Customer Reviews

Definitive Collection

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Brilliant as so much sixties pop and rock music was, Blood Sweat and Tears seemed fresh and exciting with their brand of jazz-rock. Of course, much popular music in the first half of the twentieth century had its roots in jazz, but the jazz influence had all but disappeared from mainstream pop music by the time rock'n'roll took over in the mid-fifties. Blood Sweat and Tears showed that records featuring prominent trumpets and saxophones could sell in huge quantities to pop and rock fans.

The group had three major American hits, all of which came from their second album and all of which peaked at number two - You've made me so very happy (written and first recorded by Brenda Holloway, a much under-rated Motown singer), Spinning wheel and And when I die. While these three songs were major hits in many countries around the world, they conspicuously failed to make much impact in Britain, where one of them (You've made me so very happy) was a minor hit and the other two failed to chart. Still, their music is readily available in Britain so their UK popularity is better than the charts might suggest.

This compilation contains those three classics as well as other great songs such as Lucretia Mac Evil, Hi de ho, Go down gambling (all hits in America) and their cover of Got to get you into my file (written by Paul McCartney for Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, who had a UK top ten hit with it - the Beatles included their own version on their album, Revolver).

This is not the ultimate Blood Sweat and Tears compilation - there are some notable omissions such as I can't quit her - but it serves as a good introduction to their music.

But I thought mine was a 1995 release!? [Mine is not a Sony/BMG - but believe it was about that year when the songs were remastered] Tried other CDs on this "Definitive" import series, but, sadly, not as great as sound as this! Sounds great becuase the tracks were remixed/remastered from the session tapes (the way all CDs should be). Not sure if the Sony's 20 bit Super Bit Mapping or Gold CD had anything to do with the nice sound! But, yes, you'll find other BS&T CDs on SACD even Blue Ray, so you know Sony found some gold to publish!

Note: This review applies to the Best of the Best Gold disc, not the regular Definitive Collection. Though the track listing is the same, the gold is only found on the import version with the Best of the Best outer sleeve.

I am a casual BS&T fan but do know that this disc does appear to shun the Al Kooper led first album, "Child is Father to the Man" which I no longer have but remember as being very good so I deduct one star for that. I would recommend CIFTTM and by adding that whole disc to supplement this one would really complete the BS&T overview. That being said, all the big songs are here on this Gold Best of the Best and then some so it is very good on that basis.

What drew me to this particular entry is the gold cd. I really didn't know what to expect but the sound quality is first rate. I see that BS&T is also on Mobile Fidelity and other gold releases for specific albums. I doubt that this was mastered any differently than the regular silver disc "Definitive Collection" which this reproduces and I don't have. It does say that 13 of the 17 tracks were Super Bit Mastered but doesn't say when. There are no liner notes, just track listings.

What I do know is that the sound is excellent and the price for a gold disc is fantastic. If you only need one BS&T disc, I doubt you could do better than this!

Good stuff along with some nice suprises .Only skipped to next track one time ,I think. Hold on ,I'll ask my fiance who was with me that day in the car. She may or may not rem.. what ? I'm not saying tha... NOOOO ,I LOVE our road trips !!!! Yes,REALLY !!!! Greattt, now she's shut the door . Good tunes and jammin' old school.

The music sounds better than ever on CD. If you enjoyed them in the 60's, you will really want to add this to your collection.

The price is right for this collection. It also features two tracks from More THan Ever that aren't available on any other CD release.

I like the Definitive collection's track listing a little better than the main "What Goes Up" compilation. It adds a couple tracks from the album More Than Ever, and includes some of the other Jerry Fisher material. I recommend this disc. Good price too.

"Blood sweat and tears" will be reminded as the first-rate ensemble to intermingle the jazz rhythms with the basic Rock roots, that fact literally proved to be successful. Bands that would emerge later like Chicago Transit Authority, Malo, War, Santana, Shango or Chicano, just to name a few, understood the huge transcendence of this new universe of infinite possibilities and wrought a personal style around this musical expression.

That's why Blood sweat and tears sound so fresh, after having elapsed four decades. And that once more carves in relief why only one is original when goes to the origin.