Box Of Frogs

Box Of Frogs - Strange Land - 1986 - Epic

In 1982 former Yardbirds members Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty and Paul Samwell-Smith asked John Fiddler to front their new band Box Of Frogs. The band released two albums, with guest guitarists such as Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Steve Hackett, Rory Gallagher - and Ray Majors! The first s/t album was not a great album, but still quite enjoyable. It was typical of early 80's releases, full of drum machines, synthesizers, and overly produced vocals. However, there was quite a good blues rooted sound underneath, with some great guitar from Jeff Beck. You can find this album @ BOF/ST This second album, "Strange Land" is a better album with more substance to it. "Asylum" is more in the rocking vein. "Heart Full Of Soul" by ex-10cc member Graham Gouldman is quite a good song, and overall, the album, although it still retains the "eightyish" touch was more progressive and polished than Box Of Frogs debut album. "Strange Land" is remarkable in that artists like Jimmy Page, Steve Hackett, Rory Gallagher, Graham Gouldman, Graham Parker , Ian Dury, and Roger Chapman appeared on the album credits list. The album is worth a listen, although sound quality could be better. "Strange Land" was reissued with their first album, "Box of Frogs" on one CD on Renaissance Records in 1996.

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

A1 Get It While You Can - Gary O'Connor
A2 You Mix Me Up - Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith
A3 Average - Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith
A4 House On Fire - Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith
A5 Hanging From The Wreckage - Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith

B1 Heart Full Of Soul - Graham Gouldman
B2 Asylum - Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith
B3 Strange Land - Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith
B4 Trouble - Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith

MUSICIANS

Guitar - Jimmy Page , John Knightsbridge , Steve Hackett
Guitar, Percussion, Vocals - Chris Dreja , Dzal Martin
Guitar, Sitar - Rory Gallagher
Guitar, Vocals - Graham Gouldman
Keyboards - David Clayton , Peter-John Vettese
Percussion, Drums, Vocals - Jim McCarty
Piano - Geraint Watkins
Synthesizer, Bass, Percussion, Vocals, Producer - Paul Samwell-Smith
Synthesizer, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals - John Fiddler
Synthesizer, Keyboards - Max Middleton
Vocals - Carol Thompson , Graham Parker , Ian Dury , Juliet Roberts , Neil Lockwood , Roger Chapman

SHORT BIO

Blues-based hard rock combo Box of Frogs reunited guitarist Chris Dreja, bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, and drummer Jim McCarty, all three founding members of the famed Yardbirds. The trio re-teamed for the first time since the Yardbirds' mid-1968 dissolution to play a 1983 live date at the London Marquee, and the performance proved so successful that they soon founded Box of Frogs with vocalist John Fiddler, formerly of Medicine Head and British Lions. Fellow Yardbirds alum Jeff Beck guested on several tracks on the group's self-titled 1984 LP, with Jimmy Page appearing on the 1986 follow-up Strange Land. Box of Frogs disbanded soon after. © Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide