March 27th, 2019
Frummox
“Here to There”
1969
Probe(ABC) Records
Fine Sounds Studio, NY
Produced by Dick Weissman
Steven Fromholz, a Texas icon and a man of many hats. One might even say “the man with THE big hat.” Steven has been a beloved icon of Texas since he set roots here permanently in the 70s. He was inducted into the Texas Music Hall of Fame in 2003 & was named Texas Poet Laureate in 2007. This post can’t begin to cover everything about Steven. I will give you a good sample size, then post the full video where I’ll go more in-depth on YouTube, talking about my interviews with some of Steven’s best friends, family, compadres, & fellow bandmates.
If you are from Texas, especially if you’ve been here since the mid-70’s, you’re more likely to have heard of Steven Fromholz. You’re probably even more likely to be familiar with his songs, such as, “Man with the Big Hat”, “Texas Trilogy”, “I’d Have to be Crazy”, & “Bears,” which were covered by Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Jerry Jeff Walker, Hoyt Axton, & Sturgill Simpson.
Willie Nelson took “I’d Have to be Crazy” to number 2 on the Country Billboard Charts, & Sturgill Simpson covered the song on his debut album, “High Top Mountain.” “Man with the Big Hat” became a staple in Jerry Jeff’s repertoire.
This album was one of the very first ever in my collection. I was immediately drawn in by the cover. Shortly after purchasing it, I quickly began to research & found out this album is a hard to find, rare gem. Learning the huge influence it had on Austin’s culture & music scene. I felt like I was in on a secret, but not one that should be kept quiet for those not familiar with Steven Fromholz. I’ve made it my mission to share Steven’s music with world.
“Here to There,” was released in 1969 under the name “Frummox,” made up of Fromholz & Dan McCrimmon, who Fromholz met in Colorado once he got out of the Navy in 1968. It is long said to be the pre-cursor to the “Outlaw” movement in Austin during the 70’s. Steven called it “The Great Progressive Country Scare of the 70’s,” saying it was most likely some writer from Rolling Stone who coined the term “Progressive Country” who had no idea what was going on.
Other people who played on the album were Eric Weissberg, who’s probably most known for his banjo solo in “Dueling Banjos,” & close friend Travis Holland, who was said to have worked in the CIA, then dropped acid & dropped out, & joined the country music scene. Holland & Fromholz would later write a hilariously memorable tune, “Rest Area Waltz,” that is later featured on “Fromholz Live!”
In talking with Bob Livingston, lifelong friend & fellow bandmate, he said he first met Steven in 1970 in Dallas at a folk club called the Rubaiyat. Bob & fellow Cosmic Cowboy & musician, Michael Martin Murphey, were there for a show. When they pulled up to the club, the front sign said, “Frummox Tonight!” Bob said Murphey turned to him & said, “You gotta hear these guys, Bob, they’re old friends of mine, they’re great! Wait ’til you hear ‘Texas Trilogy!’” Bob said he met Steven after their show that night & he “loved him from the get-go,” saying he was “so full of life.” Steven asked Bob to play on Fromholz’s sequel to “Here to There,” “Frummox II.” Bob said he “didn’t hesitate one second, saying yes immediately.” In 1976, Bob rejoined Fromholz on Steve’s first released album, “A Rumor in My Own Time,” playing bass & some vocals.
“Texas Trilogy” is the best song to ever be written about Texas,” Bob told me. An epic, 10 minute song, broken into three parts, telling the story of the small Texas town, Kopperl, in the 50s. Fromholz’ loud, baritone voice quickly hits you & places you right on the streets of Kopperl as one of its citizens hanging onto every word as Fromholz vividly paints the story of the life in that small Texas town.
It caught the ear of Lyle Lovett, who put it on his 1998 album, “Step Inside This House,” alongside another Fromholz song, “Bears.” Lovett told Fromholz, when talking about the album, “I didn't have to learn any of these songs for this album. I've been doing them since I began to learn to play.”
Bob told me that when Jerry Jeff & him played at the famous punk club, Tramps in NYC, they had to fly in thousands of cases of Lone Star beer. Bob also said when Jerry Jeff began playing “Man with the Big Hat”, it was a sea of Lone Star longnecks as the crowd sang every word, getting louder & louder. After the show Bob asked the sound guy how it went and he said it was the loudest that place had ever been. He said the band would sing, then the crowd would sing along, so he’d have to turn up the band because he couldn’t hear them, and that continued until the sound was deafening.
Also on “Here to There,” was “Song for Stephen Stills,” written for a man whom Fromholz hadn’t even ever met. Little did he know, when in Colorado, that Stills actually lived just across the mountain. That song brought them together, but after a short stint in Stills’ band Manassas, Fromholz decided the rock n’ roll lifestyle wasn’t for him.
Fromholz then found himself back in Texas for good & teamed up with the Monkees’ Michael Nesmith. Nesmith felt more comfortable in the Country & Western genre than any other. He brought Fromholz with him to Austin on Nesmith’s own Countryside label. Nesmith & Fromholz teamed up & made Fromholz’ debut album, “How Long Is the Road to Kentucky.” But, two days before the record was to be pressed, Elektra made management changes, & dropped the Countryside label. So, his debut album was shelved & to this day, has never been made.
Like I said in the beginning, Fromholz’ Texas story is long, winding, & rich. There is so much more to be told. Many more interviews from Steven’s closest compadres and band mates like Dan McCrimmon and Craig Hillis, and more.
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel for my in-depth videos & interviews.
Thank you Bob Livingston for the incredibly fun & personable interview.
Please read & share with a friend. Now go listen to some Steven Fromholz!