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Toad the Wet Sprocket

Toad the Wet Sprocket was an American folk pop band consisting of singer Glen Phillips, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning, and drummer Randy Guss. The band formed in 1986 at San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, California, and drew their name from the John Cleese monologue "Rock Notes" on Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album (1980).

Toad the Wet Sprocket released six original LPs, one compilation album, various singles, a music video compilation, and one live recording, who reissued their independently produced debut Bread and Circus in 1989. Their best-known album is 1991's Fear, which featured the hit singles "All I Want" and "Walk on the Ocean".

Toad the Wet Sprocket formally broke up in July 1998, citing creative differences and strain on the foursome's friendship. Glen Phillips has since embarked on a solo career, and Todd Nichols went on to form the band Lapdog, which currently includes Randy Guss and formerly included Dean Dinning.

Toad the Wet Sprocket temporarily reunited for a 25-date tour in February and March 2003; it went so well that they continued to tour in 2004, and are (as of March 2005) working on a new album.

Discography

Albums

  • Bread and Circus (1989)
  • Pale (1990)
  • Fear (1991) RIAA certified Platinum
    • "Walk on the Ocean"
    • "All I Want"
  • Dulcinea (1994) RIAA certified Platinum
    • "Something's Always Wrong"
    • "Fall Down"
  • In Light Syrup (1995) RIAA certified Gold
    • "Brother"
    • "Good Intentions"
  • Coil (1997)
    • "Come Down"
    • "Crazy Life"
  • P.S. (A Toad Retrospective) (1999) (contains two new tracks)
    • "P.S."
    • "Silo Lullaby"
  • Welcome Home: Live At The Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara 1992 (released on October 19, 2004)
    • Recorded live in Santa Barbara, California on September 30, 1992.

Singles/Promotional

  • Five Live promo CD (1992)
  • All I Want CD single (1992)
  • Fall Down CD single (1994)
  • Acoustic Dance Party (1994 live album)
  • Fly From Heaven CD single (1995)
  • Come Down CD single (1996)


Videos

  • Seven Songs Seldom Seen (1992 music video compilation)
    • "All I Want"
    • "Walk on the Ocean"


Appearances

Toad the Wet Sprocket songs have also appeared on various soundtracks, samplers and compilations:

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer soundtrack (1992)
    • "Little Heaven" (collected on In Light Syrup)
  • Columbia Indestructible compilation
    • "Cinnamon Girl" (live; previously unreleased)
  • Coca-Cola sampler (1991)
    • "Walk on the Ocean" (from Fear (Toad the Wet Sprocket album))
  • Drop Zone soundtrack (1994)
    • "Fall Down" (from Dulcinea)
  • Empire Records soundtrack (1995)
    • "Crazy Life" (from Coil)
  • Fear soundtrack (1996)
    • "Something's Always Wrong" (from Dulcinea)
  • Friends soundtrack (1995)
    • "Good Intentions" (collected on In Light Syrup)
  • I Know What You Did Last Summer soundtrack (1997)
    • "Hey Bulldog" (remake of Beatles song)
  • Kiss My Ass (1994 KISS tribute album)
    • "Rock and Roll All Night" (remake of KISS song)
  • M.O.M. II: Music For Our Mother Ocean compilation (1997)
    • "Acid" (previously unreleased?)
  • The Best of Columbia Records Radio Hour Volume 2 (1996)
    • "Fly From Heaven" (from Dulcinea)
  • So I Married an Axe Murderer soundtrack (1993)
    • "Brother" (collected on In Light Syrup)
  • Stop Handgun Violence (2000)
    • "This Is My Life" (previously unreleased)
  • Ultimate Athlete: Pushing The Limits soundtrack (1994)
    • "Stories I Tell" (from Fear)
  • Working Class Hero: A Tribute To John Lennon (1995)
    • "Instant Karma" (remake of John Lennon song)

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Toad the Wet Sprocket songs have also appeared on various soundtracks, samplers and compilations:. Nick McCabe has mostly remained quiet after the breakup, although he has recently worked with a few artists, notably John Martin and Leeds based band, The Music.
. Richard Ashcroft has also enjoyed a successful solo career, debuting with 2000's Alone With Everybody, followed by Human Conditions in 2002.
. Tong has also appeared as a live replacement for departed Graham Coxon in Blur. Toad the Wet Sprocket temporarily reunited for a 25-date tour in February and March 2003; it went so well that they continued to tour in 2004, and are (as of March 2005) working on a new album. After the band's final collapse, Simon Jones and Simon Tong formed a new group called The Shining along with former Stone Roses guitarist John Squire.

Glen Phillips has since embarked on a solo career, and Todd Nichols went on to form the band Lapdog, which currently includes Randy Guss and formerly included Dean Dinning. After a year of inactivity, the Verve officially announced the end to their careers in 1999. Toad the Wet Sprocket formally broke up in July 1998, citing creative differences and strain on the foursome's friendship. Ashcroft was unable to exude his powerful stage presence when playing the guitar, and the live shows lacked the energy that existed when the talented McCabe was onstage. Their best-known album is 1991's Fear, which featured the hit singles "All I Want" and "Walk on the Ocean". Ashcroft took the duties of lead guitar for the rest of the tour, which resulted in unfavorable reviews for the band. Toad the Wet Sprocket released six original LPs, one compilation album, various singles, a music video compilation, and one live recording, who reissued their independently produced debut Bread and Circus in 1989. Things got worse when Nick McCabe suddenly pulled from the tour and decided he couldn't tolerate the constant life on the road any longer (some speculate that the incident with Jones and McCabe's relationship with Ashcroft were the reasons).

The band formed in 1986 at San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, California, and drew their name from the John Cleese monologue "Rock Notes" on Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album (1980). Then, as the band was on a very successful tour to promote the album, bassist Simon Jones collapsed on stage. Toad the Wet Sprocket was an American folk pop band consisting of singer Glen Phillips, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning, and drummer Randy Guss. ABKCO Music, which runs the Rolling Stones' back catalog, and which had warned The Verve against using the Rolling Stones sample in "Bittersweet Symphony," successfully sued the Verve for 100% of the royalties for "Bitter Sweet Symphony"; further, as a result of the lawsuit, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger were given songwriting credits and full publishing rights to the song, which later appeared in a Nike commercial against The Verve's will. "Instant Karma" (remake of John Lennon song). Despite their success, turmoil was still a constant reality for the band. Working Class Hero: A Tribute To John Lennon (1995)

    . The release of Urban Hymns was considered by many a classic that kept the wave of Britpop rolling for at least a few more years.

    "Stories I Tell" (from Fear). Once the kings of the rock world, Oasis was nowhere to be seen with their lackluster effort, Be Here Now, while their rivals Blur decided to progress away from Britpop and focused their attention on the American Indie Rock scene. Ultimate Athlete: Pushing The Limits soundtrack (1994)

      . The state of Britpop was in question. "This Is My Life" (previously unreleased). The timing of the release couldn't have been better. Stop Handgun Violence (2000)
        . Urban Hymns propelled the Verve from merely critical darlings to one of the UK's most popular bands.

        "Brother" (collected on In Light Syrup). The song, which borrows a looped sample of a symphonic recording of the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time", was the soundtrack for many in the summer of 1997 and is considered one of the finest songs ever written. So I Married an Axe Murderer soundtrack (1993)

          . The single was also very popular in the US, topping the charts at #12 (their highest position ever in the Billboards). "Fly From Heaven" (from Dulcinea). It entered the UK charts at #2 and remained on the charts for 3 months. The Best of Columbia Records Radio Hour Volume 2 (1996)
            . The first single off Urban Hymns, "Bitter Sweet Symphony", was an instant hit.

            "Acid" (previously unreleased?). Not only was the album a hit in the UK, but the band also "broke" into the US and most of the world. II: Music For Our Mother Ocean compilation (1997)

              . For the first time in their careers, the Verve not only received very strong critical reviews, but they also experienced major commercial success. M.O.M. With the band back together, the group went through a "spiritual" recording process to finish the epic Britpop classic, Urban Hymns. "Rock and Roll All Night" (remake of KISS song). In 1997, Nick McCabe returned to the fold (a crucial moment for the band).

              Kiss My Ass (1994 KISS tribute album)

                . Ashcroft, Jones, Salisbury, and Tong went ahead and started writing songs for the upcoming album. "Hey Bulldog" (remake of Beatles song). As a replacement, the band chose old Wigan schoolmate Simon Tong to fill in the lead guitar duties for the remainder of the tour. I Know What You Did Last Summer soundtrack (1997)
                  . Although Ashcroft reunited the group just a few weeks after the breakup, McCabe refused to rejoin the lineup. "Good Intentions" (collected on In Light Syrup). The disappointing album sales and his strained relationship with Nick McCabe resulted in Richard Ashcroft breaking up the band.

                  Friends soundtrack (1995)

                    . Blur rivalry instead of focusing on the Verve's album. "Something's Always Wrong" (from Dulcinea). The rise of Britpop had captivated the UK in the mid-90s and the media had their attention on the Oasis vs. Fear soundtrack (1996)
                      . Despite the critical praise the album received, the band once again experienced a lack of commercial success. "Crazy Life" (from Coil). The latter two singles were particularly new for the Verve as they dabbled with soulful ballads, a formula that would make their final album such a success.

                      Empire Records soundtrack (1995)

                        . The singles "This Is Music", "On Your Own", and "History" all reached the UK Top 40. "Fall Down" (from Dulcinea). When A Northern Soul was released, it received very strong reviews. The band broke new ground by departing from the neo-psychedelic sounds of A Storm in Heaven and instead recorded a powerful British alternative rock album. Drop Zone soundtrack (1994)
                          . In ways that only good music and bad drugs and mixed emotions can make". "Walk on the Ocean" (from Fear (Toad the Wet Sprocket album)). In great ways and terrible ways.

                          Coca-Cola sampler (1991)

                            . Richard Ashcroft later described the recording experience as "Four intense, mad months. Really insane. "Cinnamon Girl" (live; previously unreleased). The massive intake of drugs (particularly Ecstasy) and the strained relationship between Ashcroft and McCabe during the sessions took its toll on the band. Columbia Indestructible compilation
                              . The turmoil continued well into the recording sessions of the follow-up album, 1995's A Northern Soul. "Little Heaven" (collected on In Light Syrup). After the tour, the Jazz label Verve sued the band for copyright infringements and forced the group to officially change their name to The Verve.

                              Buffy the Vampire Slayer soundtrack (1992)

                                . The tour was disastrous for the group as Ashcroft was hospitalized for dehydration while Salisbury was arrested for destroying a hotel room in Kansas. "Walk on the Ocean". The single "Slide Away" topped indie rock charts and made enough of a splash across the Atlantic to score the Verve a spot in the successful 90s alternative rock festival, Lollapalooza, in 1994. "All I Want". However, critics and the indie rock community hailed the LP for its expansive sound, particularly regarding Nick McCabe's unique and mind-blowing guitar work. Seven Songs Seldom Seen (1992 music video compilation)
                                  . The whirling psychedelic sound of the album wasn’t radio friendly in the eyes of the music industry and the general pop audience.

                                  Come Down CD single (1996). 1993's A Storm in Heaven, the band's full-length debut, was a critical hit (both in the UK and the US), but failed to attract a broader audience. Fly From Heaven CD single (1995). The Verve EP was positively received and established the Verve as cult favorites with epic songs like "Gravity Grave" and "A Man Called Sun". Acoustic Dance Party (1994 live album). With Ashcroft's song-writing skills and McCabe's unique and impressive guitar work, the Verve released 1992's ethereal Verve EP on Hut Records. Fall Down CD single (1994). Led by Richard Ashcroft, an enigmatic lead singer who was rivaled by very few in the British rock scene for his stage presence and vocal abilities, the band caused a buzz in early 1991 for their ability to captivate audiences with their musical textures and sonic aptitude.

                                  All I Want CD single (1992). The Verve (or simply Verve as they were originally called) were formed in the small town of Wigan in 1989. Five Live promo CD (1992). Despite having to endure major breakups, health problems, drug abuse, and various lawsuits, the Verve released three successful albums and cemented a reputation as one of the most innovative and influential British rock acts of the last decade. Recorded live in Santa Barbara, California on September 30, 1992. Their rise to success did not happen overnight - the band released LPs and EPs that were critically acclaimed and highly regarded, yet worldwide commercial success eluded them for most of their career. Welcome Home: Live At The Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara 1992 (released on October 19, 2004)

                                    . At the height of their fame in 1997, the Verve were considered one of the finest bands from the UK and were one of the most popular groups worldwide before they abruptly called it quits in 1999.

                                    "Silo Lullaby". The Verve were a British rock and roll band of the 1990s, originally formed in Wigan, England in 1989 by vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones and drummer Peter Salisbury. "P.S.". 1997 "Lucky Man" #7 UK. (A Toad Retrospective) (1999) (contains two new tracks)

                                      . 1997 "The Drugs Don't Work" #1 UK. P.S. 1997 "Bitter Sweet Symphony" #2 UK, #12 US.

                                      "Crazy Life". 1995 "History" #24 UK. "Come Down". 1995 "On Your Own" #28 UK. Coil (1997)

                                        . 1995 "This Is Music" #35 UK. "Good Intentions". This is Music: The Singles 92-98 (compilation).

                                        "Brother". Urban Hymns (1997) #1 UK, #23 US. In Light Syrup (1995) RIAA certified Gold

                                          . A Northern Soul (1995) #13 UK. "Fall Down". A Storm in Heaven (1993) #27 UK. "Something's Always Wrong".

                                          Dulcinea (1994) RIAA certified Platinum

                                            . "All I Want". "Walk on the Ocean". Fear (1991) RIAA certified Platinum
                                              .

                                              Pale (1990). Bread and Circus (1989).