Toad the Wet Sprocket

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Image:AcousticDancePartyAlbum.jpg Toad the Wet Sprocket was an American folk rock band which consisted of singer Glen Phillips, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning, and drummer Randy Guss.

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Early career

Toad the Wet Sprocket was formed in 1986 at San Marcos High School just outside of Santa Barbara, California when singer/songwriter Glen Phillips was only 14 and a freshman, the other members were 17 and juniors. The band drew its name from the Eric Idle monologue "Rock Notes" on Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album from 1980. The band's first public appearance was at an open-microphone talent contest in September 1986. The band lost the competition.

Toad the Wet Sprocket's first album came out in 1989. Named Bread and Circus, it was their first effort for Columbia Records, who had signed them out of high school. The album spawned the singles "Way Away" and "One Little Girl," which made the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, but did not receive much attention.

The follow-up to Bread and Circus, Pale, was released in 1990 and saw their sound mature. Featuring the singles "Jam" and the Modern Rock Chart hit "Come Back Down," the album was still not a massive success.

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Commercial breakthrough

The band finally achieved fame with their third album, Fear. The album was released in 1991, and saw the single "All I Want" reach the top twenty on the Billboard Hot 100. The single "Walk on the Ocean" also reached the top twenty of the Hot 100, and the album became the band's first RIAA certified platinum album.

In 1994, after years of heavy touring, the band released their follow-up to Fear, Dulcinea. This album spawned the hit singles "Fall Down," which reached #1 on the US Modern Rock charts as well as #5 on the Mainstream Rock chart, as well as "Something's Always Wrong," which also charted. This album was also certified platinum by the RIAA.

A compilation album of b-sides and rarities, In Light Syrup, was released in 1995; it included the single "Good Intentions" which was featured on the soundtrack for the television show Friends. Largely due to the strength of the single, this compilation was certified as a gold album in 2001.

The release of Coil in 1997 acted as the proper follow up to 1994's Dulcinea. Featuring a more electric, rock sound, it featured the Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock hit "Come Down" as well as the radio hit "Crazy Life," which did not chart. The album, despite the success of "Come Down" as a single, failed to reach any sales benchmarks.

Toad the Wet Sprocket formally broke up in July 1998, citing creative differences.

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Toad since the breakup

Toad The Wet Sprocket, though officially broken up since 1998, has worked together off and on over the years. They performed several occasions in 1999, although only short sets. Also in 1999, they recorded two studio tracks (Todd sat out for both) for a compilation release called P.S. A Retrospective (a not-quite greatest hits type of album).

Toad the Wet Sprocket temporarily reformed and reunited in December, 2002, playing dozens of full-length shows. Although seemingly successful, at the end of the tour, the band decided to continue on their separate paths and careers.

In 2004, Toad released an album of a live show that was put to tape in 1992. This album, Welcome Home: Live At The Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara 1992, showcased the height of their popularity during the tour for Fear.

Much to fans' delight, the band has made plans to play together once more, and has scheduled a 24-date nationwide tour of the United States to begin mid-summer 2006. It is unlikely, however, that they will record or release any new original material.

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Glen Phillips' solo career

Immediately after the July breakup in 1998, Glen Phillips began his own solo career. He has toured almost constantly up to the present time, usually just him and his guitar, but often with regular guest musicians. He has an apparently close friendship with the members of Nickel Creek, and they often perform together. They got along so well, in fact, that they recorded a studio album called Mutual Admiration Society in 2000, released in 2004. In addition to that collaboration, Glen has released two solo studio albums, Abulum (2000) and Winter Pays For Summer (2005), and also a live album, Live At Largo (2003). His third studio album, called Mr. Lemons, is scheduled for release on May 2, 2006.

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Lapdog

Todd, Dean and Randy have also has continued in music, but not to the same extent as Glen. In 1998 or 1999, Todd and Dean formed a new band called Lapdog. The recorded and released the studio album Near Tonight (2001), and toured minimally. After this, Dean quit the band to pursue his acting career, and Randy joined Todd as drummer. Again Lapdog recorded and released an album, called Mayfly (2002). Since then Lapdog has kept a fairly low profile, though they still perform publicly now and again.

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Discography

Toad the Wet Sprocket released five studio albums, two live EPs, a rarities compilation, a posthumous live album and hits compilation for Columbia Records. The band was also featured on a number of soundtracks and uncatalogued singles and tapes not listed here.

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Albums

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EPs

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Video

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Singles information

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
1990 "Jam"  ?  ?  ?  ? Pale
1992 "All I Want" #15 #22 #22 - Fear
1992 "Walk on the Ocean" #18 - #27 - Fear
1992 "Is It For Me"  ?  ?  ?  ? Fear
1992 "Hold Her Down"  ?  ?  ?  ? Fear
1992 "I Will Not Take These Things For Granted"  ?  ?  ?  ? Fear
1994 "Fall Down" #33 #1 #5 - Dulcinea
1994 "Something's Always Wrong" #41 - #22 - Dulcinea
1994 "Stupid"  ?  ?  ?  ? Dulcinea
1994 "Fly From Heaven"  ?  ?  ?  ? Dulcinea
1994 "Crowing"  ?  ?  ?  ? Dulcinea
1995 "Good Intentions"  ?  ?  ?  ? In Light Syrup
1997 "Come Down" - #13 #17 - Coil
1997 "Whatever I Fear"  ?  ?  ?  ? Coil
1997 "Crazy Life" - - - - Coil
1999 "P.S."  ?  ?  ?  ? P.S. A Retrospective
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External links

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