Today I'm in new territory. I know nothing about the band Box Of Frogs, and prior to 2026, I didn't even know they existed. They hit my radar while searching a seller on ebay for hair band albums. The CD popped in one specific seller page I was perusing, but at the time, I skipped on it. However, it kept resonating in the back of my mind, and by April, I came back to it and made the purchase. Hopefully, this pans out.
While the CD is called Box Of Frogs, and showcases the album cover from the band's first of only two studio albums, it does actually contain both their 1984 self-titled debut, and 1986's Strange Land. This aspect, coupled with its relatively rareness on CD is what I think ultimately kept calling me back.
Box Of Frogs, the band, has roots that go all the way back to the sixties, featuring, and formed by Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith, and Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds. They'd be joined by John Fiddler of Medicine Head on vocals to round out the group. While their respective previous bands focused on psychedelic and blues rock, Frogs, on the other hand shifted to hard and arena rock, while also incorporating some blues.
This is very counter to my mindset and expectation, as when I see a band name such as theirs, and the cover, my brain immediately goes to "punk rock". Even when learning about the above, and typing this particular post out, I don't think my head is still quite ready for the reality of what's to come. But, rather than delay, let's just dive in and see what it's all about.
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Thinks kick off sounding like ZZ Top, with Back Where I Started sounding very much like La Grange. This appears intentional, with sources noting that Yardbirds album, Jeff Beck, who stepped in on a few tracks for the Frogs, channeled the same inspiration. That being Boogie Chillen' from John Lee Hooker (1948).
Box Of Frogs manages to perfectly bridge the gap between sixties and eighties pop, keeping their signature British Invasion blues roots alive while filtering them through a glossy, synthesized 1980s sonic landscape. The experiment results in a unique, time-bending collision of eras, bringing the grit and legacy of London’s 1960s blues scene right into the MTV age.
I'm extremely surprised by this hidden gem. It's everything I would want from finding an unknown album. Fantastic music, great shuffle worthy tracks, enjoyable from start to finish, and excited to move on to the next from them. This is one to definitely check out.
As for me, I'm moving on to 1986's Strange Land, which is sadly their last album. All of this would be because of behind-the-scenes drama, which would ultimately see the guys disbanding in 1987. But we'll get to all of that tomorrow.
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And now, 31 Days Of Halloween!
Imagine you make a cult classic horror film in 1960, and then twenty-three years later you're called up to be in the made for television sequel. That's what happened to Anthony Perkins, and initially, he said no. Mainly because he didn't have any interest in being part of a cheesy TV sequel. However, things would come together in the end, and Perkins would not only return to the role of Norman Bates, but the film would have a theatrical release.
Bates would end up playing the role in four films, with the final installment being released in 1990. Sadly, he passed away in 1992 of pneumonia from complications due to the AIDS virus.
