Box of Frogs
Encyclopedia
Box of Frogs was a band formed in 1983 by former members of The Yardbirds
, who released their first album in 1984. The core group comprised Chris Dreja
, Paul Samwell-Smith
, and Jim McCarty
. Vocals on their eponymous album were done by John Fiddler, formerly of Medicine Head
and British Lions
; on the second album Fiddler sang on five tracks with guests including Graham Parker
, Ian Dury
and Roger Chapman
singing lead on the others. Many musicians guested on their albums (including Rory Gallagher
and Mark Feltham)
, with several tracks featuring Steve Hackett
. Former Yardbirds guitarists Jeff Beck
and Jimmy Page
guested on their first and second albums respectively.
The group showed promise on the first album of rock radio friendly tunes, featuring Jeff Beck. "Back Where I Started" was in the top ten in the U.S., and the album was a featured number one on college campuses. Plans were made for a U.S. tour, but it is alleged that Samwell-Smith, Dreja, and McCarty nixed 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, 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 track Back Where I Started is regularly included in the set-list of the revived Yardbirds.
All lead vocals by John Fiddler.
Produced by Paul Samwell-Smith
Bonus track:
10. Nine Lives (?) John Fiddler, lead vocals
Produced by Paul Samwell-Smith
(Both albums were reissued in 1996 by Renaissance Records)
with :
(First Album) -
(Strange Land) - additionally:
The Yardbirds
- Current :* Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar, backing vocals * Jim McCarty - drums, backing vocals * Ben King - lead guitar * David Smale - bass, backing vocals...
, who released their first album in 1984. The core group comprised Chris Dreja
Chris Dreja
Chris Dreja was the rhythm guitarist, and later bassist, in the 1960s British band, The Yardbirds.-Early life:...
, Paul Samwell-Smith
Paul Samwell-Smith
Paul Samwell-Smith is best known as a founding member and bassist of the 1960s English band, The Yardbirds, a group that spawned such noteworthy musicians as Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page...
, and Jim McCarty
Jim McCarty
Jim McCarty is an English musician, best known as the drummer for The Yardbirds and Renaissance.-Early life:...
. Vocals on their eponymous album were done by John Fiddler, formerly of Medicine Head
Medicine Head
Medicine Head were a British blues rock band, active in the 1970s. Their biggest single success was in 1973, with "One and One is One", a Number 3 hit in the UK Singles Chart.-Main personnel:The group worked as a duo for most of its career, consisting of...
and British Lions
British Lions (album)
British Lions is a 1977 album released on the Vertigo label in the UK and the RSO label in the US. The band was made up of former members of Mott the Hoople and Medicine Head.-Track listing:All tracks composed by John Fiddler; except where indicated...
; on the second album Fiddler sang on five tracks with guests including Graham Parker
Graham Parker
Graham Parker is a British rock singer and songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the popular British band Graham Parker & the Rumour.-Early career :...
, Ian Dury
Ian Dury
Ian Robins Dury was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music...
and Roger Chapman
Roger Chapman
Roger Chapman , also known as Roger "Chappo" Chapman and 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 1967 and also the rock, R&B band Streetwalkers formed in 1974...
singing lead on the others. Many musicians guested on their albums (including Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher
William Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
and Mark Feltham)
Mark Feltham (musician)
Mark Feltham is an English musician best known for his harmonica playing. Feltham is a long term member of the British rhythm and blues band, Nine Below Zero, and Rory Gallagher's band; and is often utilised as a session musician.-Albums:*Nine Below Zero: Live at the Marquee ; Don't Point Your...
, with several tracks featuring Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
. Former Yardbirds guitarists Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
and Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
guested on their first and second albums respectively.
The group showed promise on the first album of rock radio friendly tunes, featuring Jeff Beck. "Back Where I Started" was in the top ten in the U.S., and the album was a featured number one on college campuses. Plans were made for a U.S. tour, but it is alleged that Samwell-Smith, Dreja, and McCarty nixed 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, 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 track Back Where I Started is regularly included in the set-list of the revived Yardbirds.
Box of Frogs - 1984
- Back Where I Started (3:54) (P. Samwell-Smith, C Dreja, J McCarty, F Fiddler)
- Harder (3:44) (J Fiddler, R Majors)
- Another Wasted Day (4:12) (Samwell-Smith, Dreja, McCarty, J Fiddler)
- Love Inside You (2:47) (J Fiddler)
- The Edge (4:02) (Samwell-Smith, Dreja, McCarty, J Fiddler)
- Two Steps Ahead (4:33) (Samwell-Smith, Dreja, McCarty, J Fiddler)
- Into The Dark (4:07) (Samwell-Smith, Dreja, McCarty, J Fiddler)
- Just A Boy Again (5:38) (Samwell-Smith, Dreja, McCarty, J Fiddler)
- Poor Boy (4:26) (Samwell-Smith, Dreja, McCarty, J Fiddler)
All lead vocals by John Fiddler.
Produced by Paul Samwell-Smith
Strange Land - 1986
- Get it While You Can (G. O'Connor) Graham Parker, lead vocals
- You Mix Me Up (Samwell-Smith, Dreja, McCarty) John Fiddler, lead vocals (?)
- Average (Samwell-Smith, Dreja, McCarty) Ian Dury, lead vocals
- House on Fire (Samwell-Smith, Dreja, McCarty) John Fiddler, lead vocals
- Hanging from the Wreckage (Samwell-Smith, Dreja, McCarty) John Fiddler, lead vocals
- Heart Full of Soul (G Gouldman) Roger Chapman, lead vocals
- Asylum (Samwell-Smith, Dreja, McCarty) John Fiddler, lead vocals
- Strange Land (Samwell-Smith, Dreja, McCarty) Roger Chapman (?)
- Trouble (Samwell-Smith, Dreja, McCarty) John Fiddler, lead vocals
Bonus track:
10. Nine Lives (?) John Fiddler, lead vocals
Produced by Paul Samwell-Smith
(Both albums were reissued in 1996 by Renaissance Records)
Personnel
The Frogs:- John Fiddler - lead and backing vocals, guitars, percussion, synthesizers
- Chris DrejaChris DrejaChris Dreja was the rhythm guitarist, and later bassist, in the 1960s British band, The Yardbirds.-Early life:...
- rhythm guitar, percussion, occasional backing vocals - Paul Samwell-SmithPaul Samwell-SmithPaul Samwell-Smith is best known as a founding member and bassist of the 1960s English band, The Yardbirds, a group that spawned such noteworthy musicians as Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page...
- bass guitar, backing vocals, percussion, synthesizers - Jim McCartyJim McCartyJim McCarty is an English musician, best known as the drummer for The Yardbirds and Renaissance.-Early life:...
- drums, percussion, backing vocals
with :
(First Album) -
- Dzal Martin - guitar, vocals, percussion
- Jeff BeckJeff BeckGeoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
- guitar - Mark FelthamMark FelthamMark Andrew Feltham played first-class cricket for Surrey County Cricket Club and subsequently Middlesex County Cricket Club between 1983 and 1996....
- harmonica - Peter-John VettesePeter-John VettesePeter-John Vettese , also known as Peter Vettese, is a British keyboardist, songwriter, arranger and record producer....
- keyboards - Ray Majors - guitar
- Max MiddletonMax MiddletonDavid Maxwell "Max" Middleton . He is an English composer and keyboardist and was originally a docker on the Liverpool docks. Middleton is known for his work on the Fender Rhodes Electric piano, the Minimoog synthesiser and his percussive playing style of the Hohner Clavinet...
- keyboards - Rory GallagherRory GallagherWilliam Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
- guitar - Guy BarkerGuy BarkerGuy Barker is an English jazz trumpeter and composer. 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 had joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra...
- trumpet - Geraint WatkinsGeraint WatkinsGeraint Watkins is a rock and roll pianist and accordionist backing artistes such as; Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler, Paul McCartney, Roy St. John and Shakin' Stevens...
- piano
(Strange Land) - additionally:
- Graham ParkerGraham ParkerGraham Parker is a British rock singer and songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the popular British band Graham Parker & the Rumour.-Early career :...
- vocal - John Knightsbridge - guitar
- Neil Lockwood - backing vocals
- Julie Roberts - backing vocals
- Carroll ThompsonCarroll ThompsonCarroll Thompson is an English lovers rock singer, best known for her work in the 1980s.-Biography:Thompson sang in school and church choirs as a girl, but initially studied for a career in pharmacy. In the mid-1970s, she began working as a backing singer at several recording studios after...
- backing vocals - Ian DuryIan DuryIan Robins Dury was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music...
- vocals - Steve HackettSteve HackettStephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
- guitar - Roger ChapmanRoger ChapmanRoger Chapman , also known as Roger "Chappo" Chapman and 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 1967 and also the rock, R&B band Streetwalkers formed in 1974...
- vocal - Graham GouldmanGraham GouldmanGraham Keith Gouldman is an English songwriter and musician who is a long-time member of British band 10cc.-Early life and 1960s pop career: 1946–1968:Gouldman was born in Broughton, Salford, England...
- rhythm guitar, backing vocals - Jimmy PageJimmy PageJames Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
- guitar - David ClaytonDavid ClaytonDavid George Clayton, born 13 June 1944, is a distinguished British statistician and epidemiologist. He is titular Professor of Biostatistics in the University of Cambridge and Wellcome Trust and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Principal Research Fellow in the Diabetes and Inflammation...
- keyboards
Singles
- "Back Where I Started" / "The Edge" - 1984 (UKUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
) - "Back Where I Started" / "Nine Lives" / "The Edge" - 1984 (UK - 12")
- "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")
- "Two Steps Ahead" / "The Edge" - 1984 (USUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) - "Two Steps Ahead" / "Two Steps Ahead" - 1984 (US - 12" promo)
- "Average" / "Strange Land" / "I Keep Calling" - 1986 (UK - 12")
- "Heart Full of SoulHeart Full of Soul"Heart Full of Soul" is a 1965 single by the English rock band The Yardbirds. It was written by Graham Gouldman, who later had a lengthy career as a member of 10cc. It charted in the United States at number nine and at number two in the United Kingdom. The song makes an early use of the fuzz box by...
" - 1986 (NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
)