- S. Biento -- vocals, drums

- C. Marmont -- vocals, guitar

- P. Suigi -- vocals, bass

- L. Wilson -- vocals, guitars, keyboards

- Rollin' the Jets

Genre: country-rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Frost

Company: Baby Grand

Catalog: SE 1060
Year: 1977

Country/State: Colorado

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: still in shrink wrap

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 213

Price: $60.00

As a tax scam label Baby Grand regularly acquired demo materials and released the results without the knowledge or approval of the artist.  In some cases the materials were released under an alias (kind of makes sense given you had no intention of paying the originators for their work).  For anyone trying to research the Baby Grand catalog, you're left wondering how much credence to give to things like band names and performance credits.  

Stampede (if that was really the band's name) stands as a perfect example of the situation.  The liner notes to their 1977 album "Frost" show the band as featuring the talents of drummer S. Biento, guitarist C.  Marmont, bassist  P. Suigi, and guitarist/keyboard player  L. Wilson.  Interestingly, Marmont, and Wilson show up as members of the band  Rollin the Jets which also happened to release an album on Baby Grand.  So maybe both albums were pulled from demo tapes recorded by a different outfit?  Maybe this was the second Rollin the Jets LP?   Maybe the Rollin the Jets LP was actually a Stampede release?   Actually it's kind of funny, but this Baby Grand set was even odder than most given the track listing on the back cover and the song titles on the inner labels didn't match up.  Not only didn't they match up in terms of running order, but with the exception of the last three songsm they didn't even show the same song titles.  So were there two Stampede albums and Baby Grand insert the wrong LP into the wrong sleeve?  Were the liner note writers careless, or just stupid?  Who knows and ultimately who cares?  

The liner notes to "Frost" credit production to Marmont and Wilson, with R.G. Brown as executive producer.  If you believe the liners notes, the pair also wrote all eight tracks.  So what's it sound like?  Well, to my ears it sounded like the band America with a more distinctive country orientation.  It also sounded a lot like The Rollin the Jets LP.  Country-rock that was a bit more rock oriented than The Flying Burrito Brothers, or Poco, but still country-rock.   Certainly not bad, but nothing particularly original, or catchy.

- 'San Fernando' (shown as 'Valley Lights' on the album cover), was a nice enough country-rocker (ah, life as a free spirited young person), that served to underscore the America comparison.  The lead singer (all four members were credited with vocals so you couldn't tell who the lead singer was), didn't have a great voice, but his slightly flat delivery has always reminded me of Dewey Bunnell.   rating: *** stars

- 'Loose Ladies' (shown as 'The Feel' on the album cover), underscored the American comparison adding strumming guitars and some nice harmony vocals to a lyric that focused on the joys of living in sin.  Very daring for 1977 ...   Marmont also turned in a nice lead guitar solo on this one.   rating: *** stars

- In spite of the title, complete with pedal steel guitar,  'Borderline'  (shown as 'Mexican Dream' on the album cover), found the band leaning in a more conventional country direction.  Other than the nice lead guitar solo, it didn't do a great deal for my ears.   rating: ** stars

- Normally a song like 'Lone Star Lady' (shown as 'Texas Desires' on the album cover), wouldn't do a great deal for me, but this one had a nice melody and a hysterical anti-California lyric.  I always thought these guys were from California, but maybe not ...  rating: *** stars

- Any song that starts out with pedal steel guitar is at a disadvantage with me and 'Playing Country Music' (shown as 'Favorite Tune' on the album cover), never recovered.  A straight forward country number with a talk-sing vocal and a hideous lyric with one obscene word about playing country music.   rating: * star

- Any song that starts out with a banjo is at a disadvantage with me and 'Red Rooster' (one of three tracks that kept the same name on both outer cover and inner label), never recovered ... see a pattern here?   For goodness sake, this one added yodeling to the America styled harmonies.  It probably didn't sound very promising and it wasn't.  rating: ** stars

- Giving credit where due, 'Loving You' found the band returning to country-rock with a song that sounded like a good Poco number.  Again, not particularly original, but it had an upbeat melody, some nice lead guitar and a decent shot at radio play.  rating: *** stars

- The title left me expecting another straight ahead country number, so discovering 'Virginia Reel' had a country-rock flavor was a mild pleasure.  Imagine CSN&Y at their most countrified and you'll have a feel for this one.  rating: ** stars

Can I recommend this as a lost treasure?  Nah.  Can I recommend in as decent country-rock?  Yes.  Is it worth the asking price?  You'll have to judge.

"Frost" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) San Fernando   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 3:35

2.) The Feel   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 3:00

3.) Borderline   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 5:31

4.) Lone Star Lady   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 2:16

(side 2)
1.) Playing Country Music   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 

2.) Red Rooster   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 

3.) Loving You   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 

4.) Virginia Reel   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 

And here's the back panel track listing:

(side 1)

1.) San Fernando   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 3:35

2.) Loose Ladies   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 3:00

3.) Mexican Dreams   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 

4.) Texas Desires   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 

(side 2)
1.) Favorite Tune   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 3:18

2.) Red Rooster   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 4:40

3.) Loving You   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 3:40

4.) Virginia Reel   (C. Marmont - L. Wilson) - 4:53