Frijid Pink

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Frijid Pink was a Detroit hard rock band formed in 1967, best known for their version of "House of the Rising Sun."

The band were originally composed of drummer Richard Stevers, guitarist Gary Ray Thompson, bassist Tom Harris, keyboardist Larry Zelanka and lead singer Kelly Green, later replaced by Jo Baker.

Contents

[edit] Career

They spent their first two years touring relentlessly throughout the Southeast Michigan area. The group signed with Parrot Records in 1969; although their first two singles, "Tell Me Why" and "Drivin' Blues," failed to attract much attention, their third effort for the company, a distorted, guitar-heavy interpretation of "The House of the Rising Sun" reached the Top Ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and sold over a million copies. It became even a bigger hit overseas. Although the song was in the public domain, the band never received a penny for the huge hit due to some shady lawyers for the record company.[citation needed]

Frijid Pink's self-titled debut LP followed in 1970, as did the follow-up Defrosted; subsequent singles including "Sing a Song for Freedom" and "Heartbreak Hotel", however, failed to match earlier successes, and after 1972's Earth Omen the group did not re-enter the studio until recording 1975's All Pink Inside, disbanding soon after.

Another version of the band, with no original members, formed in 2001. They recorded one album, Inner Heat, which was set for release in 2002 but their record company pulled the plug at the last second. The album is still, and for the time being, will remain unreleased.

In 2007 or 2008 Frijid Pink reformed, this time with original and founding member Rick Stevers on drums. This version of the Pink has been recording a new album and playing from club to club. This formation seems to be returning to the blues based hard rock that made them famous and that was prominent on Frijid Pink and Defrosted.

They were so popular in Detroit at the time that the fledgling Led Zeppelin (who at the time was just getting started from the remnants of the New Yardbirds) opened up for them.

[edit] Discography

[edit] U.S. singles

  • "Tell Me Why" / "Cryin' Shame" (Parrot 334) 1969
  • "Drivin' Blues" / "God Gave Me You" (Parrot 340) 1969
  • "House of the Rising Sun" / "Drivin' Blues" (Parrot 341) 1969 #7 on Billboard Hot 100
  • "Sing A Song For Freedom" / "End Of The Line" (Parrot 349) 1970 #55 on Billboard Hot 100
  • "Heartbreak Hotel" / "Bye Bye Blues" (Parrot 352) 1970 #72 on Billboard Hot 100
  • "Music For The People" / "Sloony" (Parrot 355) 1971
  • "We're Gonna Be There" / "Shortly Kline" (Parrot 358) 1971 (Alexander on vocals)
  • "I Love Her" / "Lost Son" (Parrot 360) 1972
  • "Earth Omen" / "Lazy Day" (Lion 115) 1972
  • "Go Now" / "Lazy Day" (Lion 136) 1972
  • "Big Betty" / "Shady Lady" (Lion 158) 1973

[edit] Foreign singles

  • "House of the Rising Sun" / "Drivin' Blues" (Deram 17044) 1970 France
  • "Sing A Song For Freedom" / "End Of The Line" (DM 309) 1970 [France]
  • "We're Gonna Be There" / "Shortly Kline" (DM 336) 1970 [France] (Alexander on vocals)
  • "House of the Rising Sun" / "Crying Shame" (EPDM 1014) 1970 Portugal
  • "Heartbreak Hotel" / "Bye Bye Blues" (SDM 117) 1971 [Portugal]
  • "Rainbow Rider" / "Earth Omen" (MGM 2006130) 1973 Germany

[edit] U.S. albums

  • Frijid Pink (Parrot 71033) 1970
  • Defrosted (Parrot 71041) 1970
  • Earth Omen (Lion LN-1004) 1972
  • All Pink Inside (Fantasy 9464) 1975
  • Inner Heat (Dynasty) 2002-Unreleased
  • Upcoming New Album 2008

[edit] Foreign albums

  • Frijid Pink (Deram SML-R 1062) 1970 [France]
  • Frijid Pink Defrosted (Deram SML-R 1077) 1970 [France]
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