Fat Mattress: How Can I Live? Complete Recordings 3CD Box Set

Complete anthology of Noel Redding's post-Jimi Hendrix Experience band.

Comprises their three albums (one unreleased at the time), non-album single tracks, out- takes, radio and TV sessions as well as the first-ever reissue of the alternative US-only mix of their debut LP.

Primarily a songwriting vehicle for former Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist Noel Redding, Fat Mattress were launched in a blaze of publicity in the summer of 1969.

With Redding (now reverting to his preferred instrument of guitar) joined by former Flower Pot Men singer Neil Landon and ex-Engelbert Humperdinck touring band members Jim Leverton and Eric Dillon, Fat Mattress recorded a fine debut album (actually cut in December 1968) that charted in America.

Unfortunately, Redding quit the band midway through a volatile US tour, the rump of the band going on to release a second album without him before he returned to the line-up for a third Fat Mattress LP.

But a disagreement with manager Chas Chandler meant that the third album failed to gain a release at the time, and Fat Mattress split again, this time permanently.

The final word on a talented but star-crossed band, How Can I Live? assembles everything that they recorded during their brief existence, including BBC radio and German TV sessions as well as the first-ever reissue in any format of the American mix of that impressive debut album.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE

1 ALL NIGHT DRINKER

2  I DON'T MIND

3  BRIGHT NEW WAY

4  PETROL PUMP ASSISTANT

5  MR. MOONSHINE

6  MAGIC FOREST

7  SHE CAME IN THE MORNING

8  EVERYTHING'S BLUE

9  WALKING THROUGH A GARDEN

10  HOW CAN I LIVE?

Bonus tracks

11  LITTLE GIRL IN WHITE

12  ERIC THE RED

13  NATURALLY (single mix, stereo)

14  IRIDESCENT BUTTERFLY (non-album single, stereo) 15 MAGIC FOREST (single mix, mono)

1-10 The album Fat Mattress, UK Polydor 583 056, released August 1969

11-12 Out-takes from Fat Mattress

13-14 Single, Polydor 56352, released September 1969

15 Single, Polydor 56367, released November 1969

DISC TWO

1 ALL NIGHT DRINKER

2  I DON'T MIND

3  BRIGHT NEW WAY

4  PETROL PUMP ASSISTANT

5  MR. MOONSHINE

6  MAGIC FOREST

7  SHE CAME IN THE MORNING

8  EVERYTHING'S BLUE

9  WALKING THROUGH A GARDEN

10  HOW CAN I LIVE

Bonus tracks

11  NATURALLY* (TV performance)

12  MR. MOONSHINE* (TV performance)

13  MAGIC FOREST* (TV performance)

14  HAPPY MY LOVE (radio session)

15  MR. MOONSHINE (radio session)

16  NATURALLY (radio session)

1-10 The album Fat Mattress, alternative mix/versions, US Atco SD 33-309, released Nov 1969

11-13 Beat Club, German TV, 27th September 1969

14-16 BBC Radio 1 Top Gear session, recorded 6th October 1969, broadcast 25th October 1969

DISC THREE

1  THE STORM

2 ANYWAY YOU WANT

3  LEAFY LANES

4  NATURALLY

5  ROAMIN'

6  HAPPY MY LOVE

7  CHILDHOOD DREAM

8  SHE

9  HIGHWAY

10  AT THE BALL

11  PEOPLE

Bonus tracks

12  HALL OF KINGS

13  BLACK SHEEP OF THE FAMILY

14  MARGARITA

15  COLD WALL OF STONE

16  LONG RED

17  WORDS

18  THE RIVER

19  FUTURE DAYS

20  WHICH WAY TO GO

1-11 The album Fat Mattress II, UK Polydor 2383 025, released October 1970

12 Out-take from Fat Mattress II

13 Single, Polydor 2058 053, released September 1970

14-19 Tracks from unreleased third album

20 Out-take, recorded as proposed Jim Leverton solo single