Fat Mattress
Encyclopedia
Fat Mattress were an English
folk rock
band that formed in Folkestone
in 1968. Founded by guitarist and vocalist Noel Redding
, during his time as bassist for The Jimi Hendrix Experience
, and vocalist Neil Landon
, the band was completed by multi-instrumentalist Jim Leverton and drummer Eric Dillon. The band released two albums – Fat Mattress
and Fat Mattress II
– before splitting up in 1970.
, bass guitarist Jim Leverton and drummer Eric Dillon. Redding (from Folkestone) and Leverton (from Dover) had been involved in the flourishing early 1960s group scene in South East Kent which also included Landon (who hailed originally from Kirdford
, Sussex
). Dillon (from Swindon
, Wiltshire
) was brought in by Leverton who had met him while playing in Engelbert Humperdinck
's backing band. The band was formed while Redding was a member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, with a view to enabling Redding to both play guitar and sing lead, as well as to record original material. While he had done all three things with the Experience, they were restricted to rare occasions. Martin Barre
was briefly a member of the band, but soon left to replace Mick Abrahams
in Jethro Tull
.
The first major public exposure of the band was as the opening act to the Jimi Hendrix Experience on a tour of the United States
, during which Redding would perform with both bands. Landon, Redding, and Leverton all sang lead, allowing the group to employ a great deal of vocal harmonies.
The group was signed to Polydor Records
and released the eponymous Fat Mattress album in 1969. The album was modestly successful, with one song, "Magic Forest" becoming a hit
in the Netherlands
. The band made an appearance at the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival
.
A major U.S. tour was cancelled after completing only five dates of an initially anticipated thirty. In the midst of recording Fat Mattress II, Redding and Leverton had a falling out, resulting in Redding's departure from the band. He was replaced by Steve Hammond at roughly the same time as Mick Weaver was added to relieve Leverton on keyboard duties, allowing Leverton to focus on bass and vocals. Fat Mattress II was less of a success than their debut, and the band split in the middle of recording what would have been their third album.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
band that formed in Folkestone
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
in 1968. Founded by guitarist and vocalist Noel Redding
Noel Redding
Noel Redding was an English rock and roll guitarist best known as the bassist for The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Biography:...
, during his time as bassist for The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience were an English-American psychedelic rock band that formed in London in October 1966. Comprising eponymous singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until June 1969, in which...
, and vocalist Neil Landon
Neil Landon
Neil Landon is an English singer, who has been credited with singing on a number of hits in the UK Singles Chart...
, the band was completed by multi-instrumentalist Jim Leverton and drummer Eric Dillon. The band released two albums – Fat Mattress
Fat Mattress (album)
-Personnel:Fat Mattress*Neil Landon – vocals, production*Noel Redding – guitar, vocals, production*Jimmy Leverton – bass, harpsichord, organ, vocals, production*Eric Dillon – drums, tuned percussion, productionGuest musicians...
and Fat Mattress II
Fat Mattress II
Fat Mattress II is the second studio album by English folk rock band Fat Mattress, released in 1970.-Reception:Compared with the band's debut self-titled album, Fat Mattress II was a commercial failure, not appearing in any major record charts...
– before splitting up in 1970.
History
Fat Mattress was formed in late 1968 by Noel Redding with vocalist Neil LandonNeil Landon
Neil Landon is an English singer, who has been credited with singing on a number of hits in the UK Singles Chart...
, bass guitarist Jim Leverton and drummer Eric Dillon. Redding (from Folkestone) and Leverton (from Dover) had been involved in the flourishing early 1960s group scene in South East Kent which also included Landon (who hailed originally from Kirdford
Kirdford
Kirdford is a village and civil parish in the District of Chichester in West Sussex, England located north east of Petworth. The parish has a land area of . In the 2001 census 912 people lived in 373 households, of whom 448 were economically active....
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
). Dillon (from Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
) was brought in by Leverton who had met him while playing in Engelbert Humperdinck
Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)
Engelbert Humperdinck is a British pop singer, best known for his hits including "Release Me " and "After the Lovin'" as well as "The Last Waltz" .-Early life:...
's backing band. The band was formed while Redding was a member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, with a view to enabling Redding to both play guitar and sing lead, as well as to record original material. While he had done all three things with the Experience, they were restricted to rare occasions. Martin Barre
Martin Barre
Martin Lancelot Barre is an English rock musician.Barre has been the guitarist for rock band Jethro Tull since 1969. He has appeared on every Jethro Tull album except their debut This Was...
was briefly a member of the band, but soon left to replace Mick Abrahams
Mick Abrahams
Michael Timothy 'Mick' Abrahams was the original guitarist for Jethro Tull. He recorded the album This Was with the band in 1968, but conflicts between Abrahams and Ian Anderson over the musical direction of the band led Abrahams to leave once the album was finished...
in Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
.
The first major public exposure of the band was as the opening act to the Jimi Hendrix Experience on a tour of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, during which Redding would perform with both bands. Landon, Redding, and Leverton all sang lead, allowing the group to employ a great deal of vocal harmonies.
The group was signed to Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
and released the eponymous Fat Mattress album in 1969. The album was modestly successful, with one song, "Magic Forest" becoming a hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The band made an appearance at the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival
Isle of Wight Festival
The Isle of Wight Festival is a music festival which takes place every year on the Isle of Wight in England. It was originally held from 1968 to 1970. These original events were promoted and organised by the Foulk brothers under the banner of their company Fiery Creations Limited...
.
A major U.S. tour was cancelled after completing only five dates of an initially anticipated thirty. In the midst of recording Fat Mattress II, Redding and Leverton had a falling out, resulting in Redding's departure from the band. He was replaced by Steve Hammond at roughly the same time as Mick Weaver was added to relieve Leverton on keyboard duties, allowing Leverton to focus on bass and vocals. Fat Mattress II was less of a success than their debut, and the band split in the middle of recording what would have been their third album.
Band members
- Neil LandonNeil LandonNeil Landon is an English singer, who has been credited with singing on a number of hits in the UK Singles Chart...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Noel ReddingNoel ReddingNoel Redding was an English rock and roll guitarist best known as the bassist for The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Biography:...
(1968-69) – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals - Jim Leverton – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, vocals, harpsichordHarpsichordA harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
(born James Leverton, in 1946, in DoverDoverDover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
, KentKentKent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England) - Eric Dillon – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
(born in 1950, in Swindon, Wiltshire, England) - Steve Hammond (1969-70) – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(born in 1939, in London died in 1989, in Port Hueneme, California, USA) - Mick WeaverMick WeaverMick Weaver is a session musician best known for his playing of the Hammond B3 organ and is a much respected exponent of the Blues and Funk styles.-Career:...
(1969-70) – organ, harpsichord, piano
Studio albums
- Fat MattressFat Mattress (album)-Personnel:Fat Mattress*Neil Landon – vocals, production*Noel Redding – guitar, vocals, production*Jimmy Leverton – bass, harpsichord, organ, vocals, production*Eric Dillon – drums, tuned percussion, productionGuest musicians...
(1969) U.S. #134 - Fat Mattress IIFat Mattress IIFat Mattress II is the second studio album by English folk rock band Fat Mattress, released in 1970.-Reception:Compared with the band's debut self-titled album, Fat Mattress II was a commercial failure, not appearing in any major record charts...
(1970)
Compilation albums
Singles
- from Fat Mattress:
- "Magic Forest"/"Petrol Pump Assistant" (1969)
- from Fat Mattress II:
- "Naturally"/"Iridescent Butterfly" (1969)
- "Highway"/"Black Sheep of the Family" (1970)
- Non-album singles:
- "Magic Lanterns"/"Bright New Way" (1970)