A Foot in Coldwater - ST

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	On the Wind	04:08
	2	Yalla Yae	03:52
	3	Deep Freeze	03:47
	4	(Make Me Do) Anything You Want	05:16

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	Who Can Stop Us Now	03:24
	2	Alone Together	03:08
	3	Fallen Man	03:59
	4	In Heat	06:11

Photos

Videos

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Information/Write-up

In the early 1970s, as Canadian rock was carving out its identity, a band from Toronto emerged with a debut that would leave a lasting impression despite remaining something of a hidden gem. A Foot in Coldwater, released in 1972 on Daffodil Records, marked the arrival of a group that fused muscular rock riffs with progressive flourishes and surprising melodic sensitivity. From the opening notes of “On the Wind” to the final surge of “In Heat,” the album offers a dynamic, confident introduction to a band that never quite received the widespread recognition it deserved.

Formed from the union of two pre-existing groups—Island, which featured vocalist Alex Machin and guitarist Paul Naumann, and Nucleus, the evolution of Lords of London with Hughie Leggat on bass, Danny Taylor on drums, and Bob Horne on keyboards—A Foot in Coldwater brought together five seasoned players with an instinctive musical chemistry. Their name, an eccentric British slang expression meaning "a shocking experience," proved to be an apt metaphor for their sound: forceful, unexpected, and full of contrasts.

The album’s centerpiece, and its enduring legacy, is the haunting and beautiful “(Make Me Do) Anything You Want.” Written by Naumann and Taylor, the song stands as one of Canada’s great rock ballads—layering gentle acoustic guitar and plaintive vocals with a soaring, emotional chorus. Initially a modest radio hit in 1972, it was reissued a few years later and climbed even higher on the charts, eventually becoming a staple of Canadian classic rock and later covered by Helix in 1984.

But this debut record is far more than just one hit song. Tracks like “Yalla Yae” and “Deep Freeze” reveal the band’s heavier side, with thunderous drumming, fuzz-drenched guitar lines, and keyboard flourishes that flirt with psychedelia and blues. “Alone Together” and “Fallen Man” slow the pace slightly, letting the band explore more introspective terrain without losing their edge. And then there’s “In Heat,” the closer—a sprawling, six-minute epic that brings together the group’s trademark elements in one final statement of power and finesse.

The album was recorded at Toronto Sound Studios and Manta Sound, with mixing handled by Lee De Carlo (credited as “The Hoboken Kid”), and string arrangements by Doug Riley, adding depth and cinematic flair to key moments. Despite the ambition in both songwriting and production, much of the album remained too long for conventional radio airplay, a factor that may have limited its reach at the time. Yet what it lacked in mainstream exposure, it more than made up for in raw authenticity and musical sophistication.

Critically appreciated but commercially underappreciated, A Foot in Coldwater established a template for a distinctly Canadian form of progressive hard rock—melodic but heavy, thoughtful but visceral. Though the band would go on to release three more albums over the next five years (including The Second Foot in Coldwater and All Around Us), their debut remains their defining statement.

Looking back, A Foot in Coldwater is more than a nostalgic curiosity—it’s a vital piece of Canadian rock history. The band’s emotive power, instrumental interplay, and songwriting depth place them alongside the best of their era, and this album stands as a reminder of a time when music could be both ambitious and deeply felt. For fans of early '70s rock and collectors of underrated gems, this record still deserves a place at the forefront.
-Robert Williston

Alex Machin: all vocals
Hughie Leggat: bass, acoustic guitars
Paul Naumann: rhythm guitar, lead guitar, slide guitar, acoustic guitars, bass
Danny Taylor: drums, all percussion
Bob Horne: organ, clavinet, agitator

Strings performed by The Daffodil String Ensemble
Strings arranged by Doug Riley, Love (track A2), and Paul Naumann (tracks A4, B3)
Conducted by Doug Riley

Composed by A Foot in Coldwater
Recorded at Toronto Sound Studios and Manta Sound, Toronto, Ontario (February and March 1972)
Mixed at Manta Sound
Engineered by Lee De Carlo (The Hoboken Kid), assisted by Rick Capreol
Mastered by Fred and Leo at RCA, Toronto, Ontario

Jacket concept by Daffodil Design
Additional artwork and design by Paul Weldon
Photography (inside cover): byDavid Allen

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