Genre: rock
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Frijid Pink
Company: Parrot
Catalog: PAS-71033
Year: 1970
Country/State: Detroit, Michigan
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: --
Available: 2
GEMM catalog ID: 4762
Price: $15.00
Cost: $2.00
I've owned a couple of Frijid Pink albums for years and never really paid any attention to them until recently. I know I played at least one of them when purchased, but I couldn't have told you which one it was, let alone what it sounded like. I also was laboring under the mistaken impression these guys were from the UK ... wrong, wrong, wrong.
Hailing from Detroit, the original line up came together in 1967 and consisted of bassist Tom Harris (quickly replaced by Tom Beaudry), singer Kelly Green, drummer Rich Stevers and lead guitarist Gary Thompson. The band spent two years on the Michigan club scene before attracting the attention of London Records which in 1969 signed the quartet to it's Parrot subsidiary. The group debuted with a series of three singles:
- 1969's 'Tell Me Why' b/w 'Cryin' Shame' (Parrot catalog number 45-334)
- 1969's Drivin' Blues' b/w 'God Gave Me To You' (Parrot catalog number 45-340)
- 1969's 'House of the Rising Son' b/w 'Drivin' Blues' (Parrot catalog number 45-341)
The group enjoyed a fluke hit with their third release which was a heavy metal adaptation of the traditional and oft covered 'House of the Rising Son'. That generated enough attention for Parrot to finance an album. Produced by Michael Valvano (who also wrote one of the earlier singles), 1970's "Frijid Pink" compiled the three previous singles with new original material. Largely penned by Beaudry and Thompson, the album reflected a mix of then popular blues and hard rock. The first genre's epitomized by tracks such as 'I'm On My Way', 'Drivin' Blues' and 'Boozin'' where comparisons to early Ten Years After or Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown (who actually get a name check on 'Drivin' Blues') will put you in the right niche. Their heavy metal leanings (think a band who's clearly listened to their share of Vanilla Fudge) are on displayed via Thompson's fuzz guitar propelled tracks like 'Crying Shame' and 'Tell Me Why'. Elsewhere, simply because it's one of the more commercial efforts, my nod for standout track goes to the opening ballad 'God Gave Me You'. The overall result is an album that sold well, but isn't particularly original or even interesting, though the cover art will give your cornea a jolt.
"Fijid Pink" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) God Gave Me You (Gary Thompson - Tom Beaudry) - 3:35
2.) Crying Shame (Michael Valvano) - 3:11
3.) I'm On My Way (Gary Thompson - Tom Beaudry) - 4:34
4.) Drivin' Blues (Gary Thompson - Tom Beaudry) - 3:14
5.) Tell Me Why (Gary Thompson - Tom Beaudry) - 2:50
(side
2)
1.) End of the Line (Gary Thompson - Tom Beaudry) - 4:07
2.) House of the Rising Sun (traditional) - 4:44
3.) I Want To Be Your Lover (Gary Thompson - Tom Beaudry) - 7:30
4.) Boozin' Blues (Gary Thompson - Tom Beaudry) - 6:01