Green Bullfrog:

Green Bullfrog was a one time studio super-session organized in early 1970 by producer Derek Lawrence.  The group featured many famous rock musicians such as, Ritchie Blackmore, Albert Lee, Matthew Fischer, and Tony Ashton.  The group members were all coming from several other labels and bands, so the original sessions were kept secret and the members went by pseudonyms to avoid contractual difficulties.  Ritchie and Ian were in Deep Purple, Albert Lee and Chas Hodges were with Heads Hands & Feet, Matthew Fischer with Procol Harum, Jim Sullivan with Tom Jones, Tony Ashton with Ashton Gardner & Dyke, and Earl Jordon was in Les Humphries. 

Rod Alexander was an unknown player at the time, but he was an old friend of Blackmore’s which is how he got the opportunity to play.  Rod did have a band at the time, Biskit, which later changed it’s name to JoDo which got signed by MCA and put out an album produced by Lawrence.

Derek Lawrence had the privilege of organizing the session because he produced the first few Deep Purple albums and he had recently produced the first Wishbone Ash album.  Martin Birch is credited as the engineer behind the album.  Birch had previously engineered and mixed albums by Deep Purple, The Groundhogs, Fleetwood Mac, Wishbone Ash, Beggar’s Opera, and went on to produced albums by Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Whitesnake.

The group played all covers except for “Bullfrog”, and the somewhat original “Lovin’ You Is Good for Me Baby” a previously penned song by Lawrence. “Bullfrog” is a quick paced, heavy number based around a riff by Blackmore which is harmonized and double by the other guitarists.  The group received no credit for the song because they had to remain a secret so Lawrence got it. 

Lawrence played the demos to then MCA president Mike Maitland who apparently loved what he heard.  However, when the album was finally released it received no promotion as Maitland had left the label.  Supposedly there were only 500 original copies sold. 

Members:

Boots/Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar

Pinta/Albert Lee – Guitar

Boss/ “Big” Jim Sullivan – Guitar

Vicar/Rod Alexander – Guitar

Speedy/Ian Paice – Drums

Sleepy/Chas Hodges - Bass

Sorry/Matthew Fischer – Keyboards

Bevy/Tony Ashton - Keyboards

Jordon/Earl Jordon - Vocals

Discography (sans reissues):

My Baby Left Me/Loving You Is Good For Me Baby : US March 1971 Decca 32831

Green Bullfrog [lp] : US March 1971 Decca D 75269

Green Bullfrog [lp] : UK 1972 MCA 2021/Germany 1972 MCA MAPS-4736