Cherry Red [Release date : 24.01.25]

Two years in the career of an artist is only a moment in time. That’s how long English Rock Band, Fat Mattress lasted. During those years (1969-70) the band wrote and recorded three albums.

Two were released at the time. Fat Mattress I and II.

These are both here, generously extended from 10 or 11 tracks to 15 by the inclusion of non album material, live tracks and TV/Radio recordings. In fact, everything ever committed to tape is here.

Most notably, the US mix/track selection version of the debut, as released by the Atco label in the USA.

CD1 : Fat Mattress I (plus 5 bonus tracks)
CD2 : Fat Mattress I (US mix release, plus 5 bonus)
CD2 : Fat Mattress II (plus 8 unreleased studio tracks)

FM was formed by English musician, Noel Redding, one third of the Jimi Hendrix Experience (along with drummer, Mitch Mitchell), back in 1968.

This after a fallout with Hendrix, a prodigiously talented artist who had little time for others’ input.

“We had to play his songs, and he’d never consider listening to any of mine.”

The split was inevitable.

A not inconsiderable talent himself, Redding surrounded himself with a number of equally talented artists. He recruited former colleague, Neil Landon – a Carter-Lewis protege who sang on hits by the Flowerpot Men and the Ivy League. Latterly adding Mick Weaver of Traffic and Steve Marriott fame.

Redding’s band would never match the JHE. Hendrix was burning up the best seller charts everywhere.

But, they were blazing their own trail, though not sounding quite as fiery as that suggests. Song titles like ‘Bright New Way’, ‘Magic Forest’, ‘Walking Through A Garden’ and ‘Little Girl In White’ all suggest folk tinged, soft centred psychedelia, with all the radical elements excised.

There are echoes of the Monkees and the Byrds on ‘I Don’t Mind’, and nods to Love on ‘Mr Moonshine’. In fact the album cover has a distinct flavour of Love’s debut.

By the time Fat Mattress II arrived, there was a general acceptance in the music media that there was no attempt to create JHE clones. And in fact the music was pretty damn good in its own right. The songwriting on this one was stronger, and unbiased rock music fans took to the album quickly. It got good reviews.

Inevitably, it seemed, a disagreement with manager (Chas Chandler) led to the dissolution of the band, and a planned third album was never released.

Yet another “What if…”. ***

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 24 March 2025

HARRI LARKIN Too Close To The Sun (Robot Distro)
SANDNESS Not Your Dog (Rockshots Records)
DOCTOR BLACK Drag Me Down (indie)
COHEED AND CAMBRIA Goodbye Sunshine (Virgin Music Group)
LEONI JANE KENNEDY Closer (indie)
SMALL TOWN POLITICS Red Lights (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 24 March 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

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