A Foot in Coldwater


A Foot in Coldwater, also known as AFIC, was a Canadian rock band who were active in the 1970s and 1980s.
Its original lineup of musicians included Alex Machin, Bob Horne, Paul Naumann, Danny Taylor, and Hughie Leggat. A Foot in Coldwater is best known for the song " Anything You Want", which was a Canadian hit single in 1972 and 1974, and which was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019.

History

A Foot in Coldwater was formed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1970 from three other 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 a recording contract with Frank Davies of Daffodil Records, who named the new band "A Foot in Coldwater".
In 1972, Daffodil released the band's first record album, A Foot in Coldwater. The first single off that album, " Anything You Want", reached the top 25 on the Canadian record charts. In 1973, Daffodil released the second album, The Second Foot in Coldwater. It included the moderately successful singles " In My Life" and "Love is Coming". In 1974, Daffodil released a third A Foot in Coldwater album, All Around Us. This album included a shorter version of " Anything You Want", which again made the Canadian singles chart. In 1976, Daffodil released one more A Foot in Coldwater single, "Midnight Lady". However, Daffodil had filed for bankruptcy and the band no longer had a record label. Horne left A Foot in Coldwater at this point.
In 1977, the remaining members of A Foot in Coldwater recorded a single, "Breaking Through" for Anthem Records; however, the single was a commercial failure and the band subsequently split up.
In 1988, A Foot in Coldwater regrouped for several short tours. In 1984, the heavy metal band Helix recorded their version of " Anything You Want". It is described as "a sleepy ballad" by AllMusic. In 1998, Unidisc Music reissued the first three A Foot in Coldwater albums along with a two-disc compilation album, 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 : Guitars, occasional bass

Buttergarden, Leather, Island, Nucleus, A Foot In Coldwater, Character, Steppenwolf, A Foot In Coldwater.

Hughie Leggat: Bass, guitars, occasional 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, percussion, occasional vocals

Lords Of London, Nucleus, A Foot In Coldwater, Gus, Leggat, Ryan Brothers, A Foot In Coldwater.

Ron Charles McBride: Backup vocals

A Foot In Coldwater.

Discography

Albums

  • A Foot in Coldwater
Daffodil SBA 16012, 1972; No. 30 Canada

CD Unidisc AGEK 2158 1998
  • The Second Foot in Coldwater
Daffodil SBA 16028, 1973; No. 41 Canada

CD Unidisc AGEK 2159 1998
  • All Around Us
Daffodil DAF 10048, 1974; No. 10 Canada; No. 63 Year-end

CD Unidisc AGEK 2160 1998
  • Breaking Through
Anthem ANR 1 1008, 1977
  • Footprints Vol. 1
Daffodil DFN 665, 1983

CD BEI BEIBD 25
  • Footprints Vol. 2
Daffodil DFN 666, 1983

CD BEI BEIBD 26
CD Unidisc AGEK 2 2161, 1998

Singles

  • " Anything You Want" / "Alone Together"
DFS 1017 1972; No. 33 Canada
  • " In My Life" / "Deep Freeze"
DFS 1028 1972; ; No. 34 Canada
  • "Lady True" / "In Heat"
DFS 1033 1973; No. 67 Canada
  • "Love Is Coming" / "How Much Can You Take"
DFS 1040 1973; no. 27 Canada
  • "So Long" / "Who Can Stop Us Now"
DFS 1046 1973
  • " Anything You Want" / "Para-Dice"
DFS 1058 1974; No. 33 Canada
DIL 1065 1974; No. 76 Canada
  • "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