Toad the Wet Sprocket
Toad the Wet Sprocket was an American folk pop band which consisted of singer Glen Phillips, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning, and drummer Randy Guss.
Biography
Toad the Wet Sprocket was formed in 1986 at San Marcos High School just outside of Santa Barbara, California, and drew its name from the Eric Idle monologue "Rock Notes" on Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album (1980). The band's first public appearance was at an open-microphone talent contest (which they lost) in September 1986.
Toad the Wet Sprocket released five original LPs, one "rarities" compilation album, one "hits" 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, while Todd Nichols went on to form the band Lapdog, which currently includes Randy Guss and formerly included Dean Dinning.
Toad the Wet Sprocket temporarily reformed and reunited for a 25-date tour in February and March 2003 without a new album.
Glen Phillips collaborated with Sean Watkins, Sara Watkins, and Chris Thile of Nickel Creek on the album Mutual Admiration Society, released in 2004 (but reportedly recorded in 2000, in just six days).
Glen Phillips recently released another solo album, entitled Winter Pays for Summer (2005), which contains songs that are very reminiscent of his works with Toad the Wet Sprocket.
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/Regular
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||
| US Hot 100 | US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | UK | |||
| 1989 | "One Little Girl" | - | #24 | - | - | Bread & Circus |
| 1990 | "Come Back Down" | - | #27 | - | - | Pale |
| 1992 | "All I Want" | #15 | #22 | #22 | - | Fear |
| 1992 | "Walk on the Ocean" | #18 | - | #27 | - | Fear |
| 1994 | "Something's Always Wrong" | #41 | - | #22 | - | Dulcinea |
| 1994 | "Fall Down" | #33 | #1 | #5 | - | Dulcinea |
| 1997 | "Come Down" | - | #13 | #17 | - | Coil |
| 1997 | "Crazy Life" | - | - | - | - | Coil |
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)
- "One Little Girl"
- "Come Back Down"
- "Jam"
- "Is It For Me"
- "Hold Her Down"
- "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)
- 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)
- Latter Days soundtrack (2005)
- "Windmills" (from Dulcinea)