Cliff Bennett, a first-generation English rock'n'roller, formed a band in June 1969 on the advice of EMI that was intended to reflect the harder and more progressive rock sound of the coming 1970s. To this end, he recruited guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Ken Hensley, bassist John Glascock and drummer Lee Kerslake, all three former members of the band The Gods, who were simultaneously working on the Head Machine project. They called themselves Toe Fat and recorded their eponymous debut album at Abbey Road Studios in London in early 1970. They were supported by Mox Gowland, who played harmonica and flute on some tracks.

In the UK, the LP was released in May 1970 by Parlophone with a wonderfully bizarre cover designed by Hipgnosis. Less striking was the band's sound, which was deeply rooted in the already fading British blues boom. They offered bluesy hard rock with lots of fiery psychedelic fuzz guitar playing from Ken Hensley. Bennett sang and wrote most of the material, partly in collaboration with Hensley. Although the album received good reviews, it was a huge commercial flop. Shortly after the LP's release, Hensley and Kerslake left the band to form Uriah Heep. The band broke up after their second album. The big names and the curious cover are probably the main reasons why the English original is so sought after among collectors.