About Us
Overview:
Frog Records label was formed in 1994 by jazz collector/enthusiast David French and a group of collector friends hunting down the finest quality original recordings from around the world (mostly USA).
Two of the world's leading sound restorers Charlie Crump and John R.T. Davies contributed greatly to the ‘second-to-none’ reputation that the label enjoys.
In 2004, the company was transferred to Paul Swinton who had already been responsible for the production and involvement in hundreds of reissues of vintage blues, jazz & other American roots music, but had never owned his own label.
New releases under his leadership run from Sam Lanin and the Memphis Jug Band to Johnny Dodds & The Washingtonians. Also in 2010 Frog introduced the (almost) yearly Frog Blues & Jazz Annual and by applying the same excellence and quality to the printed page that was being lavished on the CD catalogue, the Annuals quickly gained an almost legendary status with discerning jazz & blues collectors & critics throughout the world.
TODAY & THE FUTURE
Most of David French’s original team and contributors remain as part of the Frog Records ‘family’ today.
The goals and the label’s aspirations remain the same. Under the directorship of Paul Swinton with Frog’s H.Q. based in Fleet, Hampshire in Southern England, with a world-wide circle of 78rpm collectors and using the most sophisticated & up-to-date sound technology, we continue to produce the finest Jazz, Jug Band & Blues C.D. reissues that can be heard.
We are proud to say that most discriminating classic jazz listeners regard Frog as THE leading American roots reissue label and with upcoming plans for more rare and hot jazz issues, another Frog Blues & Jazz Annual, plus an exciting new dedicated blues subsidiary label "FROG TRUTONE" we truly intend to ‘keep the flags flying’.
We are always pleased to hear from customers and welcome the chance to answer questions and discuss the magnificent music that we all love. You can contact us at: shop@frog-records.co.uk
THE FROG TEAM September 2012
Detailed History:
Frog Records was formed in 1994 by East London Jazz collector/enthusiast David French. The first release, Thomas Morris (DGF 1) was put together by French and a dedicated group of collector friends and gained enough favourable reviews and sales to warrant further issues.
Frog began working closely with what was generally acknowledged as two of the world's leading sound restorers in Charlie Crump and John R.T. Davies and their exceptional work contributed greatly to the ‘second-to-none’ reputation that the label began to enjoy. The label went from strength to strength reaching to over half a dozen new releases per year that would include the critically acclaimed multi volumes and ‘complete’ recordings of Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orch., McKinney’s Cotton Pickers and the ‘Empress of the Blues’ Bessie Smith amongst others.
Tragically, Frog’s owner David French suffered a severe heart attack and died in early 2004, leaving his partner, ex actress Dawn Leppard, to expertly complete all the ‘works in progress’ but she soon realised that the mantle should be handed on to someone who could continue the high standard of new releases.
Her first choice was today’s owner, Paul Swinton, who at that time had already been responsible for the production and involvement in hundreds of reissues of vintage blues, jazz & other American roots music, but who had never owned his own label. Swinton enthusiastically ‘took over’ the running of Frog Records and incorporated the label as a limited company in November 2004.
New releases under his leadership ran from Sam Lanin and the Memphis Jug Band to Johnny Dodds & The Washingtonians. Also, under his editorship in 2010, Frog introduced the (almost) yearly Frog Blues & Jazz Annual and by applying the same excellence and quality to the printed page that was being lavished on the CD catalogue, the Annuals quickly gained an almost legendary status with discerning jazz & blues collectors & critics throughout the world.
