Thursday, August 3, 2023

A Foot in Coldwater - All Around Us. 1974 Canada-Ontario


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 2 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 4 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.


CD: 2008 Wounded Bird. Basic jewel case release.

Former ownership: LP: 1974 Elektra. Pulled this out of the 50 cent bin of a local store (2021). 

I didn't even realize this Canadian band had an original US release, but here it is. Features a slightly different title (Or All Around Us). 


1/4/17 (first listen); 6/18/20; 10/23/21 (journal); 4/23/22; 8/3/23 (update/new entry)

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