- Mark Larson - design
- Gary Edwards - overdubs and mixing
- Max Norman - recording engineer
- Patty Dryden - illustration
Strange Land (1986)
| Strange Land |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Box of Frogs |
| Released: | 1986 |
| Length: | 42:05 |
| Prev Title: | Interchords |
| Prev Year: | 1984 |
| Next Title: | Yardbirds ...On Air
|
Track listing
Bonus cassette version tracks:
Personnel
Box of Frogs
Additional musicians
- John Knightsbridge - lead guitar (track 1)
- Rory Gallagher - lead guitar (tracks 2, 4, 6), slide guitar (track 4), electric sitar (tracks 5, 6)
- Steve Hackett - lead guitar (tracks 3, 9)
- Dzal Martin - guitar (tracks 4, 7, 9), lead guitar (track 4,[3] 8)
- Jimmy Page - lead guitar (track 7)
- Graham Gouldman - rhythm guitar and backing vocals (track 6)
- Max Middleton - synthesizer (tracks 1, 3), keyboard outro solo (track 3)
- Peter-John Vettese - synthesizer (tracks 2 to 4) emulator synthesizer (track 3, 5, 6, 8, 9), keyboards (track 6)
- Geraint Watkins - piano (track 4)
- David Clayton - keyboards (track 7), synthesizer (track 9)
- Neil Lockwood - backing vocals (track 1)
- Carroll Thompson, Julie Roberts - backing vocals (tracks 2, 4)
Production
- Mark Larson - art direction
- Simon Hanhart - engineer at Battery Studio
- Stephen Street - engineer at island
- Gary Edwards - engineer at Redan Recorders
- Jeremy Allom and Louis Austin - engineers at Ridge Farm
- John H. Howard - illustration
- George Marino - mastering
Singles
- "Back Where I Started" / "The Edge" - 1984 (UK)
- "Back Where I Started" / "Nine Lives" / "The Edge" - 1984 (UK - 12-inch)
- "Into The Dark" / "X-tracks medley": "Two Steps Ahead" / "Just A Boy Again" / "Harder" / "Another Wasted Day" / "Back Where I Started" - 1984 (UK)
- "Into The Dark" / "X-tracks medley" - 1984 (UK - 12-inch)
- "Two Steps Ahead" / "The Edge" - 1984 (US)
- "Two Steps Ahead" / "Two Steps Ahead" - 1984 (US - 12-inch promo)
- "Average" / "Strange Land" / "I Keep Calling" - 1986 (UK - 12-inch)
- "Heart Full of Soul" - 1986 (Netherlands)
Transcription discs
Notes and References
- Book: The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Colin Larkin. Colin Larkin (writer). Virgin Books. 1997. Concise. 1-85227-745-9. 170/1.
- Web site: Box of Frogs/Strange Land – Review. Erlewine. Stephen Thomas. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. AllMusic. 1 August 2019. 26 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190726224024/https://www.allmusic.com/album/box-of-frogs-strange-land-mw0000089159. live.
- on the outro
