A Foot in Coldwater ~ Canada ~ Toronto, Ontario

All Around Us (1974)

I've had this title kicking around the collection for a few years, starting with the Wounded Bird CD. Seems I play it every year in an attempt to understand the contents. I always heard just enough goodness to keep it around, but couldn't grasp as to why. My notes from two years ago simply stated: A Foot in Coldwater offer up straightforward hard rock with organ, with AOR and prog overtones. Not going to floor anyone, but there's at least four excellent tracks here including the title song.

Not the most compelling notes I've ever penned. But last night's listen confirmed the higher grade. So what is the magic here? The review above does a decent job of capturing side 1. It's side 2 that we need to focus on. Sounding every bit like Rush, before Rush was Rush, you know what I mean? Haha - that is, Toronto's A Foot in Coldwater is predicting Caress of Steel, not the self-titled 1974 album. Also, if you can compartmentalize this, listen to All Around Us with a singles 45 mentality. There's some really good hard psych material here too, a throwback to a fuzzier time. This album looks both forward and to the past. The back cover indicates good times AOR. They fooled us all.

Ownership: 2008 Wounded Bird (CD). Acquired in 2017.

1/4/17; 6/18/20; 10/23/21 (notes); 4/23/22; 8/3/23 (review)

The Second Foot In Coldwater (1973)

A Foot in Coldwater's second album is a fine example of the early 70's North American hard rock landscape. Guitar and organ lead the instrumental parade, and the vocals have that rough and tumble "tough guy" edge, with just the right amount of sentimentality. The two part opening track 'Coming is Love' (double entendre?) is the highlight, and makes one think they may have stumbled onto a monster of an album. 'Suzy', 'How Much Can You Take' and 'Sailing Ships' are other notably excellent tracks. Unfortunately A Foot in Coldwater had this bad habit of slowing things down for balladry and whining, and the album falls short of excellent. Still there's 23 minutes of killer material here that should be heard by all.

Ownership: 1973 Daffodil (LP). Textured sleeve. Acquired in 2017.

12/8/17; 5/4/19 (review)

5/4/19 (new entry)