Globe of Frogs

Last updated

Globe of Frogs
HitcockFrogs.jpg
Studio album by
Robyn Hitchcock and The Egyptians
Released1988
Recorded1987
StudioAlaska Studios and The Greenhouse
Genre Rock
Length36:07
Label A&M
Producer
  • Pat Collier
  • Robyn Hitchcock
  • Andy Metcalfe
  • Morris Windsor
Robyn Hitchcock and The Egyptians chronology
Element of Light
(1986)		Globe of Frogs
(1988)		 Queen Elvis
(1989)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Chicago Sun-Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
NME 5/10 [5]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]

Globe of Frogs is the sixth album released by Robyn Hitchcock and his third with his backing band The Egyptians, released on A&M Records in 1988. Made in London, it was recorded by the Egyptians (Robyn Hitchcock, Andy Metcalfe, and Morris Windsor) along with Pat Collier, and emerged as the group's debut after signing to major label A&M.

Contents

The album features Peter Buck from R.E.M. guesting on guitar as well as Squeeze's Glenn Tilbrook dueting with Hitchcock on "Flesh Number One (Beatle Dennis)". Frequent Hitchcock collaborator Chris Cox also appears.

The album also includes the minor college radio hit "Balloon Man". Originally written for The Bangles, [8] the single reached #1 on Gavin Report's Alternative music chart. [9] Despite this, when asked if he hated any of his own songs in an A.V. Club interview in 2013, Hitchcock said it was a song he'd "be happy to never hear again, although I do like the money I get from the royalties." [10]

"Chinese Bones" has proved perhaps the most durable from the album, becoming one of Hitchcock's more frequently performed concert numbers.

The album was packaged in dark green, with one of Hitchcock's paintings on the front. The sleeve notes consist of his "manifesto" in which Hitchcock advocates "the organic" as opposed to the big business of "insanity" and implores listeners to bury their televisions:

"All of us exist in a swarming, pulsating world, driven mostly by an unconscious that we ignore and misunderstand. Within the framework of 'civilisation' we remain as savage as possible. Against the dense traffic of modern life, we fortify our animal selves with video violence, imaginary sex, and music...but our inflamed and disoriented psyches smoulder on beneath the wet leaves of habit."

Track listing

  1. "Tropical Flesh Mandala"
  2. "Vibrating"
  3. "Balloon Man"
  4. "Luminous Rose"
  5. "Sleeping with Your Devil Mask"
  6. "Unsettled"
  7. "Chinese Bones"
  8. "A Globe of Frogs"
  9. "The Shapes Between Us Turn into Animals"
  10. "Flesh Number One (Beatle Dennis)"

Personnel

with guests:

Charts

Chart performance for Globe of Frogs
Chart (1988)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [11] 111

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squeeze (band)</span> British rock band

Squeeze are an English rock band that came to prominence in the United Kingdom during the new wave period of the late 1970s, and continued recording in the 1980s, 1990s and 2010s. In the UK, their singles "Cool for Cats", "Up the Junction", and "Labelled with Love" were top-ten chart hits. Though not as commercially successful in the United States, Squeeze had American hits with "Tempted", "Black Coffee in Bed", and "Hourglass", and were considered a part of the Second British Invasion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Buck</span> American guitarist for R.E.M., songwriter

Peter Lawrence Buck is an American musician and songwriter. He was a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band R.E.M. He also plays the banjo and mandolin on several R.E.M. songs. Throughout his career with R.E.M. (1980–2011), as well as during his subsequent solo career, Buck has also been at various times an official member of numerous 'side project' groups. These groups included Arthur Buck, Hindu Love Gods, The Minus 5, Tuatara, The Baseball Project, Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3, Tired Pony, The No-Ones, and Filthy Friends, each of which have released at least one full-length studio album. Additionally, the experimental combo Slow Music have released an official live concert CD. Another side project group called Full Time Men released an EP while Buck was a member. As well, ad hoc "supergroups" Bingo Hand Job, Musical Kings and Nigel & The Crosses have each commercially released one track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robyn Hitchcock</span> English singer-songwriter and guitarist

Robyn Rowan Hitchcock is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. While primarily a vocalist and guitarist, he also plays harmonica, piano, and bass guitar. After leading the Soft Boys in the late 1970s and releasing the influential Underwater Moonlight, Hitchcock launched a prolific solo career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenn Tilbrook</span> English musician (born 1957)

Glenn Martin Tilbrook is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the English new wave band Squeeze, a band formed in the mid-1970s who broke through in the new wave era at the decade's end. He generally writes the music for Squeeze's songs, while his writing partner, Chris Difford, writes the lyrics. In addition to his songwriting skills, Tilbrook is respected both as a singer and an accomplished guitarist.

<i>Babylon and On</i> 1987 studio album by Squeeze

Babylon and On is the seventh album released in September 1987 by the British new wave group Squeeze.

<i>Ridiculous</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Squeeze

Ridiculous is an album by the British new wave group Squeeze. It was the band's eleventh studio album, and it introduced their latest drummer Kevin Wilkinson. As on the previous album, Some Fantastic Place, the band recorded one song penned by Keith Wilkinson. This time, however, Wilkinson did not perform the lead vocals. That song, "Got to Me", is the last Wilkinson would write with Squeeze. Chris Difford sang lead on two songs, "Long Face" and "Fingertips". He had not performed lead on an album cut since "Slaughtered, Gutted and Heartbroken" and "Love Circles" on the 1989 album Frank. This record was produced by Glenn Tilbrook and Peter Smith.

<i>Difford & Tilbrook</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Difford & Tilbrook

Difford & Tilbrook is the only studio album released by Difford & Tilbrook. Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook were the main songwriters in the new wave band Squeeze until their 1982 breakup. The duo continued to write songs together, and in 1984 released this self-titled effort.

<i>Fegmania!</i> 1985 album by Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians

Fegmania! is the fourth studio album by Robyn Hitchcock and his first with his backing band The Egyptians.

<i>Black Snake Diamond Röle</i> 1981 album by Robyn Hitchcock

Black Snake Dîamond Röle is the debut solo album by former Soft Boys frontman Robyn Hitchcock.

<i>Gotta Let This Hen Out!</i> 1985 live album by Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians

Gotta Let This Hen Out! is a live recording of Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians recorded in April 1985, shortly after the group had come together for Fegmania!.

<i>Element of Light</i> 1986 album by Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians

Element of Light is the fifth studio album by singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock and his second with his backing band, the Egyptians. It was released in 1986.

<i>Blue Nun</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Carlene Carter

Blue Nun is an album by the American musician Carlene Carter, released in 1981. It features two duets with British rocker Paul Carrack: "Oh How Happy" and "Do Me Lover".

<i>Jewels for Sophia</i> 1999 album by Robyn Hitchcock

Jewels for Sophia is the twelfth studio album by Robyn Hitchcock, released on Warner Records in 1999.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Robyn Hitchcock and The Egyptians album) 1996 compilation album by Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians

Greatest Hits is a collection of material by Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians from the A&M period 1988–1992, spanning the albums Globe of Frogs, Queen Elvis, Perspex Island, and Respect.

<i>Eye</i> (Robyn Hitchcock album) 1990 album by Robyn Hitchcock

Eye is the eighth studio album and fourth solo album by Robyn Hitchcock. It was released in 1990 on Glass Fish (UK) and Twin/Tone Records (US). This was Hitchcock's only solo album released between 1985 and 1995, a period in which he recorded most of his music with his backing band, the Egyptians.

Andy Metcalfe is an English bassist, keyboardist, and producer, who played mainly with The Soft Boys, Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians (1984–1994), and with Squeeze off and on during the period 1985–1994.

<i>Give It to the Thoth Boys – Live Oddities</i> 1993 live album by Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians

Give It to the Thoth Boys – Live Oddities is a live recording of Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians recorded in 1991 and 1992 at various locations. It was released on cassette only and sold on the Respect tour in 1993. It was compiled by Andy Metcalfe from soundboard tapes done by the band themselves. There is a companion cassette released of the reformed Soft Boys tour called "Where Are The Prawns?".

<i>Respect</i> (Robyn Hitchcock album) 1993 album by Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians

Respect is the tenth studio album by Robyn Hitchcock and his sixth with backing band, the Egyptians, released on A&M in 1993.

<i>Propellor Time</i> 2010 album by Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3

Propellor Time is the seventeenth studio album by Robyn Hitchcock, the third and last recorded with The Venus 3. It was released in 2010 via Yep Roc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If I Didn't Love You (Squeeze song)</span> 1980 single by Squeeze

"If I Didn't Love You" is the ninth track from Squeeze's album, Argybargy. The song, written by Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford, features lyrics about the early stages of a relationship and the insecurity that comes with it. The song has vocals and a slide guitar solo by Tilbrook.

References

  1. ↑ Sullivan, Denise. "Globe of Frogs – Robyn Hitchcock / Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians". AllMusic . Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  2. ↑ McLeese, Don (3 February 1988). "Hitchcock gets stranger on droll train of thought" . Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  3. ↑ Kot, Greg (23 February 1992). "Rating The Robyn Hitchcock Solo And Group Releases". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  4. ↑ McKenna, Kristine (14 February 1988). "Hitchcock's Hothouse". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  5. ↑ Barron, Jack (19 March 1988). "That Croak Isn't Funny Anymore". NME . p. 32.
  6. ↑ Azerrad, Michael (10 March 1988). "Robyn Hitchcock: Globe Of Frogs". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 24 February 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  7. ↑ Considine, J. D. (2004). "Robyn Hitchcock". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp.  378–380. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  8. ↑ Locker, Melissa. "Love Story: A Q&A with Singer-Songwriter Robyn Hitchcock". Time. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  9. ↑ Robins, Wayne (7 February 1998), "Robyn Hitchcock: A View From Rock's Underground", Newsday, archived from the original on 7 February 2012
  10. ↑ Eakin, Marah (5 March 2013). "Robyn Hitchcock hates "Arthur's Theme" like he hates clean underwear". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  11. ↑ "Robyn Hitchcock Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2021.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.