A Foot in Cold Water

Websites:  http://www.afootincoldwater.com/
Origin: Toronto, Ontario, 🇨🇦
Biography:

A Foot in Coldwater (sometimes credited as A Foot in Cold Water) was a Canadian progressive rock band from Toronto, started in 1970. Its members were Alex Machin (vocals) who would later also front the rock group Moxy, Hughie Leggat (bass, acoustic guitar, vocals), Paul Naumann (guitar, vocals), Bob Horne (keyboards) and Danny Taylor (drums, percussion). The band dissolved in 1977. Naumann passed away in 2009.

They are best known for the hit "(Make Me Do) Anything You Want".

In 1971 Paul Naumann left his band Leather and got together with fellow Torontonian Alex Machin, forming the group Island. Around the same time the remnants of another progressive rock group Lords Of London, in bassist Hughie Leggat, drummer Danny Taylor and Bob Horne on organ were looking for a change, forming Nucleus.

After one album, they hooked up with Nauman and Machin. They caught the attention of Frank Davies, who signed them to his new Daffodil Records in early ’72 and A Foot In Cold Water was born. An offbeat British slang for ‘a shocking experience’, their debut was exactly that, striking gold the same year. Backed by the future classic “(Make Me Do) Anything You Want” which scored in Billboard’s Top 25, the album gained critical reviews, despite the length of most of the tracks being too long for conventional airplay. Also on the record were the sleeper hits “On The Wind” and “Deep Freeze”.

The band released A SECOND FOOT IN COLD WATER the next year. Two singles were released, “Love Is Coming” and “Isn’t Love Unkind”, their second crack in the top 25 on Billboard. ALL AROUND US hit the shelves in ’73 and contained only 5 new songs, along with new versions of 4 tracks from the previous 2 lp’s. “(Make Me Do) Anything You Want” hit the airwaves again and this time cracked Billboard’s Top 10, as did the second time ’round for “Isn’t Love Unkind”.

Following the record’s dismal showing and dwindling concert draws, the band found themselves without a deal in ’74 but continued on. In 1975 they were picked up by Anthem, label for such heavy hitters as Rush and Max Webster, which prompted the release of the single “Midnight Lady”. After Horne’s leaving in ’76, the band went back into the studios and came out in the summer of ’77 with their fourth record, BREAKING THROUGH, which contained the typical well-written, straight forward sound the band had gained a reputation for, with the cuts “Why?”, the title track, “Save It All For Me” and their last single as a group “Midnight Lady”.

Deciding to go separate ways in ’77, Leggat formed ThunderRoad, and then Private Eye with his brother Gord. The band’s self titled debut in ’81 was one of the most under-rated albums of the year, and contained the hard-edged radio hit “Your Place Or Mine”. The next year the brothers were in the record stores again with the band simply called Leggat and their debut release ILLUMINATIONS.

Machin resurfaced with CHAMPION in ’85 on the ill-fated Solid Gold Records. Proper marketing was all but an impossabilty as the label folded right after the album release. Despite the prowess of Machin’s solo career, evident in “Sin Sensation” and the lead-off “I’d Lie To You For Love”, no promotion means limited airplay.

In 1984 Capitol Records released a 2 volume greatest hits package entitled FOOTPRINTS 1 & 2. The legion of fans that remained true from the start prompted the remastering of the first three albums, as well as a ‘best of’ package called, coincidentally enough, THE VERY BEST OF A FOOT IN COLD WATER.

Most modern Canadian stars will quickly site ‘Foot as an influence, including Helix releasing a pure kick-ass version of “Make Me Do” in 1984. One of the country’s most under-rated groups, their progressive pop sound was in many ways ahead of its time. They got back together in ’88 for a brief Ontario tour but then faded off again for a few years. They reunited now and again during the 90’s, then Machin joined up with Moxy for a brief stint in 2002. Reunited again, a version of AFICW hit the circuit shortly after, consisting of Machin, Taylor, Leggat, David Aplin (formerly of Lee Aaron) on guitars, and Rick Lamb, who’d played with Hellfield on keyboards. After Lamb‘s death from cancer in 2004, the band drifted apart again.
-Frank Davies and Paul Leask

Paul Naumann, April 8th, 1952 ~ Oct. 20th, 2009
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Paul Naumann, Lead Guitarist of A Foot in Coldwater. Paul set the standard of excellence for originality and song writing. His classic solo in "Make Me Do Anything You Want", shows a glimpse of true brilliance.
Paul - May you live forever in your music!
To our eccentric genius brother "Otto"....you will be missed!
~ Danny Taylor, Alex Machin, Hugh Leggatt, Bob Horne

Alex Machin: Born in Glasgow, Scotland, grew up in downtown Toronto. In the late 1980’s, spent 4 years in L.A. as a staff songwriter for United Artists and various studios. A.C.T.R.A. member. Sang many television commercials for such companies as Molson, Hostess, and Chrysler.

Post AFIC highlights:
Having Mark Farner sing background vocals on one of his song demos
Singing in Ottawa on Canada Day July 1, 2000 before 100,000 people and a live national TV audience.

Bob Horne: Born in Toronto, but moved to the US in the 1980's. Played in a number of R&B groups in the 60's and 70's before joining Hughie and Danny in Nucleus and, eventually, A Foot in Coldwater. Played with such notable Canadians as David Clayon Thomas and Domenic Troiano. An accomplished keyboardist, his style was influenced by Jimmy Smith, among others.

Hugh Leggat: Born in Glasgow Scotland, raised in Toronto's East-end. "As Hughie the 'shoe shine boy' at Pape & Danforth, I was 13, saving to buy a guitar. I played rhythm in my first band, The Undertakers, then flipped the switch to bass guitar and never looked back!"

Danny Taylor: A resident Canadian, born and raised in the Riverdale area of Toronto. Co-wrote a number of 'Foot' tunes with the late Paul Naumann; including the classic "(Make Me Do) Anything You Want". Career highlights include playing drums along with Hugh Leggat (on bass) live with Chuck Berry.

A Foot in Coldwater is a Canadian rock band initially composed of Alex Machin (vocals), Bob Horne (keyboard), Paul Naumann (guitar), Danny Taylor (drums), and Hughie Leggat (bass and vocals). It is best known for the song "(Make Me Do) Anything You Want" which was a Canadian hit single in 1972 and again in 1974. 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 Daffodil Records, which 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" reaching top 25 in 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 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 itself peaked at #59. In early 1980, a 2nd single 'Changes' reached #93. Due to 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 also covered by Blue Öyster Cult.

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.