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Blossom Toes were a British psychedelic rock band formed in London in 1966, known for their blend of baroque pop, English psychedelia and progressive rock, active until 1970. Founded by guitarists Jim Cregan and Brian Godding, bassist Brian Belshaw and drummer Kevin Westlake, the band emerged on the London psychedelic scene under the direction of manager Giorgio Gomelsky, also associated with the Yardbirds. Signed to Marmalade Records, their debut album, We Are Ever So Clean (1967), produced by Gomelsky, is a psychedelic pop gem, with orchestral arrangements, jangle guitars and whimsical lyrics influenced by The Beatles and The Kinks, including tracks like "Look at Me I'm You" and "When the Alarm Clock Rings". Despite critical acclaim and the support of John Peel, the album was not a commercial success. The same year, the group took part in the soundtrack of Éric Rohmer's film La Collectionneuse and appeared in Fred Marshall's Popdown. In 1968, Kevin Westlake left the group, replaced by Barry Reeves, and John "Poli" Palmer briefly joined on keyboards and vibraphone, before the band reverted to a quartet. Their second album, If Only for a Moment (1969), marks an evolution towards a heavier sound, blending progressive rock and psychedelia, with tracks like "Peace Loving Man" and "Indian Summer", influenced by Cream and the beginnings of prog rock. Also produced by Gomelsky, the album, though more ambitious, suffered from a lack of promotion and sales, leading to the band's dissolution in 1970. After the split, Jim Cregan joined Stud, then became a renowned session guitarist, while Brian Godding and Brian Belshaw formed B.B. Blunder with Julie Driscoll. Blossom Toes, despite only two albums, gained cult status thanks to reissues by Sunbeam Records and Cherry Red, including bonus material such as demos and BBC sessions. An attempt to reform in 1992 with Cregan and Godding resulted in an aborted project, New Daze, whose recordings remain unreleased. Kevin Westlake's death (September 30, 2004) was followed by those of Brian Belshaw (February 3, 2016), Brian Godding (November 26, 2023) and John "Poli" Palmer (July 2025).
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