A Foot in Coldwater
A Foot in Coldwater is a Canadian rock band composed of Alex Machin (vocals), Bob Horne (keyboard), Paul Naumann (guitar), Danny Taylor (drums), and Hughie Leggat (bass and vocals). They are best known for the song "(Make Me Do) Anything You Want" which was a Canadian hit single in 1972 and again in 1974.
History
A Foot in Coldwater was formed in Toronto in 1970 from three bands. Leggat, Taylor, and Horne had been members of Nucleus, and the Lords of London. Machin and Naumann were in the band Island. Together, they signed with Frank Davies of Daffodil Records, who coined the group's name.
The band's first album, A Foot in Coldwater, was released in 1972 with their first single "(Make Me Do) Anything You Want" which reached the top 25 on the Canadian charts. In 1973, they released their second album The Second Foot in Coldwater which included moderately successful singles "(Isn’t Love Unkind) In My Life" (#34) and "Love is Coming" (#27). In 1974, the band released a third album, All Around Us, which included a shorter version of "(Make Me Do) Anything You Want" which again made the Canadian singles chart. The song was later covered by the heavy metal band Helix in 1984.[1] It is described as "a sleepy ballad" by AllMusic.[2]
The band released one more single, "Midnight Lady" before Daffodil Records filed for bankruptcy in 1975, leaving them without a label. Horne left the group and the remaining members recorded a single, "Breaking Through" for Anthem in 1977, but it was not a success and the band folded.
The following year, Hughie Leggat teamed up with his brother Gordon and assembled a new band, calling themselves Private Eye. Their eponymous debut album was released in 1979 and featured the hit 'Your Place or Mine' (#51). The album peaked at No. 59. In early 1980, a second single "Changes" reached No. 93. With a lack of support from their label, the band called it quits in 1981 and the Leggat brothers, along with Rob Sagar, Phil Sullivan and Danny Taylor, formed a new project called Leggat. This union produced one album, Illuminations which was released in 1982. The song "White Flags" received airplay but the album was generally poorly received due to the length of the songs (most were over 4 minutes). "White Flags" was covered by Blue Öyster Cult in 1986.
A Foot in Coldwater regrouped in 1988 for short tours, and in 1998 Unidisc reissued their first three albums plus a two-disc compilation The Very Best of a Foot in Coldwater.
Members
Alex Machin: Vocals
Christopher Edward Campaign, Island, Nucleus, A Foot In Coldwater, Character, Champion, A Foot In Coldwater & Moxy.
Paul Naumann (April 8, 1952 – October 20, 2009): Guitars
Buttergarden, Leather, Island, Nucleus, A Foot In Coldwater, Character, Steppenwolf (1979), A Foot In Coldwater.
Hughie Leggat: Bass, vocals
Lords of London, Nucleus, A Foot In Coldwater, Thunder Road, Private Eye, Leggat, A Foot In Coldwater and The Mississippi Hippies.
Bob Horne: Keyboards
Lords Of London, Nucleus, A Foot In Coldwater.
Danny Taylor: Drums
Lords Of London, Nucleus, A Foot In Coldwater, Gus, Leggat, Ryan Brothers, A Foot In Coldwater.
Discography
Albums
A Foot in Coldwater
Daffodil SBA 16012 1972
CD Unidisc AGEK 2158 1998
The Second Foot in Coldwater
Daffodil SBA 16028 1973
CD Unidisc AGEK 2159 1998
All Around Us
Daffodil DAF 10048 1974
CD Unidisc AGEK 2160 1998
Breaking Through
Anthem ANR 1 1008 1977
Anthem have "NOT" issued a CD
Footprints Vol. 1
Daffodil DFN 665 1983
CD BEI BEIBD 25
Footprints Vol. 2
Daffodil DFN 666 1983
CD BEI BEIBD 26
A FOOT IN COLDWATER 'BEST OF' (2CD)
CD Unidisc AGEK 2 2161 1998
Singles
(Make Me Do) Anything You Want / Alone Together
DFS 1017 1972
(Isn’t Love Unkind) In My Life / Deep Freeze
DFS 1028 1972
(UK issue: Island WIP 6162, 3/1973)
Lady True / In Heat
DFS 1033 1973
Love Is Coming / How Much Can You Take
DFS 1040 1973
So Long / Who Can Stop Us Now
DFS 1046 1973
(Make Me Do) Anything You Want / Para-Dice
DFS 1058 1974
I Know What You Need / He’s Always There (Watching You)
DIL 1065 1974
Midnight Lady / All Around Us
DFS 1216-1068 1975
Keep A Candle Burning / It’s Only Love
DFS 1087 1976
Breaking Through / Play My Guitar
ANS 002 1977
See also
References
Japie Marais (2008-10-16). "Dinosaurdays - A Foot in Cold Water".
"Jam! Music - Pop Encyclopedia". 2008-10-16.
"Canadian Bands". 2009-12-28.
External links
- Foot In Coldwater Official Site
- CanConRox entry on CanadianBands.com
- YouTube Video - (Make Me Do) Anything You Want