1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #140. Blood, Sweat & Tears - Blood Sweat & Tears (1969)

Blood, Sweat & Tears - Blood Sweat & Tears (1969)

Label – Columbia
Producer – James William Guercio
Art Direction – John Berg
Nationality – USA
Running Time – 45:26

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)
1. Variations On A Theme By Erik Satie
2. Smiling Phases
3. Sometimes In Winter
4. More And More
5. And When I Die
6. God Bless The Child
7. Spinning Wheel
8. You've Made Me So Very Happy
9. Blues
10. Variations On A Theme By Erik Satie (2)

An interesting record! I had of course heard all of the hits that were lifted from this record – but must admit to having heard very little else from this group. This self titled album is actually the second release by the group (the first being “Child Is Father to the Man”) and is easily the finest moment of their career. The album contain three songs that neared the top of the charts as singles -- "Happy," "Spinning Wheel," and "And When I Die" -- but the whole album, including an stunning arrangement of "God Bless the Child" and a cover (if you can call this total reworking a cover!) of Traffic's "Smiling Phases," was simply a wonderful listen, but one that I have read they sadly never came close to equaling. One thing that helps this record is the layering of sound made possible by new technological standards emerging at the time, and this album was among the very first 16-track recordings released to the public
It was a huge commercial success, rising to the top of the U.S. charts for seven weeks and yielding three successive Top 5 singles. It received a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1970 and has been certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA with sales of more than four million units in the U.S. The accolades however didn’t last long as the band embarked on a United States Department of State-sponsored tour of Eastern Europe. This was seen as a voluntary association with the government which was extremely unpopular at the time, and the band was ridiculed for it and never recovered.
It is highly recommended.


You can purchse the CD here