Sometimes it is worth persevering with an album.
‘Strange Land’ was the second album from Box Of Frogs and it has taken a dozen listens to get to grips with this one but in the end there is enough good material here to make the effort worthwhile – just.
Box Of Frogs was the band formed by the less famous Yardbirds – Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith & Jim McCarty – with John Fiddler from Medicine Head on lead vocals. They made a fairly good sound but didn’t exactly set the world alight with their first album and on the second they rang the changes by bringing in some ‘Name’ guest vocalists; the likes of Graham Parker, Ian Dury, Roger Chapman plus other gusts like Jimmy Page, Rory Gallagher, Steve Hackett and even Graham Gouldman. This should have been one of those albums that are talked about by the cogs and go for hundreds on e-bay.
Unfortunately, what you actually get is 11 tracks that seem to be by 11 different bands and whose quality is as varied as the guests.
To my ear the standout track is ‘Average’ featuring Ian Dury while ‘Heart Full of Soul’ with Roger Chapman is redeemed by his performance. Incredibly the title track features Jimmy Page and Rory Gallagher but you might not guess by listening!
Much of the album is real eighties schlock with synths instead of instruments and plodding drums but there is something about the album that brings you back to try again.
‘Like’ our Award Winning facebook page and be entered into a draw to win 1000 CDs including rare, signed and promotional copies here!
