Mick Weaver

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Mick Weaver
Birth nameMichael Weaver
Also known asWynder K. Frog
Born (1944-06-16) 16 June 1944 (age 79)
Bolton, Lancashire, England
GenresRock, melodic rock, blues rock, progressive rock
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Keyboards
Years active1960s–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.

Career[edit]

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]

Discography[edit]

As Wynder K. Frog[edit]

Sunshine Super Frog (1967)[edit]

Sunshine Super Frog
Studio album by
Wynder K. Frog
ReleasedDecember 1967
GenreRock
LabelIsland
ProducerJimmy Miller
Credits[edit]

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".

Side One
No.TitleLength
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
Side two
No.TitleLength
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 (1968)[edit]

Out of the Frying Pan
Studio album by
Wynder K. Frog
ReleasedAugust 1968
GenreRock
LabelUnited Artists
ProducerGus Dudgeon, Jimmy Miller
Credits[edit]
Side one
No.TitleLength
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
Side two
No.TitleLength
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 (1970)[edit]

Into the Fire
Studio album by
Wynder K. Frog
Released1970
GenreRock
LabelUnited 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".

Credits[edit]
Side one
No.TitleLength
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
Side two
No.TitleLength
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".

As a session musician[edit]

1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
  • Butts Band – Butts Band
  • Delicious & Refreshing – Coast Road Drive
  • Jess Roden BandJess Roden
  • Spider JivingAndy Fairweather Low
  • Storey – Mike Storey
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
  • 21st Century Blues...From da 'Hood – Chris Thomas
  • Red Blooded Blues – Various Artists
1996
1997
1998
  • Chicago Blues Tour – Various Artists
  • Rock and Roll Doctor: Lowell George Tribute – Various Artists
1999
2000
2001
  • Organ-Ized: All-Star Tribute to the Hammond B3 Organ – Various Artists
  • Shoutin' in Key – The Phantom Blues Band
  • Soul Deeper... Songs From the Deep SouthJimmy Barnes
  • Nuggets, Vol. 2: Original Artifacts From the British – Various Artists
  • Rampart Street Rhumba: Hannibal in New Orleans – Various Artists
2003
2004
2005
  • Damn Right, I've Got the Blues with bonus tracks – Buddy Guy
  • EssentialTaj Mahal
  • Hammond Heroes: 60s R&B Organ Grooves – Various Artists
  • Overdog with bonus tracks – Keef Hartley
  • Stealin' Home/Siamese FriendsIain Matthews
2006
2008

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Joynson, Vernon. The Tapestry of Delights. Borderline. p. 946.
  2. ^ Mason, Capaldi, Wood & Frog Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Senzatempo.co.uk. Retrieved on 3 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Mick Weaver credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  4. ^ Hewitt, Paulo & Hellier, John. Steve Marriott-All Too Beautiful... p. 251.
  5. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series. 2 February 1971. p. 1545. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2019.

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]