Frogdeath Discography – Steve Crosno

Any help with this discography would be appreciated.

Frogdeath (sometimes listed as Frog Death) was run by Steve Crosno, a DJ on El Paso’s Top 40 radio, KELP. He also had a TV dance show Crosno’s Hop on the local Channel 7 that ran from summer of 1961 into 1970. He obviously had a sense of humor, from the logo to the messages on the labels like “Do Not Write in This Space”, or “for best results use riaa curve (whatever that means)”. Crosno passed away in September 2006.

Early releases like the Imposters have a University Park address, by Las Cruces, New Mexico, the same location as the Goldust label.

Froth 1 – The Imposters – “Wipe In” / “Tulsa”
Froth 2 – Cain & Able – “Creí” / “La Bamba” (arranged by Rick Young) / A Moment of Soft Headedness
Froth 2 – Four Frogs* – “Think I’m Losing You” / “Mr. Big” (both by Colin Flannigan) (some copies with picture sleeve)
Froth 4 – Danny & the Counts – “It’s All All Over” / “For Your Love”

Froth 66/1 – The Night-Dreamers – “Mr. Pitiful” (vocal Sunny Powell) / “I Can’t Help It (I Just Do)” (James Brown)
Froth 66/2 – El Paso Premiers** – “This Is the Beginning” (Bobby Rosales) / “Let Me Call You Darling” (vocal by James Patterson)
Froth 66/3 – Mike Reynolds and the Infants of Soul – “When Will I Find Her” / “It’s Judy” (both written by Mike Rosen)
Froth 66-4 – The Astros – “Amarga Navidad” (Jose Alfredo Jimenez) / “I Love You Dear” (Hector Luna)

Froth 67-1 – The Night-Dreamers – “I Take What I Want” (featuring “the amazing ‘Sonny & Sam'” / “Wisdom of a Fool” (vocals by Al ‘Mr. Tears’ Sanchez)

There are two releases labeled Froth 2, but I haven’t found a Froth 3 yet.

* According to Doug Neal, the Four Frogs were Bert Peters, Claude Perilli, Colin Flannigan, Billy Withers with one other member.

** aka Bobby & the Premiers, who also recorded for C.L. Milburn’s Souled-Out of Texas label.

An earlier version of “When Will I Find Her” was released on a Las Cruces label.

I’ve heard there’s also an LP on Frogdeath by Mike Reynolds, but I haven’t seen it.

More info on Steve Crosno can be found at Lone Star Stomp (which also discusses the Four Frogs release) and Borderlands.

There was also a very rare LP titled Steve Crosno Day, July 9, 1967, Recorded Live at the El Paso Coliseum, but I’m not sure if that was released on Frogdeath or some other label. Anyone have photos, scans or a transfer of it? A CD release may have additional songs but the track list seems to be:

The (Las Cruces) Starliners
01. Instrumental
02. The One That’s Hurtin’ Is You
03. It’s Not Unusual
04. Tramp

The El Paso Drifters
07 – 09 Featuring Martha Sifuentes
05. Intro / Sweet Soul Music
06. Groovin’
07. Respect
08. Close Your Eyes
09. All In My Mind

The Las Cruces Majestics
10. Band Intro
11. Instrumental
12. Intro / Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag
13. Goin’ Back To Miami
14. More

The Impressions
15. Let’s Go Steady / You Are My First Love
16. I’ve Been Lonely Too Long

The Gene Willis Aggregation
17. Instrumental
18. Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag / Instrumental
19. James Brown Jam

The El Paso Premiers (Bobby And The Premiers)
20. I’m A Practical Guy
21. I Dig Girls
22. Hello Stranger
23. Put Me In Jail

Sonny Powell And The Night-Dreamers
24. Kind Of A Drag
25. Mr. Pitiful

Bernard Tanchester
26. Steve Crosno Tribute Presentation

Thanks to Ken Prichard for the Cain & Able scan and to Sam Stephenson for the Mike Renolds scans.

13 thoughts on “Frogdeath Discography – Steve Crosno”

  1. The one who sang the wisdom of a fool cover was my father Jesse Tinajero. Not al tears sanchez. That was his stepfathers name, who had nothing to do with him except try and put his name in there. Thank you 😉 Im very proud a my dad and his accomplishments. I just dont want anyone takin it from him.

    1. Melissa – do you happen to have any of the Nite Dreamers recordings. I understand that the group never recorded a CD, just records. I would like to put a CD together of the group. You can also reach me at 915-240-0678, Thank you.

    1. Is there any way I can get a copy of the LP. My aunt sang with the El Paso Drifters until her life was cut short by a drunk driver. Would love to have a copy to give to my mom.

  2. Remember this label and Steve Crosno on KELP Radio and his dance show when I was stationed at Biggs AFB in 1964 and 1965 before shipping out to Nam. I was invited by a young lady to the show on a Saturday in February 1965. A lot of fun.

  3. I’m looking for a collection of all of my grandfather’s music. When my mother was a child, a friend of theirs the only copy of the record they had. My Grand father past away and my dream is to get a copy of any works by Sonny Powell and the Nite Dreamers. Sonny Powell is my late grandfather and this would be a dream come true.

  4. Bounjour, quelqu’un pourrait-il partager For Your Love/It’s All All Over par Danny & The Counts svp? Je souhaiterai les découvrir

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