Toe Fat
Bad Side of the Moon ~ an Anthology 1970-1972: 2CD

Fat Toe formed in June 1969 after Cliff Bennett (ex-Rebel Rouser, Cliff Bennett Band) recruited The Gods keyboardist Ken Hensley, who in turn recruited two other former bandmates, Lee Kerslake (drums) and John Glascock (bass guitar). The idea for Toe Fat came about one dinner when Bennett and his manager set out to come up with the most off-putting name a band could have. Toe Fat immediately signed an American contract with Rare Earth Records, a Motown subsidiary that specialized in progressive rock releases. In Britain, the band signed to EMI, releasing their debut album on the Parlophone label. The record, whose cover was designed by Hipgnosis, an art company known for its work with Pink Floyd, was a commercial failure, but received critical acclaim. As a result, after the release of the first single "Workin' Nights" (on the flip side was one of Elton John's early compositions "Bad Side of the Moon"), the group was invited to open for Derek and the Dominos on an American tour. In 1970, Hensley moved to Uriah Heep (Bennett - in the notes on the re-released Rebellion album - wrote that he had a similar offer, and made a mistake by turning it down). Kerslake moved - first to the National Head Band, then in 1971 also to Uriah Heep. He was replaced on drums by Brian Glascock, and bassist Conas was replaced (also from The Gods) by his brother John Glascock (later a member of Jethro Tull). The second album Toe Fat Two was recorded with keyboardist Alan Kendall, who made the sound heavier, and producer Jonathan Peel, and was released on the Regal Zonophone label. Despite the fact that the album's material was often played on British radio and the band was invited to record in BBC studios (in particular, by presenter Terry Wogan), commercial success again did not follow. EMI informed the band that it could no longer support them. Toe Fat broke up, never having realized their significant (according to music critics) creative potential.