Mick Weaver (original) (raw)

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Musical artist

Mick Weaver (born 16 June 1944, Bolton, Lancashire, England) is an English session musician, best known for his playing of the Hammond B3 organ.

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 (1967)

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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".

Out of the Frying Pan (1968)

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• Mick Weaver – keyboards
• Dick Heckstall-Smith – saxophone
• Neil Hubbard – guitar
• Alan Spenner – bass
• Chris Mercer – saxophone
• Bruce Rowland – drums
• Ron Carthy – horn
• Rebop Kwaku Baah – percussion

Into the Fire (1970)

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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".

• Mick Weaver – keyboards
• Rocky Dzidzornu – percussion
• Neil Hubbard – guitar
• Chris Mercer – saxophone
• Shawn Phillips – guitar and vocals (on "Eddie's Tune" only)
• Bruce Rowland – drums
• Alan Spenner – bass

Side one

Side two

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

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1. ^ a b c d Joynson, Vernon. The Tapestry of Delights. Borderline. p. 946.
2. ^ Mason, Capaldi, Wood & Frog[usurped]. 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.

• Joynson, Vernon. The Tapestry of Delights – The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras 1963–1976. Borderline (2006). Reprinted (2008). ISBN 1-899855-15-7
• Paolo Hewitt John Hellier (2004). Steve Marriott - All Too Beautiful.... Helter Skelter Publishing ISBN 1-900924-44-7
• Miguel Terol. "Mick Weaver". Musicians Olympus. Archived from the original on 29 July 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
• "Mick Weaver". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 February 2009.