Box of Frogs were an English
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band formed in 1983 by former members of
the Yardbirds
The Yardbirds are an English rock band, formed in London in 1963. The band's core lineup featured vocalist and harmonica player Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarty, rhythm guitarist and later bassist Chris Dreja and bassist/producer Paul Samwell ...
, who released their first album in 1984.
The core group consisted of
Chris Dreja
Christopher Walenty Dreja (born 11 November 1945 in Surbiton, Surrey) is an English musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist and bassist for rock band the Yardbirds for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
Ea ...
,
Paul Samwell-Smith
Paul Granville Samwell-Smith (born Paul Smith, 8 May 1943, in Richmond, Surrey, England) is an English musician and record producer. He was a founding member and the bassist of the 1960s English rock band the Yardbirds, which launched leading g ...
, and
Jim McCarty
James Stanley McCarty (born 25 July 1943) is an English musician, best known as the drummer for the Yardbirds and Renaissance. Following Chris Dreja's departure from the Yardbirds in 2013, McCarty became the only member of the band to featur ...
.
Vocals on their
eponymous
An eponym is a person, a place, or a thing after whom or which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. The adjectives which are derived from the word eponym include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''.
Usage of the word
The term ''epon ...
album were done by John Fiddler (formerly of
Medicine Head
Medicine Head were a British blues rock band – initially a duo – active in the 1970s. Their biggest single success was in 1973 with " One and One Is One", which reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart. The group recorded six original albums ...
and
British Lions).
On the second album, Fiddler sang on five songs, with guests singers
Graham Parker
Graham Thomas Parker (born 18 November 1950) is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the British band Graham Parker & the Rumour.
Life and career Early career (1960s–1976)
Parker was born in Hackney, East L ...
,
Ian Dury
Ian Robins Dury (12 May 1942 27 March 2000) was a British singer, songwriter and actor who rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and new wave era of rock music. He was the lead singer and lyricist of Ian Dury and the Blockheads an ...
and
Roger Chapman
Roger Maxwell Chapman (born 8 April 1942 in Leicester), also known as Chappo, is an English rock vocalist. He is best known as a member of the progressive rock band Family, which he joined along with Charlie Whitney, in 1966 and also the rock ...
performing the remaining songs. Many musicians guested on their albums (including guitarists
Rory Gallagher
William Rory Gallagher ( ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995) was an Irish guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer. Due to his virtuosic playing, but relative lack of fame compared to some others, he has been referred to as "the greatest ...
,
Earl Slick
Earl Slick (born Frank Madeloni in Brooklyn, New York, October 1, 1952) is a guitarist best known for his collaborations with David Bowie, John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Robert Smith. He has also worked with other artists including John Waite, Tim ...
and
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett (born 12 February 1950) is an English musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who gained prominence as the lead guitarist of the progressive rock band Genesis from 1971 to 1977. Hackett contributed to six Genesis ...
, harmonica player
Mark Feltham, and keyboardists
Max Middleton
David Maxwell Middleton (born 4 August 1946) is an English composer and keyboardist who was originally a docker on the London docks. Middleton is known for his work on the Fender Rhodes Electric piano, the Minimoog synthesiser and his percussiv ...
and
Peter-John Vettese
Peter-John Vettese (born 15 August 1956 in Scotland), also known as Peter Vettese, is a Scottish keyboardist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. Vettese is perhaps best known for being the keyboardist for progressive rock band Jethro Tul ...
). Former Yardbirds bandmates
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold Beck (born 24 June 1944) is an English rock guitarist. He rose to prominence with the Yardbirds and after fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, he switched to a mainly instrumental style, with a focus ...
and
Jimmy Page
James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Page is prolific in creating guitar riffs. His style involves various alternative ...
played lead guitar on parts of their first and second albums, respectively.
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
Renaissance Recordings is a British record label, founded by the club Renaissance in 1994. It went into administration in September 2010 and the back catalogue was sold to Phoenix Music International Ltd.
After a year of inactivity, in July 20 ...
in 1996.
[
] AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
's
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...
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
Christopher Walenty Dreja (born 11 November 1945 in Surbiton, Surrey) is an English musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist and bassist for rock band the Yardbirds for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
Ea ...
- rhythm guitar, percussion, occasional backing vocals
*
Paul Samwell-Smith
Paul Granville Samwell-Smith (born Paul Smith, 8 May 1943, in Richmond, Surrey, England) is an English musician and record producer. He was a founding member and the bassist of the 1960s English rock band the Yardbirds, which launched leading g ...
- bass guitar, backing vocals, percussion, synthesizers
*
Jim McCarty
James Stanley McCarty (born 25 July 1943) is an English musician, best known as the drummer for the Yardbirds and Renaissance. Following Chris Dreja's departure from the Yardbirds in 2013, McCarty became the only member of the band to featur ...
- drums, percussion, backing vocals, keyboards
Discography
Albums
''Box of Frogs'' (1984)
= Track listing
=
= Personnel
=
Box of Frogs
*
Paul Samwell-Smith
Paul Granville Samwell-Smith (born Paul Smith, 8 May 1943, in Richmond, Surrey, England) is an English musician and record producer. He was a founding member and the bassist of the 1960s English rock band the Yardbirds, which launched leading g ...
- bass guitar, backing vocals, percussion, synthesizer, producer
*
Jim McCarty
James Stanley McCarty (born 25 July 1943) is an English musician, best known as the drummer for the Yardbirds and Renaissance. Following Chris Dreja's departure from the Yardbirds in 2013, McCarty became the only member of the band to featur ...
- drums, percussion, backing vocals
* John Fiddler - lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, percussion, synthesizer, assistant producer
*
Chris Dreja
Christopher Walenty Dreja (born 11 November 1945 in Surbiton, Surrey) is an English musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist and bassist for rock band the Yardbirds for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
Ea ...
- rhythm guitar, percussion, backing vocals, photography
Additional musicians
*
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold Beck (born 24 June 1944) is an English rock guitarist. He rose to prominence with the Yardbirds and after fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, he switched to a mainly instrumental style, with a focus ...
- 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
William Rory Gallagher ( ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995) was an Irish guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer. Due to his virtuosic playing, but relative lack of fame compared to some others, he has been referred to as "the greatest ...
- slide guitar (tracks 5, 7), electric sitar (track 7)
*
Mark Feltham - harmonica (track 1)
*
Guy Barker
Guy Jeffrey Barker, (born 26 December 1957) is an English jazz trumpeter and composer.
Early life
Barker was born in Chiswick, London, the son of an actress and a stuntman. He started playing the trumpet at the age of twelve, and within a year ...
- trumpet (track 7)
*
Peter-John Vettese
Peter-John Vettese (born 15 August 1956 in Scotland), also known as Peter Vettese, is a Scottish keyboardist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. Vettese is perhaps best known for being the keyboardist for progressive rock band Jethro Tul ...
- keyboards (tracks 1, 3), piano (track 8)
*
Max Middleton
David Maxwell Middleton (born 4 August 1946) is an English composer and keyboardist who was originally a docker on the London docks. Middleton is known for his work on the Fender Rhodes Electric piano, the Minimoog synthesiser and his percussiv ...
- keyboards (tracks 2, 4, 5, 7)
*
Geriant Watkins - piano (track 9)
Production
* Mark Larson - design
* Gary Edwards - overdubs and mixing
*
Max Norman
Max Norman is a British record producer and recording engineer active since 1973. He produced many acclaimed heavy metal releases.
While Norman was resident engineer at Ridge Farm Studios in London, Ozzy Osbourne was recording his debut solo ...
- recording engineer
* Patty Dryden - illustration
''Strange Land'' (1986)
= Track listing
=
Bonus cassette version tracks:
= Personnel
=
Box of Frogs
*
Paul Samwell-Smith
Paul Granville Samwell-Smith (born Paul Smith, 8 May 1943, in Richmond, Surrey, England) is an English musician and record producer. He was a founding member and the bassist of the 1960s English rock band the Yardbirds, which launched leading g ...
- bass, production, backing vocals
*
Jim McCarty
James Stanley McCarty (born 25 July 1943) is an English musician, best known as the drummer for the Yardbirds and Renaissance. Following Chris Dreja's departure from the Yardbirds in 2013, McCarty became the only member of the band to featur ...
- drums, keyboards, backing vocals, percussion
*
Chris Dreja
Christopher Walenty Dreja (born 11 November 1945 in Surbiton, Surrey) is an English musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist and bassist for rock band the Yardbirds for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
Ea ...
- rhythm guitar, percussion
* John Fiddler - vocals on tracks listed above
Additional musicians
* John Knightsbridge - lead guitar (track 1)
*
Rory Gallagher
William Rory Gallagher ( ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995) was an Irish guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer. Due to his virtuosic playing, but relative lack of fame compared to some others, he has been referred to as "the greatest ...
- lead guitar (tracks 2, 4, 6), slide guitar (track 4), electric sitar (tracks 5, 6)
*
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett (born 12 February 1950) is an English musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who gained prominence as the lead guitarist of the progressive rock band Genesis from 1971 to 1977. Hackett contributed to six Genesis ...
- lead guitar (tracks 3, 9)
* Dzal Martin - guitar (tracks 4, 7, 9), lead guitar (track 4,
[on the outro] 8)
*
Jimmy Page
James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Page is prolific in creating guitar riffs. His style involves various alternative ...
- lead guitar (track 7)
*
Graham Gouldman
Graham Keith Gouldman (born 10 May 1946) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the co-lead singer and bassist of the art rock band 10cc. He has been the band's only constant member since its formation in 1972. Before 10cc ...
- rhythm guitar and backing vocals (track 6)
*
Max Middleton
David Maxwell Middleton (born 4 August 1946) is an English composer and keyboardist who was originally a docker on the London docks. Middleton is known for his work on the Fender Rhodes Electric piano, the Minimoog synthesiser and his percussiv ...
- synthesizer (tracks 1, 3), keyboard outro solo (track 3)
*
Peter-John Vettese
Peter-John Vettese (born 15 August 1956 in Scotland), also known as Peter Vettese, is a Scottish keyboardist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. Vettese is perhaps best known for being the keyboardist for progressive rock band Jethro Tul ...
- synthesizer (tracks 2 to 4) emulator synthesizer (track 3, 5, 6, 8, 9), keyboards (track 6)
*
Geraint Watkins
Geraint Meurig Vaughan Watkins (born 5 February 1951) is a Welsh singer, songwriter, rock and roll pianist and accordionist. He has backed many notable artists, including Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler, Paul McCartney, Ro ...
- piano (track 4)
* David Clayton - keyboards (track 7), synthesizer (track 9)
* Neil Lockwood - backing vocals (track 1)
*
Carroll Thompson
Carroll Thompson is a British lovers rock singer, best known as the "Queen of Lovers Rock"
Biography
Thompson was born in England and is of Jamaican descent.
Thompson undertook classical piano training on the piano and sang in school and chur ...
, Julie Roberts - backing vocals (tracks 2, 4)
Production
* Mark Larson - art direction
* Simon Hanhart - engineer at Battery Studio
*
Stephen Street
Stephen Brian Street (born 29 March 1960 in Hackney, London) is an English music producer best known for his work with The Smiths, The Cranberries and Blur. Street collaborated with Morrissey on his debut album ''Viva Hate'' following the spl ...
- engineer at island
* Gary Edwards - engineer at Redan Recorders
* Jeremy Allom and Louis Austin - engineers at Ridge Farm
* John H. Howard - illustration
*
George Marino
George Marino (April 15, 1947 – June 4, 2012) was an American mastering engineer known for working on albums by rock bands starting in the late 1960s.
Biography
Marino was born on April 15, 1947, in the New York City borough The Bronx. He at ...
- 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
"Heart Full of Soul" is a song recorded by English rock group the Yardbirds in 1965. Written by Graham Gouldman, it was the Yardbirds' first single after Jeff Beck replaced Eric Clapton as lead guitarist. Released only three months after "Fo ...
" - 1986 (Netherlands)
Transcription discs
*''Interchords'' - 1984
Notes
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Box Of Frogs
English rock music groups
Musical groups established in 1983
The Yardbirds
Musical groups disestablished in 1986
Epic Records artists
Musical groups from London