Toe Fat - BBC Sessions 1969-70 (2013)

Toe Fat - the improbable teaming of a slick, classy, 60's Soulster and three-quarters of an obscure Psychedelic/Blues outfit from the sticks - are one of those bands who invariably turn up in the middle of one of Pete Frame's Family Trees, the soile raison d'etre for their existence apparently being to act as the link between various seemingly disparate music and and groups. In Toe's case they provide the unlikely point of reference between Uriah Heep and Jethro Tull at one end of the spectrum, Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers somewhere near the center, and the Bee Gees and Chas & Dave at the other. And yet although they were highly regarded, their albums critically well-received, and they'd begun to make a significant commercial impact in the United States, the band was abruptly terminated when their American management pulled the financial rug from under them following a stock flotation.

Consequently, Toe Fat have rather been consigned to the ranks rather more for their album sleeve artwork and the subsequent career paths of their members than for anything they achieved under their own steam. Furthermore, despite their relatively short life-span (although they cut two albums they were together little more than a year) their history is both convoluted and confusing, a 50% turnover in personnel allied to a curious staffing credit on their album sleeves having led to mucho conjecture as to exactly who did actually play in the band. And yet - as this CD readily confirms - with just a little kinder shake of the dice they could so easily have evolved into one of that elite half-dozen or so English bands who carved out spectacularly successful American careers, far outstripping their popularity back home in dear ol' Blighty.


Tracks:

1. Born To Be Wild (Mars Bonfire) - 3:23
2. Interview With Cliff Bennett - 1:01
3. Memphis Street (Neil Diamond) - 3:03
4. Im Yours And Im Hers (Johnny Winter) - 2:57
5. That's My Love For You (Cliff Bennett, Frank Allen, M. Roberts) - 3:53
6. Bad Side Of The Moon (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) - 3:28
7. I Done Told You (Jimmy Witherspoon) - 5:01
8. Turns Out Like The Rest (Cliff Bennett, Alan Kendall) - 2:16
9. Idol (Alan Kendall) - 3:26
10.Gone (Cliff Bennett, Alan Kendall) - 3:14
11.Three Times (Alan Kendall, Cliff Bennett) - 4:00
12.Midnight Sun (Alan Kendall, Cliff Bennett) - 3:21
13.A New Way (Alan Kendall, Cliff Bennett) - 9:05
14.We'll Be Travellin On (Alan Kendall, Cliff Bennett) - 6:10
15.I Love Everybody (Johnny Winter) - 4:03
16.There Will Be Changes (Alan Kendall, Cliff Bennett) - 6:40
17.Midnight Sun (Alan Kendall, Cliff Bennett) - 7:37
18.Come On Down To My Boat Baby (A-Side) (Jerry Goldstein, Wes Farrell) - 2:46
19.Garage Man (B-Side) (Ken Hensley) - 2:29

Personnel:

*Ken Hensley - Guitar, Organ, Piano, Vocals
*Cliff Bennett - Lead Vocals, Piano
*Alan Kendall - Guitar (Tracks 5-17)
*Lee Kerslake - Drums, Vocals (Tracks 1-10)
*John Konas - Bass, Vocals (Tracks 5-17)
*Brian Glascock - Drums (Tracks 11-17)
*John Glascock - Bass (Tracks 5-17)