fan created cover art of the album that never wasGod’s Foot (unreleased) (1996/1997)
Juliana Hatfield
?? Fade Away
?? Mountains Of Love
?? What Have I Done To You?
?? You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Melody
?? How Would You Know?
?? Don’t Need A Reason
?? Charity
?? Eye To Eye
?? Perfection
?? Losing Your Looks*
?? Takin’ It Easy
?? Can’t Kill Myself**
?? Jake’s
?? I Didn’t Know**
?? Number One**
Tracklisting speculative. Some of these songs may not have made the final album and some may have been used as b-sides.
*Juliana has said that "Losing Your Looks" would have been rejected
**I Didn’t Know and Number One were released in mp3 form on Juliana’s official website as part of the Honor Download ‘experiment’ in 2005. Can’t Kill Myself followed in 2007. Although originally recorded during the God’s Foot sessions it would seem that they are not owned by Atlantic Records / Disney.
Music’s history is littered with albums prepared for release but for whatever reason (suitability / commercial / quality, but almost always a dispute between artist and label) they are withheld, sometimes indefinitely. So is the case with God’s Foot.
The original recordings remain the property of the record label – Mammoth / Atlantic as was, which is now owned by the Walt Disney Company.
Only two songs from what was to have been the follow up to Only Everything have ever seen an official cd release (Fade Away & Mountains of Love, which appear on the 2002 Gold Stars compilation).
Inevitably the advent of internetland has seen mp3’s of unmastered mixes varying in quality being shared around over the years, much to Juliana's chagrin, with fans (and perhaps Juliana too) longingly, but seemingly forlornly, hoping for an official release.
(excerpt from Juliana's blog on "Remember November" - March 2009)
"seeing my songs presented as "God's Foot" in a random order, including songs which I did not intend, for people to hear made me feel kind of powerless and scared"
(excerpt from Juliana's blog on "Perfection" - January 2009)
"I was obsessed with “You’re Living All Over Me,” Dinosaur Jr.’s second album, and with this song I can hear a bit of that influence. Even in the drums. Especially in the drums. I can’t remember if I told Todd (Philips, my drummer) to “play like Murph” or if Todd came up with that idea on his own. Todd would remember. Todd has a prodigious memory. I played all the other instruments."
GOD'S FOOT - THE STORY:
The Greatest Music Never Sold - Dan LeRoyThe story of God’s Foot is featured in a 32 page chapter in Dan LeRoy’s fascinating book – The Greatest Music Never Sold, published in 2007 by Backbeat Books.
LeRoy’s clear passion for music and the spirit of artistic endeavours is clear throughout the book. It’s a must read for Juliana’s fans for the God’s Foot chapter alone.
Meticulously researched, including quotes from LeRoy’s interviews with Juliana herself, Todd Phillips (her then drummer) and Gary Smith (long term manager) in 2006/2007, the chapter offers the most detailed insight yet into the whole sorry tale. An absorbing if ultimately heart-breaking read of commerce interfering in artistic integrity.
Its a delight to read Juliana speaking with enthusiasm for the songs, particularly for Perfection – a scandalously missing gem from indie pop’s history , and as LeRoy chronicles a song which ironically owes its genesis to the unpleasant dispute between artist and label. But God’s Foot as an album didn’t need a radio friendly pop ‘hit’ as LeRoy beautifully demonstrates.
There are signs that despite the personal demons she still confronts when revisiting this album, there is a desire for the record to reach the wider audience it has always deserved.
One day this story may yet have a Disney fairytale ending.