The band was at the peak of its popularity in Michigan during 1969, and Frost served as an opening act for many major artists playing in Detroit including Blind Faith, John Mayall, and Three Dog Night. Unfortunately, when they played outside of Michigan they found that they were getting virtually no promotion from Vanguard, and that the label was not doing a very good job of getting their album into record stores.
The realization that they had made a mistake in signing with Vanguard may have contributed to Frost’s rather schizophrenic 2nd album, “Rock and Roll Music”. Following in the footsteps of the MC5, whose “Kick Out The Jams” live album had reached # 30 on Billboard’s Pop Album Chart earlier in 1969, Frost also recorded a set at the Grande Ballroom for a live album. The resulting LP, however, hedged its bet by combining some of the live performances with some new studio cuts.
The result neither captured the excitement of a Frost concert, nor did it showcase the high quality Frost songs that were the strength of their first album as well as their live show. The great title cut, “Rock And Roll Music”, did become the Frost’s only Billboard charting single, however, peaking at # 105 in December of 1969. In recent years, Vanguard has released the entire original Grande Ballroom set on a CD with the misleading title of “The Best Of The Frost”.
By the start of the new decade, some of the best Detroit-area bands including the MC5, the Rationals, SRC, and the Amboy Dukes had failed to live up to their promise as recording acts. Somewhat surprisingly, the Michigan bands that made it biggest in 1970’s were a pair of latecomers to the scene, Grand Funk Railroad and Alice Cooper.
Tracks
1. Rock and Roll Music - 2:46
2. Sweet Lady Love - 3:00
3. Linda - 3:03
4. Black Train - 2:40
5. Help Me Baby - 6:41
6. Donny's Blues - 7:47
7. We Got to Get Out of This Place - 12:08
The Frost
*Dick Wagner - Lead. Guitar, Vocals
*Donny Hartman - Guitar, Vocals, Harmonica
*Gordy Garris - Bass, Vocals
*Bobby Rigg - Drums, Vocals
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Well, it sounds like this one might not be as good as the self-titled one, but I like the self-titled one so much, I'll give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI am familiar with this album, not overwhelming, but good! Anyway thanks
ReplyDeleteMarios thank you very much for this great post! I missed this album to my collection.
ReplyDeleteEyxaristw Marie to allo frost polu kalo
ReplyDelete@DanP - Yeah this one is kind of "eh" imo.
ReplyDeleteI have it on vinyl.
I used to see Dick live in the early 90's play.
Got to know him too and had him sign all my Frost,Ursa Major albums.
den ftanei pou ta pairneis kai tzampa re jim spyropoule kaneis kai kritiki.giati ayto den sou aresei diladi?oxi tipota allo giati oi FROST itan kai groupara.min ksefeygoume kiolas.
ReplyDeleteI had all three of these albums years ago,even had "Love" @ 15 copies all cost 10 cents each,i kid you not.
ReplyDeleteGood old days,cheers Marios,thanks for sharing.
Vanguard has released the entire original Grande Ballroom set on a CD with the misleading title of “The Best Of The Frost”. classic rock music
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