Reviews (page 2 of 6)
This is great! One of the rare albums in this list that I didn't know, but are really awesome. Great mix of Rock/Jazz influences. Nice to discover something!
Amazing voice
Excellent. Chaotic. Very enjoyable from start to finish.
This is exactly what I'm looking for on this website. Very colorful arrangements. It's fun to listen to and to deconstruct this type of music. I love it.
So refreshing to listen to real musicians and not just “band members” playing guitars. Blending all that brass, with organs, wood winds, and synthesizers is true art, and add in the awesome vocals and it’s just world class. A rare 5.
I actually think the genre hopping benefits this album. It remains fresh song-to-song despite being lyrically simple. The songs don’t all blur together as I so often complain about. I really enjoyed this listen after a stretch of duds.
Wow! This was excellent!
This album rocks. Or jazzs I should say. Maybe both. The drummer is a fuckin madman and I remember plenty good times trying to get 100% on "Spinning Wheel" on Rock Band 3. Never could get the outro. The singer really puts his all into it. Love this record
5 stars
I was quite surprised by this. Lots of passion and great songwriting. I'm a fan!
On of my favourite songs. Album was good aside from that
damn this album slaps, i had no idea!! i was expecting some 60s psychedelia snoozefest but this was more like a classical-jazz-folk-rock fusion hitfest. love the erik satie variations, the blues rock interpolations on blues pt 2, the god bless the child cover, and the originals in between. the live tracks on the expanded edition are frankly unnecessary, but i'm here for just about everything else. i only knew spinning wheel was on here! favorites: variations on a theme by erik satie (1st and 2nd movements), and when i die, god bless the child, spinning wheel, you've made me so very happy, blues pt 2, variation on a theme by erik satie (1st movement)
Nearly perfect blend of jazz and rock. Al Kooper’s influence is still present on several of the higher energy songs.
9/10 Well, well, well. This is exactly the kind of thing I was hoping for from this project. A band from nearly 60 years ago that I had no prior knowledge of, but have absolutely blown me away. For an album recorded in 1968, this not only sounds super fresh today, thanks to the quality of the production, but also stylistically pre-empts a lot of bands that I love from later decades. They create an absolutely superb blend of rock, funk, soul and jazz, with a little twist of other bits and pieces for good measure. It’s like if you chucked Dave Brubeck, Tower of Power and Cream in a blender, with a pinch of country and folk spice blend. The balance between smooth, funky and jazzy is pretty damn good, and they mix things up enough from track to track that things never get stale. And that’s before I mention the musicianship. They are so tight. So controlled. So in each other’s pockets that it’s an absolute treat to listen too. The drummer and bass player in particular are superb, but there’s not really a missed step anywhere on the record. The compositions are complex, without really losing touch with the feel, and they can switch tempo and style at the drop of a hat, flitting between something very focused and something a bit more freeform as they go. There were perhaps a couple of slight lulls here and there, and there’s just a little bit of something holding me back from giving top marks, but I’ve massively enjoyed this and will definitely be back. Variations On A Theme By Erik Satie (1st And 2nd Movements) - An interesting intro. It’s played with a pretty straight bat to begin with and then they start getting a bit weird with it. Lots of phasing and grandiosity, perhaps hinting at what’s to come. Smiling Phases - This busts down the door. It’s frantic, yet controlled. So much fun. The vocalist is great, as is the drummer. In fact, they’re all doing solid work here. It’s a brilliant blend of jazz, funk and rock. They just keep throwing changes in there too, but it’s still very coherent. Love some of the solo sections, and it packs so much in to 5 minutes. Exceptional stuff. Sometimes In Winter - And now a folksy, easy listening type track. Sure, why not? It’s well put together and actually makes for a nice settler after the controlled chaos of the previous track. I mean, it’s cheesy as anything, but it’s well written and well executed. More And More - Enough of a rest, let’s kick up the pace again. This is like a proto Tower of Power. It’s not as frantic as Smiling Phases, but there’s loads of groove and attitude to it. It’s got great tempo, and some of those horn fills are just great. Love David Clayton-Thomas’s vocal on this. The rhythm section is so solid too. And When I Die - A plodding little folksy intro, but it doesn’t take long before they up the pace and add a bit of jazzy swing to things. Bobby Colomby is an exceptional drummer. For a song that varies tempo so much, this is so, so tight. It’s cheesy, but they know it and embrace it. That ‘yeehaw!’ is hilarious. It just sounds like they’re having so much fun, but when that’s wrapped up in something so technically proficient, it massively elevates things. It’s really, really good. God Bless The Child - This is smooth. It’s cheesy, but brilliantly so and it sounds like a blend of Weather Report and Tower of Power. Some of the organ chord choices are super lush. The bass playing is quality and they pull the rhythm around but stay so tight. There’s a lot of feel to this too. And why not throw in a mambo style latin section?. They’re really very good. Spinning Wheel - The chorus of this is so good. I feel like the section after the first chorus section drifts a little, but it’s pretty brief and good lord, that chorus is funky. The trumpet solo section swings so hard too. Love some of the little rhythmic fills they chuck in. And that flute bit is superbly silly. You've Made Me So Very Happy - And we’re back with something smooth again, but they throw in some super funky sections too. The way the horns and bass echo each other in some of the riffs is superb. This song does perhaps drift a little in places, but there’s still so much quality in the musicianship. Blues, Pt. 2 - There’s a slow build to this. It’s got a lot of vibe to it, but it takes quite a long time to get going. When it kicks in though. Ooof, that strolling bass line is great, with such subtle control from the drums. And then the drummer gets his go. Again, Colomby is not just in the pocket, he is the pocket. We’re just rotating through the players now. It’s self-indulgent, but so good. They’re all on such form that it’s a great listen, and there’s so much touch and feel to what they’re doing. This does just drift from section to section, but that’s the point really. And why not play some little slices of songs you like. That bit of Sunshine of Your Love is banging and there are a couple of other bits of songs in there that I know less well too. But it’s all good. Variation On A Theme By Erik Satie (1st Movement) - And we go full circle. Nothing to add, except that this whole thing was great.
"This Album is a masterpiece... my older cousins had the record at their house... and, even as a six year old... i could hear how good "You've Made Me So Very Happy" and "Spinning Wheel" were on the radio, and how many other singers were covering them on various shows... my older cousins reinforced to me just HOW good of a record i was listening to, lol... and i'm glad they did... because it became one of the first records i ever bought myself... and it became a regular on my early childhood turntable... The opener "Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie" sounded almost like from another world... and also me made have to go look up who Erik Satie was... anyway... "Smiling Phases" is next.. a soul workout with unreal playing and a great vocal by David Clayton-Thomas... the sweet "Sometimes in Winter" by Steve Katz... "More and More"... and their version of "God Bless the Child"... the hit single on side one was "And When I Die"... written by Laura Nyro... and done impeccably and sung impeccably by this band... Side Two hits you like a ton of bricks with the aforementioned "Spinning Wheel", "You've Made Me So Very Happy" one two punch... "Blues Part II" where they BLOW on a blues medley... and ending with the Satie reprise... FIVE STARS!"
This is an album I would 100% Re listen to multiple times
The jazz caught me off guard.
It's a great album! My Dad really loved a couple of the singles, so I heard this since I was a kid. When I got a little older I listened through the whole thing and it's mostly great. Must agree with most people here saying the Variations and "Blues, pt 2" really stick out badly and prompt a "Why the hell would you put this here?" vibe. David Clayton-Thomas' voice is great - strident and emotional. I love the mix of jazzy, progressive. rock instrumentation throughout this album. I've listened to it maybe a dozen times in m life and I'm sure to listen to it again for a few. Want to give it a 4.5 because of those three left-field songs. But since there are no half-measures allowed, I'm going to give it a 5 becuase the ones I like, I really like!
I knew at least Spinning Wheel, and I knew enough o their music to recognize them, but this album was still eye-opening. The opening version of Eric Satie? Those drums? This is amazing.
Wow - orchestral soul, jamming out like a motherfucker!
A really great surprise. What a great mix of genres. Sounds incredible for the 60s. I keep coming back to it!
That's an extremelly high quality music. I may not feel like listening to it casually everyday, but there's no way that someday I'll manage to raise my finger and point any kind of flaw on this. Absolute 5 stars.
Nobody sounded like them when this album was released. (Chicago Transit Authority was close, but had a different approach) This album was startling in its daring and still holds up.
Listen to this!
Good stuff. I was working out and my wife asked " is that blood, sweat and tears?" I pointed towards my abs questioningly, she shook her hear and said "No. The music."
The good old days when music was great
A classic!
Very cool, great variety of instruments and sounds.
This was incredible! Loved it!
So many classics on this album bookends with Satie, glorious!
i do really love this album. i was introduced to it as a teenager and i think it really is a great fusion of late 60s-ish rock and jazz. especially the middle of the album is my favorite with 'spinning wheel,' 'and when i die,' and 'god bless the child' but you can't really go wrong with any of this, even the more classical stuff. the band is pretty tight and although this feels pretty mundane by modern standards, this album was a fairly big trailblazer. i especially love david clayton-thomas' gruff and strong vocals. one of the most underrated singers in rock history.
Fucking hell, this is some good ass rock. Feels like Chicago, but it predates their first album by a year. Solid 5 Stars.
I’m at a 5. When an album just sounds THAT good, is there really that much to say? I’m a little strapped for time, so I won’t write a big soliloquy – this album just rocks. Incredible fidelity for 1968, even if the version on Spotify is probably a remaster of sorts; this is one of the first albums ever recorded on 16-track tape, so it really lends itself to some production tricks and layering that feel pretty damn ahead of the era (and showcasing that people were indeed just limited by the technology back then). They used those 16 tracks about as effectively as you could – the depth in the horns, the percussion (holy SHIT, the percussion), the flutes, the guitars, the harmonicas, the vocals, and pretty much everything here all fits snugly into the soundscape & it all sounds fantastic. That sound quality wouldn’t necessarily mean jack if the songs themselves weren’t good, but thankfully, these are all REALLY good tracks, or at the very least, they’re so tightly performed that they have a natural charisma that overrides any kind of lyrical cheesiness & or anything else that might feel awkward. David Clayton-Thomas manages to channel the grit of a Bruce Springsteen, the passion of an Aretha Franklin, & the smooth charm of a Stevie Wonder throughout these tracks, and his voice is variable enough to fit all of the genres this goes through, whether it’s funkier, more of a gospel tone, jazzier, or just straight rock & roll. Hell, the album starts & ends with a take on a 19th century Erik Satie piece. The variety is really strong here, and it keeps everything on its toes. I just enjoyed this a lot; it’s a breezy 45 minutes, and to my ears, I can vaguely hear the case for how this beat out Abbey Road for Album of the Year at the GRAMMYs. I still think Abbey Road is a better album, but this has a charm to it that just feels more casually appealing at times. At the very least, the instrumentals on this thing are a groovy, groovy killer. It’s a 5 for me, and probably a little higher. Very deserving to be on the list.
Sooo good!!!!
This album makes me [ba-da-bamp-bump-ba] very happy. The horns! David Clayton Thomas's voice! Plus Erik Satie, what? If it were possible to wear out CDs, I would have worn out my copy of this album when I discovered it as a university music student in the early 90s.
Weird combination of classic rock, jazz, prog, and a little southern flavor. But something about it hit just right, it was entertaining and I'm really into it
Peak
this is fucking incredible 😭 + sometimes in the winter
400 albums in, this is the first ever review I'm writing. So far, no album has surprised me as much as this one. Jazzy Rock? Incredible. Loved it. Edit: I think you can see why I've not written any reviews before if *this* is all the creativity that has built up over the the last 400 days
That shit was HOT. Hoo man that’s two insane late 60s bangers in a row. This one reaches more experimental in an awesome amazing way that my brain can’t even fully comprehend on first listen. This and the last album are two that make me happy I’m doing this wow.
Sometimes you don't know that you have just found what you have been looking for. Such unexpected joy.
I can see why it won the Album of the Year Grammy. A beautifully performed and arranged set of tracks with an awesome blend of big band, soul, rock, and blues. Truly, it does belong on this list.
This has always been a masterpiece. I have always enjoyed this album.
Like a Dave Matthews Band predecessor, but more focus on brass and electric organ. A mix of almost pure jazz with great pop/rock tunes. Unique.
Absolutely stellar. Stumbles at the start but quickly picks up and keeps pace. All excellent tracks
This is a gem.
So good. I bought this from the $5 bin and was blown away.
Blood, Sweat & Tears album is a great listen from start to finish. It has an energetic mix of rock, blues, and jazz, it’s a fun and dynamic ride. The band’s artistry shines throughout, making it a standout album.
I had no idea what I was getting into with this album, but man am I blown away. Never had heard of this group but their mix of jazz and rock is really spectacular. The bass is grooving throughout this entire album as the horns and piano take turns between David Clayton-Thomas' vocals, which are also awesome. Every song is a little crazy and it's common to see this group jump between sounds, like the ending of Spinning Wheel. And When I Die is a contemplative song and is a joy to listen to with hints of motown. I also really enjoyed Smiling Phases. Pretty much loved this whole thing, exactly what I'm looking for in this set list.
I don't think I've even been so into jazz fusion. The whole thing was wonderful top to bottom
Holy cow. I just have to note that sunshine of your love is buried within Blues Pt 2. This is the album I was waiting for. An out of the blue banger. I was listening while working and really enjoyed Smiling Phases and then my ears perked up at And When I Die, existential song wrapped in folksy cowboy ragtime. I loved the genuine lyrics on You’ve Made Me So Very Happy, sent that one to my wife. And then I had to pause because I had some presentations today at work. Now here I am in the evening and started back up on Blues pt 2 and got lost in it, had no idea it was 11 mins, I was so concerned it was part of the deluxe version because it felt so out there but that song is on the regular album so that just catapulted this one for me. Jazz, 60’s pop rock. A mix of mountain music CCR and Dave Brubeck and blues too! God Bless this Child has western harmonica moments along with a giant Tito puente jazz fusion number. Been a while since I’ve done a 5 star but this needs it.
10/10 Among the other albums I've already listened to there this one is a pure joy. So many sounds, instruments, expressions. It really impressed me, absolute glory. Blues, Variations and God bless found place in my heart!
Really good album. Great vocals and playing. Horns in rock is a plus for me. And, if you played Woodstock you're in the eternal pantheon of badass.
Have to give this one a 5 just to acknowledge the sheer ambition of it. Jazz, rock, classical...this album has it all. DCT was a stellar vocalist and the band was so talented, horns and rhythm section. Great songs including "Spinning Wheel", "And When I Die" and "You've Made Me So Very Happy" compensate foe the digressing and diversions.
Ok, right back round to the subject of Jazz and Prog. Because this album is a GREAT way of showing how to make music that's sophisticated and smart and yet perfectly accessible to normal people like me. The songs are all over the place but they always return to a central idea and make it easy for me to go oh yeah, that's the song. Full of passion and variety and dynamic songwriting and performances. This was a 5 star album. It's dated in the best way. You can hear it came from the 60s, but it still sounds fresh and vibrant and alive. If it came out today it would just be called retro. The vocals were a particular standout. Makes me want to step my own singing game up. WOW.
What did I just listen to? I mean that in the best possible way. Trying to define this by an established genre feels impossible. Classical? Not entirely? Jazz? For some parts, sure. Rock? Definitely in there. Gospel? You could argue. Folk? I think that’s mostly the underlying theme here. I loved this. I loved it for its complexity, its variety, and its soul. I loved it for the tightness of the band and for their clear love of music, for its energy, and for the sheer force of will that is David Clayton-Thomas’s voice. I don’t even know what to say. This is an easy five stars. Just absolutely fantastic. A masterclass in feel and variety, in band tightness and togetherness. I even listened to the live tracks at the end because I had to hear how they were live and they didn’t disappoint. They’re the real deal. I must heard more. Standout Tracks: Smiling Phases, More and More, And When I Die, Spinning Wheel, Blues, pt. 2
Finally another album where I know some of the songs! I figured this would be "Spinning Wheel," "And When I Die," "You've Made Me So Very Happy" and the rest filler. Nope, I'm very surprised how solid this was besides the first couple of boring minutes and the last couple. Really jazzy, I loved the drumming especially. The one song where the other guy sang wasn't as good as the rest. The main singer has a Tom Jones quality to his voice, so it might sound a bit lounge singer-like, but I like it. The three songs I knew all made me feel all warm and nostalgic, and that's surely going to bring my rating up. This album made me so very happy.
Hell, I'm so burnt out on indistinguishable 4-piece rock groups from this era that even if this album was just an hour of some guy playing a mildly-impressive kazoo, I'd still be looking up vinyl prices right now.
HOLY SMOKES. I had extremely low expectations for this album. The band doesn't have many monthly listeners, which has previously meant that the album really isn't worth it. BUT!! WE ARE FOOLS!! This album is SO good. I loved every minute of it.
Probably one of the best bands that you've never heard of
Truly magnificent. This was a mixture of like 5 genres?? Folk, jazz, rock, bluegrass, soul? I LOVED IT
god the drums on this one
Lovely. A little bit of everything. We love the blood, sweat, and tears.
Not perfect, but really good. I'd rate it 4.5-stars if I could. Jazzy. I love the horns. Grew up playing trumpet, so makes sense.
Excellent
When I Die, Spinning Wheel &’You Made Me So Very Happy are favorites of mine- going way back.
That first track is just the tip of the iceberg. Great album.
Loved it, loved it all. Great blend of rock and jazz elements. The Satie bookends are beautiful, can’t go wrong there. 4.8/5
I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't this. This was amazing.
Groovy. The Erik Satie cover is cool
Amazing! 4.5
Genre: Rock, jazz rock 1968 What a sound! Standouts: And When I Die, Spinning Wheel, You've Made Me So Very Happy, God Bless the Child, Smiling Phases, Blues Part II 4.5/5
This one really hit the spot for me. I love this era of music. I love how passionate each song sounds. I love the structure of the album, with the instrumental intro and outro, really giving it a sense of completeness.
Version of Smiling Faces too long but other than that it is a great album
I've never thought of myself as a jazz rock person, but I can dig this. It's fun and a bit campy, almost dramatic in moments. Some of it reminded me of musical theatre. And the horns sound great. I'm honestly a little surprised by how much I like this album. Highlights: Smiling Phases, Sometimes in Winter, More and More, And When I Die, Spinning Wheel, You've Made Me So Very Happy
Thanks for reminding me about this great album
Another interesting, eclectic album. I quite enjoyed this mix, both the music that was new to me and the wonderful classic hits.
Excellent!! No question that I will listen to this one again.
Thoroughly enjoyed this one even though I was sometimes flummoxed by unexpected changes in tone. (A salsa break in the middle of God Bless the Child? OK...) BS&T has a unique sound and interesting takes on other folks' stuff.
Blood, Sweat & Tears isn’t a group I know outside of the hits, but I always love their groovy intensity. This album is no exception. I dig the horns and organ, and those deeply urgent vocals. And When I Die, Spinning Wheel and You’ve Made Me So Very Happy deserve their hit status and are brilliant! But I also loved songs like Sometimes In Winter, More and More that showed some other sides to this band. Great stuff!
Búin að hlusta þrisvar í gegn í dag og var farin að skæla af fullkomnuninni í lokin. Þetta ættu öll að hlusta á, og virkilega *hlusta á*. Ég meina það.
Fantastic
Groovy and fun. Really loved this listen!
Those horns! This is fantastic! Great example of how well Jazz and Rock go together so well! Standouts: And When I Die, Spinning Wheel, You've Made Me So Very Happy, Smiling Phases, God Bless The Child, Blues Part II, 4.5
Great
This album is quite interesting. Sort of a jazzy feel mixed with 70s. Instrumentals include horns, which is a big plus for me. Some of the instrumentals even give me the feels of Christmas instrumentals, but that might just be because of the jazz sound in it 😁 They even got a jazz flute!! 😃 Hey what do you know?! I know some of their songs (Spinning Wheel & You've Made Me So Very Happy) 🥰
Blood, Sweat & Tears is one of the best bands of this productive age of music that combined so many influences. Their debut is also one of their best albums. While you don't really need the Satie variations (so many did them before and after it), the original tracks are amazing. 'Spinning Wheel' is just full of energy and 'You Make Me So Very Happy' too. These songs just want to makes the biggest loner have a big party with his family and friends on a long summer evening.
81/100. This is just a really fun record. They naturally blend so many different genres together. You get jazz, rock, soul, pop, blues and even little touches of classical music all living together, and it just works. The horns are the real stars of the show for me. They are not just slapped on top of rock songs, they are completely baked into the identity of the whole album. Boundaries can definitely preserve traditions, but they can also stop some really interesting conversations from ever happening.
tight, groovy and a happy vibe!
I had never heard of this band - and also never heard of the jazz rock music sub genre in the late 60s. I'm so glad I do know them now. This is a fantastic album made in the late 60s by some very talented musicians. The organ, the bass, the guitars, all sounding pretty damn great to my ears. Also really like his voice.
Maybe this wasn’t my absolute favorite songwriting, but I really loved the lead singers voice and delivery. A funky early Chicago type vibe. Reminds me a lot of Jesus Christ Superstar at times. This one feels like one that I’ll revisit again. 4/5.
J'ai beaucoup aimé la DA
Muy ecléctico. Inicio de disco solido!
his is definitely one of those bands where you recognize a lot of their songs but don't know it's them who sing it. I've definitely heard "And When I Die" before, and it's easily the most upbeat song I've ever heard about death. Also, not gonna lie, the horns on "Spinning Wheel" always made me think this was a Chicago song. I had no idea they performed "You've Made Me So Very Happy" either. I really enjoyed their "Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie" too, which adds a cool, classy touch to the tracklist. It's a great blend of jazz, rock, and pop that holds up surprisingly well. Favorite song: "Spinning Wheel"
Wow. What a tight outfit! The version I listened to has a couple of live tracks as well, and the musicianship was indistinguishable from the studio version. I was deeply amused and delighted at the variations on a theme opening. What a flex.
This album answers the question of "what if you gave CCR a horn section?" I never knew that CCR needed a horn section, but I'm now very glad to know what that sounds like. By virtue of being CCR with horns, I'm contractually obligated to give this album a small amount of saxophone bonus points for the random sax solos thrown in there. Anyways, I can always appreciate a song that takes forever to throw in vocals, and Blues Pt. 2 takes 7 entire minutes for the guy to start singing. The whole song is like 80% soloing, it's great. This album definitely has the weakest version of God Bless the Child I've ever heard, though.
The music itself is a rather good grab at late 60's rock without getting itself painted in a single corner. But where the real value lies is in the story of this band. The book mentions it in passing as an "ill-fated Nixon-backed european tour". But that one sentence covers a ploy by the Nixon administration to get this lefty leaning band to perform propaganda in eastern europe under threat of deporting the canadian singer. It is completely insane. It meant the catastrophic end of this band but is but a footnote in all the crazy stuff the US government got up to at the time. A bonus point for a crazy story.
What goes up, must come down. 7/10
There was a moment where it felt like I was listening to a song on the Katamari Damacy soundtrack so it gets a bonus star
High school version of me would have ATE THIS SHIT UP! The rock-jazz fusion was everything I was craving and listened to artists in that same vein like Haken and Dream Theater. I ruck with this album a lot.
Super interesting album. Like the use of classical and jazz. Rating: 7.5/10 Favorite Song: Variations on a Theme
+1 because the opening sounds like the intro to Zelda or some other video game I can't place. 4/5
A little weird, a little groovy, but overall a good time.
Very messy, but very fun. Love the vocalists and instrumentals, but whoever’s on bass absolutely steals the show. It’s definitely cheesy at times, but I think the reason I end up liking this more than Chicago’s similar jazz-pop style is that BS&T doesn’t give the feeling that they’re trying to or think they’re cool. They just have fun, and it’s hard not to have fun with them.
This made me so very happy.
Honestly liked this one a lot for more of a jazz album.
This is a great album that's like 5 genres. It does each of them really well.
Pretty decent, would have been a 3 star had it not been for Spinning Wheel and the bass player carrying everyone!
Groupe inconnu. L'album propose un mélange de styles (rock, funk, jazz) très entrainant et réussi. Dans la plupart des morceaux le groupe introduit des passages instrumentaux avec d'excellents chorus (clavier, cuivres, guitare). La section rythmique est excellente, en particulier la basse, remarquable dans beaucoup de morceaux (changement de style, par exemple funk puis walking en passant par du rock). J'ai particulièrement apprécié les morceaux les plus dynamiques, en particulier "Smiling Phases", un petit peu moins les plus lents, même si les chorus rattrapent ces morceaux. Mention spéciale aussi pour "Blues – Part II" et ses chorus+solos. Je ré-écouterais avec plaisir cet album, il va même rejoindre ma collection. =>4/5
4/5
DEcent album with some standards.
Blood, Sweat & Tears is the second album from Blood, Sweat & Tears and definitely one that needs a few listens before you fully form an opinion on it. At first it feels like a bit of a mess, constantly jumping between styles and ideas, but strangely that ends up being both a negative and part of the album’s charm. Overall, I found it a really enjoyable listen. It’s difficult to place the album into one clear genre. There are elements of jazz, rock, funk and even big band music all mixed together, sometimes within the same track. It feels chaotic at times, but in a good way — almost like a perfectly controlled mess. The musicianship throughout is excellent and the bass in particular really stands out across the album. That said, the long instrumentals do drag things down a little for me. A couple of tracks feel overindulgent and could easily have been trimmed without hurting the overall album. Still, despite those moments, I enjoyed this album a lot more than I expected to and it’s definitely one I’ll come back to again. Favourite tracks: “More and More” and “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” are brilliant Least favourite tracks: The long instrumentals really let the album down at times Album artwork: Standard album cover
Really cool album! Never heard of it before today but the combination of 60s rock and big brass really works for me, at least on most of the tracks. Feels like proto prog with the long songs that shift style and tone dramatically throughout. Best Song: God Bless the Child Worst Song: And When I Die
bello, gentile e vivo, perfetto per cucinare e fare il soffritto, album che ho apprezzato un sacco.
These instruments can scare away, but it was actually a very interesting journey.
Really good album that I definitely didn't think would be as good as it was. Definitely will get back to this one. Best song was Smiling Phase as it opened up the album after the intro with such a blast.
Love some of these to bits, mainly because my parents introduced them to me way, way back. Others were just endured.
mange gode klassikere! blir gjenhør
This is a great album.
LOVE the jazziness if the album & horns. Hello, Spinning Wheel & You've Made Me So Very Happy
I don't really know this band except for the two big songs that are both on this album. I didn't really like the first few tracks, but once "And When I Die" hits, it was all good. That song and "Spinning Wheel" are remarkable and also deeply weird. With "God Bless the Child" in between, we're in four-star album territory. Little drum solo and we're out. Good night.
Great example of don't judge an album by its cover. I did not think I would enjoy this as much as I did, but it was fantastic.
I enjoyed this album. It had me thinking this were psychedelic met big band. It is so late 60’s.
low 4 its a nice listen but i wont be coming back
Oh this is FUN. Can see why this style of music isn't replicated often, but such a cool experiment. Really I just love anything that sounds Jazzy Favorite Song: You've Made Me So Very Happy
This is the best album I've gotten on this list in a while. Several bangers. I will be listening again.
This one was enjoyable to listen to! Love the Trois Gymnopedies covers at the beginning and end. Some songs definitely felt more jazzy compared to others which was a nice dichotomy.
The middle of the album sends me back to my childhood (Spinning Wheel), but as an adult I see how prog-adjacent this album is. The album is bookended by prog rock themed pieces that would be at home on an ELP album. Really really enjoyed this.
This was cool. Kinda jazzy, kinda poppy, kinda bluesy, kinda jam bandish. I used to sing the song you made me so very happy to my little sister to annoy her. The other one I used to sing was the growing pain theme song. I don’t know if I should give this 4 stars. But I’m gonna anyway.
was kinda sick, i was into it Will I listen to again: 80%
bello
Pretty good, musical album. Vocals were unnessecary, the rest of the musicians were quite good.
This album was great. Thought I’d never heard of the band and then Spinning Wheel came on and I know that one. Also really enjoyed You’ve Made Me So Very Happy. Just had a good time with this record and will definitely listen again
Cool blues rock album with some really good classic songs on there.
It's a really great mix of rock, psychedelia and jazz, even if it was a bit all over the place here and there. The Erik Satie covers are surprising, but it's good the album started and finished with it.
This track took me on a journey starting from the first song which is well known and carved in our heads. It is very peaceful and also fun. I guessed it would be country (bc of the cover) but it never stopped fascinating me and was indeed a whole journey. It was good blues and jazz, so jazzy that at some point i forgot what i was listening to. Then came the last song and was a burden on me i had to pull through. If i ignore that song it would be a 4 and im in a good mode so four it is!!
4.5
Fuck it, going 4! Kinda loved this. My view of BS&T tears changed dramatically recently when I heard "Lisa, Listen to Me" in Licorice Pizza. It hits at the exact right moment at the end of the movie. It's interesting how your perception of a band or song can change from a small amount of context. Love a lot of this and the style of music, also a Chicago fan.
I listened to the wrong album at first and didn't like it. I quite enjoyed listening to the correct album though!
Disco muito rico musicalmente. Vocais e instrumentais fabulosos. Rock, blues, jazz... E tudo bem feito. QoA Adonis New.
i enjoyed it a lot fav song: And When I Die
I had low hopes going into this (the 60s has been my lowest rated decade on this), but it was ace. Varied, funky and just loads of fun. Sign me up
Very tight band, great rhythm section, awesome brass and good vocals. Many hits, sometimes a little over indulgent.
This was unexpectedly fun. I didn't know the band beyond "You Make Me So Very Happy" so hearing the jazzy and experimental elements was really cool. Although I don't normally go for long tracks I really enjoyed Blues Pt 2, it has moments to breathe and step up which I found super engaging
I enjoyed a lot of this album, while it went a bit to deep in to experimental part some times as a whole it was a good listen through. Old school jazz with good tempo, singing, and a variety of instruments that sound great together. A really pleasant way to start my day and a few songs I will probably come back to.
Highlights: And When I Die, Spinning Wheel, You Made Me So Very Happy, God Bless The Child and Sometime In Winter. 4.0
A fun mix of sounds. Good stuff!
The rest of the album was not what I was expecting after the first song. I really enjoyed it though. Thought the singing was lovely and the instrumentation was really fun. Fav song: God Bless the Child Least fav: Smiling Phases
Actually quite like this album. The instrumental are quite enjoyable. First song really shot me with nostalgia Specific rating - 4.2 Fav song - spinning wheel Least fav- sometime in winter
I think the first song does a really bad job of introducing the album- it gets so much better once you get past that. In fact I would really love this album without the first song and the 11 minute long song that has too much going on. Some good wiki reading: shortly after this album BS&T went on a US state department sponsored tour and became the first rock band to break through the Iron Curtain- making this album historic for more than just beating Abbey Road and Crosby, Stills And Nash for the 1970s album of the year Grammy. Favourite song: And When I Die Least: Blues, Pt. II
Variations on a theme é clássica demais
a chill one
More jazzy than I thought it would be...
Excellent album, very enjoyable
This was new to me (aside from a few of the well-known singles and riffs) and I really enjoyed it. The biggest surprise was googling the band and discovering Bo Bice of American Idol fame ("fame"?) also spent some time as their lead singer in the post-2000s period.
Favorite Track: And When I Die
I don't care for jazz, but apparently I'm okay with jazz rock. So many great songs on this album, but And When I Die has been a favorite since I first heard it many years ago. Also, David Clayton-Thomas has such a great voice. The male counterpart of Janis Joplin.
Never listened to them in full. Great 60s vibe with a couple of songs ive heard before. Will listen again!
That was a fun ride
This was really great, loads of fun and didn’t sound at all like I’d expect a 1968 album to. People should definitely talk about this one more.
It"s funny that for some time Ihave been looking for the song Spining Wheel in the Otis Reding discography and never found this song that start with "what goes up must come down". On the album I must sy it's quite balsy (or pedantic) to open and close with Eric Satie. Overall a solid album supported by the brass section and teh jazzy touch.
Hat mir sehr gefallen das Album, schöner Klang :) 4 Jazz Trompeten
Coole Sounds
Beautiful and just crazy ambitious. Mixes soft psychedelic rock with orchestral arrangements driven by gorgeous brass. This is so tight. It is a little space age, but somehow not cheesy. This does not reallly know what to be- funk? psychedelic? rock? jazz? This is played so damn well though, and that makes up for a but of lack of coherence
Gear: Fostex TH610 Artwork: 🤵✏️🌳 Production: 😌👂🧈 Music: 🎷🌪️🤯 Rating: 🩸💦➕💧/5
Best album of 1969, according to the Grammy's. Perhaps there were more fitting albums from that year, looking from a modern perspective. Still, it's a good album. This combines a lot of the cool sounds of the era together. Folk Rock of the Band combined with jams and downright Jazz-like songs. The hit singles off this are my favorites here. Brass band Rock like this hasn't really stood the test of time like some other genres, so it's perhaps not the most welcoming album for people who only listen new stuff.
Really cool r&b. Lots of energy and variety of instruments (like all the instruments). Good listen.
- tämähän on virkistävää tavaraa! - julkaisuajankohtaan nähden odotin jotain masentavaa ja katkeraa miestilitystä, no vähän tilitystä on mutta biiseissä on hyvä meno - torvisektio tekee ihmeitä
I enjoyed my time in that album
Never really listened to Blood, Sweat, and Tears before. I'll need to revisit again. Very enjoyable grooves. Look forward to hearing the first album as well.
Ganz nice! Klingt wie Soundtrack
Blues, Satie, jazzimprovisatie, een orgeltje, funky blazers, salsa, Creedence-achtige zang. Maar om nou te zeggen dat men er bloed, zweet en tranen in legt? Het is een vermakelijke vergaarbak, maar ze vergeten dat het soms ook wel fijn is als er lijn zit in wat je te horen krijgt. Het hitje is lekker, dus ze krijgen maar weer es het voordeel van de twijfel.
Ik kreeg al uitslag toen ik het decennium zag, maar dit album blijkt een leuke verrassing uit die jaren '60. Swingende jazzy klanken die je zomaar wat ouder kan inschatten gaan mooi samen met een pop/rock-achtige opzet. De verschillende elementen laten elkaar mooi in hun waarde. Het pakt wellicht niet op elk nummer even goed uit. Er komt af en toe wat saaiers voorbij. Maar dat wordt ruimschoots gecompenseerd door de knallers. Smiling Faces als opwarmertje bijvoorbeeld en natuurlijk Spinning Wheel. Die laatste op het album helaas wel flink tekort gedaan door het einde met 'Oh du lieber Augustin'.
De tering, als je begint met een soort introtune voor de Olympische Spelen van 1968, dan haak ik wel gelijk een beetje af. Blijkbaar is het een cover, net als het grootste deel van de nummers op het album. Ik moet er even inkomen. Het wisselt vervolgens bluesrock af met jazzy stukken. Het is afwisselend sfeervol croonend en jazzy, dan gooien ze er weer wat meer tempo in. Het past wel bij de jaren '60 denk ik. Anno nu klinkt het uiteraard ernstig gedateerd, ook mede vanwege de opnamekwaliteit. Maar de afwisseling in stijlen is toch wel interessant moet ik toegeven. Met de vele toeters doet het me ook denken aan Chicago. Het fijnste vind ik dan ook de swingende bluesy songs als "More and More". Ik weet niet zo goed wat ik hier van moet vinden. Lang niet alles is goed, maar er zitten een paar heerlijke nummers tussen. En de stem van de zangert is helemaal top (wel op het randje van John Fogerty misschien, maar ik heb hem nog niet teveel gehoord). Ik neig vanwege de toffe stukken toch naar 4 sterretjes.
I liked this more than I thought I was going to. I was surprised that this came out in the 60s, because I associate this type of jazz rock with the 70s.
Great blues riffs mixed with the 1960s rock sound, a pleasure to listen to. I wasn't expecting to know so many of these songs. Easily a four-star album, could possibly be a five if I gave it another listen.
This album is all over the place, but I'm not mad about it. Love the brass, love the organ.
Me ha encantado y tampoco lo conocía. Además también es muy variado dentro de su estilo
Pleasantly surprised. This album is just fun.
I have a theory- the best albums have a B-side that’s greater than or equal to the A-side. This Blood Sweat and Tears album has a slammin’ B-side. It made me so very happy.
This has been a favorite of mine for a while. David Clayton-Thomas' debut with the group produced most of their big hits - "Spinning Wheel", "You've Made Me So Very Happy", "And When I Die", and "God Bless the Child". Killer horn arrangements, a fantastically tight rhythm section, fearless changes of tempo and style between bars, and Thomas' muscular vocals make this a classic jazz-rock album. It also contains my least favorite BS&T song - "Sometimes in Winter" is a fine piece of music, but the lyrics are cringe-inducing for me. And "Blues, Pt. 2" is basically a long series of noodling instrumental solos with a generic blues tune tagged onto the end. The rest of the album more than makes up for those weak spots, though.
ging een beetje alle kanten uit... maar vooral de goeie kanten
Listened again. Was like going back in time and finding a long lost friend.
Erg goed album, genoten van de baslijntjes alle solo’s en de muziek over het algemeen. Je hoort terug dat ze er plezier in hadden om het te maken. Je hoort terug dat elke muzikant ontzettend vaardig is. Bij het laatste nummer van smilong phases hoor je hoe makkelijk ze ook van tempo wisselen. Blues pt2 is ook heel nice. Steengoed album.
Great album, I forgot how many great songs were on there. His voice is unmistakable. This is an album you should put on your shelf and spin on your record player.
A bit all over the map genre-wise, but I can appreciate the production and musicianship. There’s a great run of “god bless the child”, “spinning wheel”, “you’ve made me so very happy” back to back to back tracks that really makes this album for me. Blues pt. 2 was an overdrawn stinker though.
Enjoyable....not what I expected. More jazzy and less country. Good fun though
Interesting mix of rock and jazz.
aaah die sind cool. mega prog rock vorriter oder? omg sie mached jo sache. zerst satie adaption und denn 5 groove wechsel in smiling phases? scho cool aber sooo prog. aaah de randy brecker isch vorher bi dene gsi?? sometimes in winter sehr schöne song seeehr schöns arrangement. more and more macht au saaache. geeeile bass break. find de sänger bitz sehr OYEAAH. aber singt guet. and when i die isch sochli showtune? aaah laura nyro song. sie isch sehr cool. god bless the child kenni well jazz standard. oh welli version hani vo dem mol meeega gern gha? baaaaah da loht mi nöd los wer iiisch das gsi?? spinning wheel sooo en banger crazy. einzige woni kenn aber slaaaappt. horns wieder super. find immerno sini stimm nöd d stärchi vode band. aaah ich mein s god bless the child vom george benson und em al jarreau! ok guet. you've made me so very happy isch en motown song hä und mer merkts au. was isch die weird bridge haha? blues part 2 isch meega eklektisch au. sie spieled afoch sunshine of your love irgendwenn aber in wiiiildem arrangement. schluss wenner singt isch suuuper geil. döt singter super.
Buen disco para que los aficionados al pop se inicien al jazz con trompetas. Me gustan más Chicago pero este disco es bueno para su época.
Really enjoyed, very warm and lovely jazzy whatever the perfect mood for my heirloom tomato pinterest breakfast. Aleo had a fun musical theatrey twist as I went on, sort of like Ragtime or something of the like. I liked the one line about how I can swear theres no heaven but pray theres no hell it was jovial and morbid and funny
What a wild, jazzy, rockin’ tornado of diversity and sweaty good times! From unhinged Blues Brothers energy and solemn, romantic croons, to improvisational-feeling explosions of funky chaos, this is a hell of a fun ride. The horns don’t just sit on top - they run the show, swaggering and shining like the engine of the whole band. Classic sound I’ll always have time for!
Beginning with a jazzy rock version of 'variation on a theme' by Erik Satie is truly genius. Such an unexpected album. Really like this!
Made me feel like groovin plus some lovely instrumental bits. Funk orchestra ftw
Ok and so but anyway, is Blood, Sweat &Tears trying to be Chicago? Or was Chicago trying to be Blood, Sweat & Tears? Even though this is pretty standard middle of the road radio from the sixties, there are a few hits, and they're not that bad. And I enjoyed all the jazz craziness and horns. Not what I expected. 4
Jazz, soul, and classic 60s vibes. Digging it
Como sempre, essa introdução instrumental me encanta muito, depois se assemelha bastante a um álbum de jazz, só que com uma pitadinha de rock. Algo que para mim, foi um excelente começo, um começo bastante agradável.
I wasn’t expecting so much jazz infusion and I just loved it.
A classic album. Some great tunes on this one.
This was so much more influenced by Latin jazz than I would have expected it to. It fused rock, soul, pop, and jazz pretty seamlessly. I’m not certain if the timeline but I feel like this must have been pretty influential on Chicago? Stunning that this beat both Abbey Road and Crosby, Stills, Nash at the 1970 Grammys for album of the year.
Likedit
I liked this more than I thought I would.
I'm a little biased, because this is one of my dad's favorite records, so I listened to it a lot when I was a child. "Spinning Wheel" and "You've Made Me So Very Happy" are two masterpieces.
Interesting. Another band that we're all familiar with the hits, few of us know much more about them. Somewhere I saw them billed as jazz-rock, and I get that. I've always thought of them and Chicago as brass-rock. BS&T problem for me is the inconsistency caused by the fairly constant lineup change. This is THE BS&T album, though, and it definitely should be heard before you die. Influence 4. Quality 4. Hits 4. Intangibles 4. I love horns in a rock band. 4.
weakest track was probably god bless the child, everything else rocked
Sound of the 69’s and 70,s. Great band, sound, and songs.
Quite decent 4/5
4.44
I am so glad I listened to this album, it felt quite pivotal - whether it was or not is a different question, but i recognised a lot of the songs and definitely think a few modern ones took samples from it!
I went into this with 0 expectations, left me quite impressed. SPIN THAT WHEEL!!
Listened while on the erg — with only two things to think about: 1) the pain of rowing 2) this album and in a complete shock after trial-by-fire, the consensus here is this album rocks. It’s all over the place in a great way. There’s a latin jazz dance break, one of the tracks starts with a synth solo that sounds just like Bowser’s Castle in the OG Super Mario, the vocals range from folksy blues to pure soul. Cool stuff, super enjoyable, not perfection but I will be adding some songs to a playlist.
Experimental jazz band plays psychedelic soul and folk music. I've always known the name but never really listened to this band, save for Spinning Wheel and You've Made Me So Very Happy, although it feels like I've heard someone else cover those songs somewhere else. This really reminds me of Traffic, The Band, and Van Morrison in all the best ways. This album is absolutely wild. And it's sandwiched between Satie?
Interesting music for a rock band in 1968. Real jazzy. I love this music! Jazzy, big band, funk, Latin, polka? all over the place. I'd never heard of these guys. Ohhh, wait... I HAVE heard Spinning Wheel. What happened to them? I'll be checking out the rest of their albums. Good stuff. 4
Nice album. The drummer is on point and the singer has a great voice. Always dug Blood, Sweat and Tears.
fun album though it does drag in parts.
I wasnt expecting bts ofc but what a nice suprise
4/5
3.5/5
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Variations On A Theme, You've Made Me So Very Happy, Blues, Pt. 2 This was a lovely album. I guess I can add Rock-Jazz to the list of genres I enjoy. I've heard Variations On A Theme before, but I couldn't place it. So, I looked it up and I may have heard it from the Royal Tenenbaums, or apparently an episode of Community. Either way, its a nice short piece. I've also definitely heard You've Made Me So Very Happy before, probably on the radio. For the live tracks at the end, the Blues, Pt. 2 has a nice bit of Smoke on the Water towards the end that's pretty cool.
Great groovy rock. Enjoyed the live tracks on the expanded too.
When BS&T burst upon the scene in the late 60’s, I quickly became a fan. While on a college break during my family’s relocation to the suburbs north of Detroit, I was able to catch the Al Kooper led version of BS&T and a few years later, the David Clayton Thomas led version as they introduced this album. Both versions offered rich background music and while my preferred version of BS&T was the Al Kooper group, this is a great album. I’m a huge fan.
Better than I thought it’d be
Blood, Sweat & Tears was how Len Houmous described his 18th marriage. 3.6 4/9 More and More
7/10
Before, I preferred the follow up (3) to this their second LP, but revisiting today has made me re-evaluate that position. I’ll spin 3 next to check and if it’s as good as I remember, I’ll have to consider adding more BS&T to my life. Rock’n’soul with some psyche, jazz, and a long jam thrown into the mix too. It’s a stew, but it’s a tasty one.
Good
Very solid Boomer album. Elements of jazz, blues, orchestra, rock. It rolls along nicely and most songs are unique and notable. The blues numbers kinda roll on (the closing track does not need to be eleven minutes along), but the musicianship is superb. I can easily support its inclusion on this list - but it isn't a terrific, flawless album. Some numbers are too long, it feels rather disjointed at times between tracks, and it isn't like a groundbreaking album. But it is performed quite well.
8/10
LIke it. Middle scores
Pretty strong and funky. I really liked it.
Wow - haven’t heard this since way back and happy it came along here. They were a great group and I’m still loving this. Nice jazzy rock.
I was already familiar with this album previously. Blood, Sweat & Tears is one of the better examples of blending jazz (using horns) and rock, along with Chicago. This is a strong album to showcase that. There are some catchy songs with some extended instrumental passages as well. It may be a bit dated, but it's very good and I would listen again.
Skemmtileg plata sem kom á óvart.
Fín plata, mörg skemmtileg lög.
Interesting fusion of jazz and rock.
- Die Kombi aus Rock und Jazz hat mir gut gefallen - Würde ich auf jeden Fall nochmal hören und ist mal was besonderes das man nicht so oft hört Topsong: Spinning Wheel
Very musically diverse album, somewhat unexpectedly so. "Spinning Wheel" and "You've Made Me So Very Happy" were unsurprisingly the best songs. The version of "God Bless The Child" was bizarre, but not bad. Definitely a solid album.
Unos arreglos de locura en los metales y voces que parece que nacieron para cantar el soul hicieron que este album fuera un disfrute total. Sabrosísimo, deja con ganas de que todo sonara así de bien.
Winner of the album of the year at the Grammys in 1970.
Is it fair to say I’ve never heard of Blood, Sweat & Tears? Their most popular song on Spotify has only about 20 million plays. Not super obscure, but not well known. Usually, the obscure 60’s bands tend to be hit or miss, since it’s mostly psychedelic stuff. But I have to say this one was very interesting. This band’s kind of like an unorthodox Chicago, with how they blend jazz into rock and pop. It’s a little all over the place, but I dig it. It has great energy and variation. Kind of wish they left out Blues, Pt. 2, though. It’s long, out of place, and steals the riff of Sunshine of Your Love at one point. Despite that, pleasant surprise. Favorite track: You Made Me So Very Happy Other hits: Spinning Wheel, Smiling Phases, Sometimes in Winter, And When I Die, More and More
Loved his voice. The instruments were cool especially the trumpet parts.
Super tight, rollicking jazz flecked blues rock - this was a pleasant surprise. The singer can wail!
I've completely underestimated them! Tracks 5-8 are very familiar and I was never a big fan, but the other tracks are a lot more fun musically. Not on the original album but on the expanded edition are the two live recordings which are the best part.
This makes me so very happy.
I like jazz but never love a jazz album
Rad album
An iconic group with an iconic sound.
Joyful jazz-rock fusion featuring big band orchestrations that rival Chicago. "You've Made Me So Very Happy" is a personal favorite. It takes a simple and romantic sentiment and blows it up into this huge, dramatic song. It's gorgeous, and I really connect to it. Love can really feel like that.
On paper, horn-driven rock with jazz chops should be right in my wheelhouse, and the big singles — “Spinning Wheel” and “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” — are still excellent. But the album as a whole doesn’t fully land for me. Slick, well-played, and historically important, but not one I’d call a five-star record. Somewhere between 3 and 4 feels right — respect for the hits and the influence, but the deep cuts leave me less impressed.
A lot of fun, I really enjoyed it
I own this one and enjoy it.
Was sampled by Jason Forrest's War Photographer, so that's pretty cool
Jazzy and intricate. Never boring.
I genuinely enjoyed this album.
Inconsistent, but when it’s good, it’s a real jam
I know this band. Never listened to an album. I need to listen to more. I love this. Especially the horns.
Really enjoyed it actually
really good
We have some very familiar songs from the 60s that are all great, but then you get all these instrumental pieces, Motown covers, and even a little soul all of which might be even more fun!
A lot more varied and eclectic than I was expecting! This shit is really very good. This is one of those albums that make you want to dive into the rest of their catalogue. I hope I’m not disappointed!
Solid
Uma fusão de blues-rock com jazz, com o rock psicodélico e o pop em peças enriquecidas pelos arranjos que valorizam tanto as partes conjuntas (naipes de cordas e metais) quanto as participações individuais de vozes, guitarras e baixos. Um ótimo disco, daqueles prazerosos em se ouvir.
Damn good jazz
I kind of liked this band. The vocals were unique and strong. The instruments were well played and had some variety.
Good type of quirkiness
I quite liked this. Fun little composition for an album, some blues, jazz, and rock all mixed together. Also really liked lead guy's voice. Overall very pleasant and I think I would listen to it again. Didn't knock my socks off but still very good.
A good album, I enjoyed the music style. I liked Variations On A Theme and And When I Die the most.
Enjoyed this more than I expected. It was a ride and felt like being at a really creative concert.
Really fun blend of rock & jazz
Good stuff
The whole time I was listening I was thinking this is what it would sound like if Eric Clapton created a jazz band. Then the last song had a quick little Clapton riff in it and I felt completely validated.
With the exception of the instrumental numbers I really liked this album. Again it was a band that I knew mostly just name and major hit, Spinning Wheel, but I found I really enjoyed the others as well.
This album was really catchy although there were a couple of tracks I didn’t like. Bluesy/jazzy/country/pop. Rating: 4
Fed! Ret unikt
Great sound!
Eclectic or what? So many styles… I knew some of these songs but not their origins so it was interesting to find out. You make me do very happy - stunning track! And Soinning wheel - classic! Not sure if I’d ever choose to spin this as an album but I do love a lot of these songs in their own right.
This was really solid. Hard to pin down in terms of classification — had classical, jazz, rock, swing. Somehow this isn't an album or a band I'm going to reach for to play because I'm in the mood to hear them, but when they're playing, there's lots of things to key in on that are pretty captivating.
Great album, bluesy.
Really balanced album I should reach for more often.
If you like horns and flute and classic piano in your music, there's a timeless beauty in this one. Plus, I will never discount the fact that my 8th grade gf was so, so, happy when I gave the album to her for her birthday.
Starts slow, great through the end
Great album
Funky, jazzy, fun rock with some bluesy elements. Thoroughly enjoyed "And When I Die" and "God Bless the Child". Didn't realise that I knew "Spinning Wheel".
Is this like the origin of jazz fusion or something? Don’t really love that genre but this was a good album. Very unique. A lot of different stuff going on
Love this album. For my money, BST is better than Chicago. So much fun.
Surprisingly good...
ya like jazz?
Standout Songs: Smiling Phases More and More And When I Die You've Made Me So Very Happy Very fun, jazzy album. Absolutely love the singer’s voice. Makes me want to look into more of their music.
Great mash up of styles, musicians, and song writers. Fun music.
Very weird, not what I expected, but it really grew on me throughout.
Prototype for “rock with horns”. Good album
Variations on a Theme... - 3/5 Smiling Phases - 3/5 Sometimes in Winter - 4/5 More and More - 3/5 And When I Die - 3/5 God Bless the Child - 4/5 Spinning Wheel - 5/5 You've Made Me So Very Happy - 5/5 Blues, Pt. 2 - 4/5 Variation on a Theme... - no rating (too short) Average score: 3.8/5 (rounding up) instrumentation on this album in general was impressive. similar to what i've seen a few others mention, it's a little disorientating how many genres the group was playing around with here. are they prog rock? jazz? funk? it's a little much at times regardless, it was a fun listen and i'm glad i gave it a spin. on a less rigid rating scale, this would probably get 3.5 stars rather than 4. i don't think this is my new favorite album or anything, but i'd come back to a handful of tracks again
So all over the place in such a great way.
Bumping this a star cuz side B honestly slaps
4 maybe 5
I wasn’t sure what to expect if a band called Blood, Sweat & Tears. It could well have been a punk band. It wasn’t though. It was really quite an odd sound, to be honest, but in a way that I quite enjoyed. It was poppy in parts, rock in parts, and then with a fair whack of jazz thrown in too. My one gripe was that it was a bit too long for me to - it’s a double album, and around 90 minutes. Sometimes really good albums can keep my attention this long, but this wasn’t quite there for me.
8.5/10
Didn’t know what to expect with this but it was great. Jazzy in the right way, great drumming, great singing. Enjoyed listening.
Day492 - i was surprised of the range of this album. i really enjoyed listening
Excellent. Eclectic and intriguing. I very much enjoyed my time with it having never heard of them before.