Crabby Appleton

Crabby Appleton was an early 1970s band who scored a Top 40 hit with their first single, "Go Back." Though nearly everyone in the group was from the LA-based band called Stonehenge, the group's line-up was revamped with the introduction of Michael Fennelly. Fennelly was the final addition to the group and became the group's leader—writing all their material, and becoming the sole guitarist and vocalist. Fennelly had been one of the principal vocalists and songwriters in The Millennium, whose sole album (Begin, 1968), is considered a classic of sunshine pop. In addition to Fennelly, the group's members included Felix "Flaco" Falcon (percussion), Casey Foutz (keyboards), Hank Harvey (bass), and Phil Jones (drums). Phil Jones previously of Oskaloosa, Iowa, but most recently of Laurel Canyon, helped form the band after meeting Michael Fennelly at Thee Experience, a club on the Sunset Strip. Phil had heard the song, "To Claudia on Thursday," which Michael wrote and sang with his group The Millennium, and recruited Michael to join Stonehenge as lead singer and songwriter.

Phil, along with managers Mike Goldberg and Karl Bronstein, took the band, with Michael as lead singer and songwriter, to David Anderle at Elektra Records where Crabby Appleton were signed and recorded their first record: Crabby Appleton. The band's debut single, "Go Back," climbed to #36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The band opened for the Doors, Sly and the Family Stone, Three Dog Night, Guess Who, ABBA, and George Carlin. They appeared on American Bandstand, the Real Don Steele Show, What's Happening with John Byner, and enjoyed critical success. Both of their albums, Crabby Appleton and Rotten to the Core, received rave reviews in Rolling Stone and Creem magazines.

Following the disbanding of the group, Fennelly recorded two solo records which were critically well received. Phil Jones enjoys success as a drummer and percussionist in the Los Angeles music scene and has recorded and toured with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Joe Walsh, Roy Orbison, Abba, Cracker, Susanna Hoffs (of the Bangles), Roger Mcguinn, and is playing with the Waddy Wachtel Band.[www.philjonesdrums.com]

Both Crabby Appleton albums have been reissued on CD by Collector's Choice Music, and "Go Back" has been released on many "Hits of the 1970s" compilations.

The group is named after the character of the same name from the Tom Terrific cartoon.

Discography

• Crabby Appleton (1970, Elektra Records)
• Rotten to the Core (1971, Elektra Records)

External links

• Crabby Appleton at Allmusic
• Richie Unterberger liner notes for reissue of Crabby Appleton.
• Richie Unterberger liner notes for reissue of Rotten to the Core.

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