That Old Frog and Toad.0

There was a short list of records which could have made it onto last week’s show after we heard the shocking news of Chas & Dave parting company. I’d considered some of their more highbrow work with the likes of Labi Sifre, or maybe some tracks in their earlier folk guises of Spike Island, Magna Carter, and Heads Hands & Feet but one song I’d swiftly disregarded was the old knees up shuffle of “That Old Piano”. Much as I love the sentiment, having many a misty eyed memory of my granddad plonking out the rags on his almost atonal ivories, it was no match for the swan song (or should i say swan album) that is Musn’t Grumble with their one part pastiche, one part paean to the world of disco “Turn That Noise Down” which could really do with getting the disco dub treatment at some point.

One thing I didn’t know was Chas & Dave were by no means the sole artists on their own Rockney record label. I took a quick look at their discography and found myself double taking as we often do here at Trick n Tom heights, who else should be hiding amongst the sideboards, rabbits and christmas jamborees but none other than Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry. Yes, the same Frogman of gravel voiced vagrant fame, as immortalized by a pre junk addled Corey Haim in Lost Boys, singing in the bath to “Aint Got A Home”. And what song did he perform? None other than the afore mentioned ode to joanna of “That Old Piano” which you can now enjoy in all 3 or so minutes of youtubed glory…