They
were a pioneering jazz-rock outfit and a hit singles band (which shows how
progressive pop music got in the late ‘60s/early ‘70s) that wowed fans and
critics alike. They were Blood, Sweat & Tears—and this two-CD, 32-track set
offers not only the most comprehensive collection ever compiled of their work,
but also the most appropriate lens through which to view their long and often
chaotic career.
Very few bands experienced the kind of turnover that Blood,
Sweat & Tears did and lived to tell the tale—the group began with the Blues
Project’s Steve Katz and Al Kooper as their visionary leaders, but Kooper left
after their first album, to be replaced by David Clayton-Thomas as lead singer,
thus launching the band’s “classic” period punctuated with such hits as “You’ve
Made Me So Very Happy,” “And When I Die” and “Spinning Wheel” (here in their
rare mono single mixes). After their fourth album, B. S. & T: 4,
Clayton-Thomas and original members Fred Lipsius and Dick Halligan left en
masse, yet the band soldiered on, winding up with only one original
member—drummer Bobby Colomby—by the time they called it quits with Columbia.
Yet, through it all, Blood, Sweat & Tears maintained a remarkably high
level of musicianship and material throughout their stint with the label, and
their innovative use of jazzy horn arrangements in a rock context paved the way
for such bands as Chicago, Cold Blood, Chase and If. Along the way, they also
integrated elements of psychedelia, R&B, folk and classical music into
their jazz-rock framework to produce an eclectic mix of recordings unlike that
of any other band of the era. Blood, Sweat & Tears: The Complete Columbia
Singles follows the band through every phase and configuration, and features
five single versions/mixes making their first appearance on CD. Producer Ed
Osborne’s notes include fresh quotes from Steve Katz, and the entire set is
beautifully remastered by Vic Anesini at Battery Studios in NYC. The ultimate
look at an underrated band.
Disc One: I Can’t
Quit Her / House in
the Country / You’ve
Made Me So Very Happy / Blues—Part
II / Spinning
Wheel / More and
More / And When
I Die / Sometimes
in Winter / Hi-De-Ho / The
Battle / Lucretia
Mac Evil / Lucretia’s
Reprise / Go Down
Gamblin’/ Valentine’s
Day / Lisa,
Listen to Me / Cowboys
and Indians
Disc Two: So Long
Dixie / Alone / I Can’t
Move No Mountains / Velvet / Roller
Coaster / Inner
Crisis / Save Our
Ship / Song for
John / Tell Me
That I’m Wrong / Rock
Reprise / Got to
Get You into My Life / Naked
Man / No Show / Yesterday’s
Music / You’re
the One / Heavy
Blue
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