Mick Weaver | |
---|---|
Birth name | Michael Weaver |
Also known as | Wynder K. Frog |
Born | Bolton, Lancashire, England | 16 June 1944
Genres | Rock, melodic rock, blues rock, progressive rock |
Occupation | Musician |
Instrument | Keyboards |
Years active | 1960s–present |
Mick Weaver (born 16 June 1944, Bolton, Lancashire, England) is an English session musician, best known for his playing of the Hammond B3 organ, and as an exponent of the blues and funk.
Weaver's band performed as Wynder K. Frog [1] and became popular on the student union and club circuit of the mid 1960s. A brief merging of this band with Herbie Goins and the Night-Timers took his work to a higher level. Wynder K. Frogg — they are billed under this spelling — appeared on the bill at the Saville Theatre, London on 24 September 1967, supporting Traffic on their first UK presentation. Also on the bill were Jackie Edwards and Nirvana. The compere was David Symonds.
When Steve Winwood left Traffic to form Blind Faith, Weaver was recruited to replace him and Traffic became Mason, Capaldi, Wood and Frog, soon shortened to Wooden Frog. They played a few gigs [2] before dissolving three months later when Traffic reformed. [1] After this he recorded with solo artists such as Buddy Guy, Dave Gilmour, Joe Cocker, Eric Burdon, Frankie Miller, Roger Chapman, Steve Marriott and Gary Moore as well as Taj Mahal and The Blues Band, [3] also playing keyboards with Steve Marriott's Majik Mijits. [4]
Sunshine Super Frog | |
---|---|
Studio album by Wynder K. Frog | |
Released | December 1967 |
Genre | Rock |
Label | Island |
Producer | Jimmy Miller |
All tracks featured Mick Weaver as Wynder K. Frog, playing a Hammond B3 organ [1] and were recorded in London playing over backing tapes by unnamed session musicians from New York City. In the album liner notes Jimmy Miller noted that Weaver had "supplemented the band with trumpet, tenor sax, guitar, bass and drums, Wynder has transformed the organ into a highly enjoyable medium of sound, combining jazzy finesse with popular and commercial phrasing suitable for vast appeal".
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Sunshine Superman" (Donovan Leitch) | 2:34 |
2. | "I Feel So Bad" (Jackie Edwards) | 2:25 |
3. | "Oh Mary" (Jackie Edwards) | 2:33 |
4. | "Blues For a Frog" (Syd Dale [5] ) | 3:03 |
5. | "Somebody Help Me" (Jackie Edwards) | 2:44 |
6. | "Mercy" (R. Harris) | 1:55 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
7. | "Hold On, I'm Comin'" (Isaac Hayes, David Porter) | 2:11 |
8. | "Shook, Shimmy and Shake" (Owen Gray) | 2:12 |
9. | "Insense" (Fallon-Miller) | 2:27 |
10. | "Walking to New Orleans" (Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew, Guidry) | 2:00 |
11. | "Don't Fight It (Feel it)" (Wilson Pickett, Steve Cropper) | 2:20 |
12. | "Dancin' Frog" (Jimmy Miller) | 2:29 |
Out of the Frying Pan | |
---|---|
Studio album by Wynder K. Frog | |
Released | August 1968 |
Genre | Rock |
Label | United Artists |
Producer | Gus Dudgeon, Jimmy Miller |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (Mick Jagger & Keith Richards) | 4:03 |
2. | "Gasoline Alley" (Mick Weaver) | 3:02 |
3. | "Willie and the Hand Jive" (Johnny Otis) | 2:21 |
4. | "Harpsichord Shuffle" (Mick Weaver) | 3:55 |
5. | "Baby I Love You" (Ronnie Shannon) | 2:44 |
6. | "This Here" (Bobby Timmons) | 6:21 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
7. | "Green Door" (Bob Davie, Marvin Moore) | 2:25 |
8. | "Bad Eye" (Willie Mitchell) | 2:35 |
9. | "Alexander's Ragtime Band" (Irving Berlin) | 3:34 |
10. | "Tequila" (Chuck Rio) | 1:55 |
11. | "The House That Jack Built" (Alan Price) | 2:30 |
12. | "Hymn To Freedom" (Harriette Hamilton, Oscar Peterson) | 4:16 |
13. | "Hi-Heel Sneakers" (Tommy Tucker) | 3:34 |
Into the Fire | |
---|---|
Studio album by Wynder K. Frog | |
Released | 1970 |
Genre | Rock |
Label | United Artists |
Into the Fire was released only in the US, [1] after the band had dissolved. Unlike the previous albums of mostly covers, the liner notes here state that the songs were, "composed specifically for the Frog style of musical interpretation, ranging far in beat, tempo and mood".
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Into the Fire" (M. Weaver, C. Mercer) | 4:09 |
2. | "Howl in Wolf's Clothing" (M. Weaver) | 3:28 |
3. | "F in Blues" (M. Weaver, C. Mercer) | 5:44 |
4. | "Cool Hand Stanley" (N. Hubbard, C. Mercer, M. Weaver) | 5:39 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | "Eddie's Tune" (N. Hubbard, S. Phillips, M. Weaver) | 5:26 |
6. | "Why am I Treated so Bad" (R. Staples) | 4:59 |
7. | "Hot Salt Beef" (N. Hubbard, C. Mercer, M. Weaver) | 4:59 |
8. | "Warm and Tender Love" (B.Robinson) | 4:08 |
In 2018, RPM/Cherry Red Records released a triple-CD box set, entitled Wynder K. Frog. Shook, Shimmy and Shake. The Complete Recordings 1966–1970, including all the above recordings, plus 12 bonus tracks, previously unissued. There were four on the second CD and nine on the third CD, and a 26 page booklet with extensive liner notes and photos. The bonus tracks on the second CD are: 14. "Jumping' Jack Flash" (Mono Version); 15. "Baldy"; 16. "Dancing Frog" (Stereo Version); and 17. "Blues For A Frog" (Stereo Version). On the third CD, the bonus tracks are: 9. "Happy Jack"; 10. "We Can Work It Out"; 11. "Funky Broadway"; 12. "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever"; 13. "A Memory Of Bruce"; 14. "The House That Jack Built"; 15. "I'll Go Crazy"; 16. "Tequila"; 17. "Baldy".
1969 |
|
---|---|
1970 |
|
1971 |
|
1972 |
|
1973 |
|
1974 |
|
1975 |
|
1976 |
|
1977 |
|
1978 |
|
1979 |
|
1980 | |
1981 |
|
1982 |
|
1983 |
|
1989 |
|
1990 |
|
1991 | |
1992 |
|
1993 | |
1994 |
|
1995 |
|
1996 |
|
1997 |
|
1998 |
|
1999 |
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
|
2003 |
|
2004 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2008 |
|
Traffic were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in April 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason. They began as a psychedelic rock group and diversified their sound through the use of instruments such as keyboards, sitar, and various reed instruments, and by incorporating jazz and improvisational techniques in their music.
Nicola James Capaldi was an English singer-songwriter and drummer. His musical career spanned more than four decades. He co-founded the progressive rock band Traffic in 1967 with Steve Winwood with whom he co-wrote the majority of the band's material. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a part of Traffic's original lineup.
The Grease Band was a British rock band that originally formed as Joe Cocker's backing group. They appeared with Cocker during the 1960s, including his performance at the Woodstock Festival in August 1969. The band's name derived from an interview Cocker had read with the American jazz organist Jimmy Smith, who had approvingly described another performer as having "a lot of grease", with "grease" referring to soul. After Cocker formed the Mad Dogs & Englishmen album band line-up, the group released two albums without him in the 1970s.
You Can All Join In is a budget priced sampler album, released in the UK by Island Records in 1968. It was priced at 14 shillings and 6 pence (£0.72), and reached no. 18 on the UK Albums Chart that year.
Mr. Fantasy is the debut album by English rock band Traffic, released in December 1967. The recording included group members Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood, and Dave Mason; Mason temporarily left the band shortly after the album was released. The album reached the number 16 position in the UK Albums Chart, and number 88 on the Billboard Top LPs chart in the United States.
Christopher Gordon Blandford Wood was a British rock musician, best known as a founding member of the rock band Traffic, along with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Dave Mason.
When the Eagle Flies is the seventh studio album by English rock band Traffic, released in 1974. The album featured Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood and Chris Wood, with Rosko Gee on bass guitar. Percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah was fired prior to the album's completion, but two tracks feature his playing. Winwood plays a broader variety of keyboard instruments than most previous Traffic albums, adding Moog to their repertoire. This was the last Traffic album for 20 years, when Winwood and Capaldi reunited for Far from Home in 1994.
70th Birthday Concert is a live electric blues video recording of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers to celebrate Mayall's 70th Birthday. Recorded in Liverpool, England on 19 July 2003, the concert was notable as it featured Eric Clapton as a guest, so marked the first time he and Mayall had performed together in almost 40 years, if one discounts Clapton guesting on Mayall's Back to the Roots. The set also features Mick Taylor and Chris Barber.
Still Got the Blues is the eighth solo studio album by Northern Irish guitarist Gary Moore, released in March 1990. It marked a substantial change in style for Moore, who had been predominantly known for rock and hard rock music with Skid Row, Thin Lizzy, G-Force, Greg Lake and during his own extensive solo career, as well as his jazz fusion work with Colosseum II. As indicated by its title, Still Got the Blues saw him delve into an electric blues style.
About Time is the eighth solo studio album by Steve Winwood, released in 2003. It was his first album since 1997 and it featured a return to a musical style more in line with his earlier work with Traffic. That basic style is emphasized in the three piece set of the band: Hammond Organ, guitar and drums/percussion, joined on various tracks by saxophone, flute and additional percussion characteristic of the Traffic sound.
Steve Winwood is the debut solo studio album by blue-eyed soulster Steve Winwood. It was released in 1977, three years after the break-up of his former band, Traffic. Though the album sold moderately well in the US, it was a commercial disappointment compared to Traffic's recent albums, peaking at number 22 on the Billboard 200 album chart. In the UK, however, while Traffic's recent albums had only been moderately successful, Steve Winwood reached number 12 on The Official Charts. Island Records launched two singles from the album, "Hold On" and "Time Is Running Out", both of which failed to make the charts.
Keith "Keef" Hartley was an English drummer and bandleader. He fronted his own band, known as the Keef Hartley Band or Keef Hartley's Big Band, and played at Woodstock. He was later a member of Dog Soldier, and variously worked with Rory Storm, the Artwoods and John Mayall.
Far from Home is the eighth and final studio album by the rock band Traffic. The project began as a revival of the writing collaboration between Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi, but soon blossomed into the first Traffic project since 1974.
Those Who Are About to Die Salute You is the debut album by Colosseum, released in 1969 by Fontana. It is one of the pioneering albums of jazz fusion. The title is a translation of the Latin phrase morituri te salutant that according to popular belief, gladiators addressed to the emperor before the beginning of a gladiatorial match.
As Safe as Yesterday Is is the debut studio album by English rock band Humble Pie, released in August 1969. The band had been formed by singer/guitarists Steve Marriott and Peter Frampton. The album features a blend of heavy blues, crushing rock, pastoral folk, and post-mod pop music. It peaked at number 32 in the UK Albums Chart.
The Gass was a rock band formed in May 1965 by Robert Tench, Godfrey McLean, and Errol McLean. They were managed by Rik Gunnell and Active Management. The band fused melodies with soul, Latin influences, blues and progressive rock often employing complex rhythms with an eclectic mix of other influences.
Dancing the Blues is an album by American blues artist Taj Mahal, released in 1993.
Maestro is an album by American blues artist Taj Mahal. It was nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 2009 Grammy Awards.
Too Late to Cry is the second and final album by the English hard rock band Widowmaker, released in 1977.
Hubert Leroy "Herbie" Goins was an American rhythm & blues singer. He worked mainly in England in the 1960s, notably with Alexis Korner and then as the leader of Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers. He later continued his career based in Sezze, Italy.