Customer Reviews

Blind Faith (Deluxe Edition)

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Now often overlooked, Blind Faith was guitar god Eric Clpaton's first move after Cream imploded at the end of 1968. Joining forces with the multi-talented Steve Winwood(vocals and keyboards), who has just left Traffic, seemed like an unbeatable idea, and the addition of drummer extraordinaire Ginger Baker and bassist Rick Grech made Blind Faith seem like a "can't miss" project. Six months later it was over. Rushed into the studio by greedy and insensitive managers and then sent on a long and chaotic tour, Blind Faith never had a chance to gel as a band. After one promising album, the original supergroup broke up.

Judged a disappointment at the time Blind Faith's one and only album has some very fine moments. Clapton had yet to develop the confidence needed to be a convincing lead vocalist, so he deferred to Winwood, who was at his peak as a singer. Clapton's guitar work is simply magnificent, as he is already maturing beyond his work with Cream and pointing towards his renaissance with Derek & the Dominoes that began a year later.

Polydor has remastered "Blind Faith" using state-of-the-art technology, and reissued it with outtakes and jam sessions from the original 1969 recording sessions. The original album is a revelation; the sound as crisp and full as is imaginable. The clarity is astounding, and even if you think you know every note of this album, you will be pleasantly surprised by what you hear on this new version. Songs like Winwood's "Can't Find My Way Home" and "Sea of Joy," and Clapton's "Presence of the Lord" have aged very well and sound better than ever.

The outtakes are a mixed lot. A couple have appeared on Clapton and Winwood's anthologies, and several others have circulated for years on bootlegs, albeit with inferior sound. These tracks are interesting but not essential.

The jams, alas, are largely a waste. Playing riffs for ten or fifteen minutes while waiting for a musical idea that's worth keeping is not my idea of fun for the listener. These tracks are not even built around a reliable and basic format like 12-bar blues. There are some fiery moments - how could there not be with these musicians - but, like the three CD "Layla" box a decade ago, most of the unreleased material is disappointing.

Still, fans of Clapton, Winwood and their various bands will probably want to own this set. The remastered "Blind Faith" is a gem, and stakes a viable claim for the album as one of the best of its era.

The world's first "supergroup," consisting of Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker & Rick Grech, Blind Faith fizzled out almost as quickly as they began---too many egos, too many cash-ins on the part of their managers, and a plagued U.S. tour sealed their fate. But amidst their all-too-brief whirlwind in 1969, the band DID manage to cobble together one single self-titled album, which still stands today as a classic. Containing just six songs, the "Blind Faith" album has held up just fine, thank you very much. "Had To Cry Today," spearheaded by Clapton's unique fretboard, is a groovy headbobber. "Can't Find My Way Home" is one of Winwood's most heartfelt compositions, and Clapton's beautiful "Presence Of The Lord" is one of the biggest highlights of Slowhand's career. The band put an excellent, fresh spin on Buddy Holly's "Well Alright," "Sea Of Joy" is another Winwood winner, and the big finish, Baker's "Do What You Like," is a rock drummer's heaven. And let's not overlook the great bass contributions throughout from Grech, keeping this great rock outfit firmly anchored.The original six-song "Blind Faith" album easily earns 5 out of 5 stars, but this is the special 2001 re-issue version, which now makes "Blind Faith" a double album, containing five previously unreleased extended jams and a few other studio leftovers. Now, you'd think that by applying more material to the album, it would make this already-brilliant recording even more brilliant. But not so fast---while some of the extra material here IS a wonderful addition to the 1969 album, some other material comes across as excess flab that should've stayed in the vaults. First, the Good Stuff: the two solid versions of the blues number, "Sleeping In The Ground"; Winwood's engaging instrumental "Time Winds" (but was it intended to have lyrics, I wonder?); and the electric version of "Can't Find My Way Home," which is just as lovely as the acoustic original. As for the five extended jams, the "Acoustic Jam" is a total keeper, & "Slow Jam #2" is another inspired workout, with the band hitting a good groove and rocking it for all it's worth. The remaining three jams, however, despite the fine musicianship on display, are meandering and unmemorable---they don't really GO anywhere. But to be fair to the band, none of these jam sessions were originally intended for commercial release. Still, "Acoustic Jam" & "Slow Jam #2" DO work, and like the regular album itself, they show what Clapton, Winwood & the boys were capable of when they were cookin' together.Blind Faith's light shined much too briefly, but at least they left behind a terrific album before all was said and done. Most of the bonus material on this deluxe edition compliments the original record quite nicely, so if you're a big fan of this album, then this is certainly worth getting. 32 years later, "Blind Faith" is still a rock gem.

This is a 2 cd remaster of the classic Blind Faith album. The album features one of the first "super groups" with Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker(my favorite rock drummer) and the now deceased Rick Grech. They are one of the only bands to release only one album and have it reach number one. The remastering on this album is good. I am a fan of both Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood and I have most of this unissued material on bootlegs already. However, the sound quality is much improved. The "unissued" first version of "Sleeping In The Ground" & the electric alternate version of "Can't Find My Way Home" are excellent. This is the way they played "Can't Find My Way Home" live. The tracks "Exchange And Mart" & "Spending All My Days" mentioned by a previous reviewer come from a later session for an aborted Rick Gretch solo album in which other musicians were present. However, they should have added one of the instrumental versions of "Hey Joe" from these sessions to the second disc.

If you do not like jamming you will not like the second disc. It sounds not unlike the Cream "Live" albums or the jams from the "Layla" boxed set sessions. One of the drawbacks to the second disc however is the fact that these sessions were cut before Rick Gretch joined the group. Due to this Steve Winwood plays bass on the first two cuts instead of keyboards or guitar which would have made them more interesting. This is not to say Steve Winwood is a bad bass player but he's no Jack Bruce. The later two jams feature him on Hammond organ. The "Change Of Address Jam" in my opinion the best of the jams. I favor more adventerous playing so I am a fan of the second disc. It gives an insight into the creative minds of these musicians. I found this deluxe addition to be a welcome addition to my collection. Now if they would only release the Hyde Park concert.

This album features Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker(fresh from Cream), Steve Winwood(fresh from Traffic) and Ric Grech(so fresh from Family that he bailed mid-tour to join). For me, my favorite Eric stuff has always been the Yardbirds, Cream and Blind Faith and for Steve Traffic and Blind Faith. So you're not going to be surprised when I tell you that this is a must have. Every song on the original album is wonderful and has never sounded better. Songs like Had To Cry Today, Can't Find My Way Home and Sea Of Joy sound unlike anything anyone else has ever done although the same could be said for everything on here. There seems to be a little debate over the bonus tracks and if they're worth the extra price. For me, yes. I love jammy stuff so this is right up my alley and the alternate versions are execellent and I just wish that there was more. I really do believe when it comes to something as classic as this you should really get the whole picture.

Blind Faith was the band that the title supergroup was first bestowed on. Comprised of former Cream members Eric Clapton on guitar and Ginger Baker on drums, former Traffic member Steve Winwood on keyboard and former Family member Rick Grech on bass, the group was formed by Mr. Clapton and Mr. Winwood as a way for the two friends to play together. Mr. Baker got wind of the jam sessions and invited himself in. The group was never intended to go much past the informal jamming sessions, but the music they were making showed alot of promise. They agreed to record an album and recruited Mr. Grech to play bass. Before the album was even released, the band was booked for a US tour and were set to play in large arenas like Madison Square Garden. At that time, rock bands never played in those 20,000 seat venues, they mostly played smaller auditoriums like the Fillmores. With all the hype and high expectations for a band that had only been together for about a month, they dubbed themselves Blind Faith. They played their first show at London's Hyde Park in July 1969 and then headed off to America. They had almost finished their short tour when their self-titled album was released. The album was comprised of a mere six songs and showed off the jamming, freestyle leanings of its members. "Do What You Like" contains a ten minute drum solo by Ginger Baker, but it is actually quite enjoyable. "Can't Find My Way Home" is a song in the Traffic vein, acoustic based and containing a great Steve Winwood vocal. "Sea Of Joy" is another extended jam while "Presence Of The Lord" has some great Eric Clapton wah-wah guitar and it has a beautiful lilting melody. The bonus songs that flesh out the deluxe package are nameless jams that show off the musician's prowess. "Acoustic Jam" is the best of the these. The album was a huge success hitting number one, but the band quickly broke up after the tour. Even though they were only together for a scant seven months, they created some timeless music.

For fans of the original lp this reissue is an absolute must. Blind Faith gets most of it's recognition as one of the first supergroups and for it's short duration. This release puts the emphasis back where it belongs, on the music. The bonus jams are for the most part outstanding. Kinda like the Live Cream lp's but w/ less flash and a little more groove. Contrary to popular belief this band accomplished plenty during it's short existence. Let the revisionist history begin. These guys were great. The change of address jam has quite a groove. Essential. My only gripe would be the lack of live material. It would be nice to have an official live compilation too.

Chris

Rock's first supergroup did the term and the music proud with its one and only release in 1969, but this remixed, remastered and expanded version gets somewhat bogged down and diluted with the inclusion of five lengthy jams (each clocking in at over 12 minutes or more) which seem to present the band killing time (and not knocking down barriers as hyped) waiting for the muse to come. But when the muse alighted, she ignited. `Had To Cry Today', `Can't Find My Way Home', `Presence Of The Lord' and `Sea Of Joy' (marked forever in any rocker's memory due to Rick Gretch's mournful violin solo). Solid rock all. It's the 90 added minutes to the original 40 that paints another picture. It's accepted knowledge that the two thirds of Cream (Baker/Clapton) wanted to steer away from the ferocious instrumental interplay of Cream but come on guys, give in to the impulse once in a while.`Acoustic Jam', sounding like Winwood's `Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys' in texture and tone, does have it's interesting moments, but for the most part is aimless and draggy. The two versions of `Sleeping In The Ground' are okay, but you've got to watch out for Disc 2 where the jams go on and on and on going nowhere.

I sincerly question the decision to make this a double disc release with a double disc price (evidently, so does Polygram, as they are releasing it in its original format), but that does not take away from either the fine music that comprised the original album, or the wonderful remaster it has received.

I might mention that Dennis Drake actually did a fine job with the original digital remaster in, I believe, 1990. He gave a low end to the sound that it lacked in it's LP form. But this release is a revelation! The full, lush low end now compliments and balances the thinner, upper register sounds that previously dominated (Winwood's voice, organ, piano and the guitars).

At first, it seems that the high end has been compromised compared to the original Drake remaster. But after several listens, I believe that to be an aural illusion due to the incredible low end that exists on this disc.

Let me just say that this is one the true lost classics of rock. Everyone always criticized Blind Faith as being a money-grubbing supergroup who were rushed too fast and burned out too quickly. This is all true, but that certainly wasn't the intent when they started. Their mistake was letting the sharks in.

Maybe the album was rushed, but man, what a sound. It is clear that Winwood, Clapton and Baker were creating something quite unique. And bassist Rick Gretch (ex-Family) actually keeps up! and contributes a wonderful violin solo to Sea of Joy.

The oft-criticized "Do What You Like" is actually a wonderfully arranged and recorded excursion in 5/4 time; maybe the drum and bass solos go on just a bit too long...and maybe they don't. The drum sound that Baker and Jimmy Miller, the producer, create is just absolutely stunning. Could be used for a test record today to showcase both stereo sound and drumming pyrotechnics.

These are inspired musicians creating a fire under some really fine songs. Put on Can't Find My Way Home and tell me you've ever heard anything like it. I dare you.

And what about the additional tracks on disc 1 and jams that comprise disc 2? Hey, with a band this hot, why not see what they were up to? Nope, nowhere near as brilliant as the original album, none of it, but still, isn't it worth a listen?

If you decide that it isn't, then I suggest the "new" remaster that just came out, that contains just the original album.

It will keep you happy for days.

Blind Faith has finally been released in a deluxe edition with an extended booklet. Firstly, the cover graphics have been reproduced beautifully compared with the original Polygram CD release, and secondly, the sound is about on a par with the Mobile Fidelity Gold remaster released many years ago. The bonus tracks are OK - it's obvious why they weren't released however. The jams are interesting - "Very Long and Good Jam" has exactly the same drum pattern as the later released "Aiko Biaye" from Ginger Baker's Air Force. This is an excellent album - when is the live album going to be released?

It is hard not to look back at the line-up of this short-lived 1969 Supergroup and think about what might have been: Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and Ginger Baker. Certainly Blind Faith had the potential to be more than a Cream substitute with Winwood replacing Jack Bruce. However, after their debut album and a single U.S. tour, Clapton was off with Delaney and Bonnie before making his first attempt at a solo effort. This Deluxe Edition from Universal Classics consists of a remastered edition of "Blind Faith" and some unreleased cuts (e.g., a slow downed blues version of "Sleeping in the Ground") and a second disc of jam sessions that never really get beyond the raw stage. You will find them interesting but there is nothing there that approaches either "Presence of the Lord" or "Can't Find My Way Home." I admit this surprises me since I have always assumed that listening to Clapton jam with anybody, let alone Windwood and Baker, would be totally awesome. So I am definitely in the first disc 5 stars, second disc 3 stars, split the difference and call it 4 star camp.