Customer Reviews

What Goes Up: Best of Blood, Sweat & Tears

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If your appreciation for Blood Sweat & Tears goes beyond just the "hits," then this is the set for you. In addition to the full-length (not edited for radio) versions of such B.S.& T. classics as "Spinning Wheel," "Hi-De-Ho" and "Lucretia McEvil," this collection contains the essential tracks that defined their unique mixture of sounds. From jazz-heavy gems like "Smiling Phases," and "Something's Comin' On," to Rockin' cuts like "Go Down Gamblin'" and "More & More," Blood Sweat & Tears versatility remains truly refreshing. Al Kooper's pre David Clayton Thomas contribution particulary on "I Can't Quit Her," and "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know," make this a true retrospective. Unfortunately, both discs are not created equal. The second disc is a little thin featuring many cuts between David Clayton Thomas' two stints with the group. However as a total package, this is a must for serious Blood Sweat & Tears fans.

Blood, Sweat & Tears started out as an experimental group that blended rock and jazz with a collection of serious musicians led by Al Kooper. The result was the critically acclaimed but poor selling Child Is Father to the Man--the album peaked at No. 47. Exit Koooper, enter David Clayton Thomas and the band's second album, Blood Sweat & Tears, sells two million copies and yields three million-selling singles: You've Made Me So Very Happy," "Spinning Wheel" and "And When I Die." It was a situation that reminded me of the old Starkist tuna commercial: "Sorry, Charlie, people don't want tuna with good taste; they want tuna that tastes good." BS&T's debut hit all the right notes and should have been a big hit, but the masses weren't ready to accept it. Instead, they wanted the more radio-friendly hits. This collection compromises and gives you both.

Disc-1 contains four tracks from Child Is Father to the Man and inlcudes most of the hits most fans will recognize. Disc-2 tracks BS&T's decline in popularity. Only "Go Down Gamblin'" reached the Top 40.

While BS&T's Greatest Hits would also give you all the hits on a single disc--and cheaper, too--What Goes Up! will give you a more thorough picture of one of the late-Sixties best ground-breaking bands. RECOMMENDED

"What Goes Up" is an excellent overview of BS&T's ouevre from 1967 till late. The Al Kooper tracks, particularly "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know", are a refreshing change in style to the more familiar incarnation which featured David Clayton-Thomas on lead. The second disc is my favourite due to its unfamiliarity - "Snow Queen" is outstanding, as is Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage". Overall, one of the best compilation albums out, with all tracks full length ("Lucretia MacEvil" and "Go Down Gamblin'" sound complete in their full versions).

Blood Sweat & Tears started out as 8 musicians trying to make ends meet. It ended (well kind of since Clayton-Thomas is still fronting a version of the band) as a 9 piece group with no direction. In between was a lot of great music that critics never could figure out. Were they a rock group? Or maybe Jazz? The point here is that sometimes people think too darn hard about what's behind the music, and never take the opportunity to just enjoy it. Starting with "Child is Father to the Man" BS&T kept changing and refining their sound and music. This Greatest Hits collection gives the listener a wonderful feel of how their music evolved. Some the early covers, such as Traffic's "Smiling Phases" and Laura Nyro's "And When I Die" show the ability to change styles without missing a beat. It's also interesting to note that while 5 songs were included from BS&T 4, they left off probably the best of the lot, which was "Redemption". This oversight is made up for later by the inclusion of the live version of "Mean Ole World" which was originally recorded by the band with Jerry LaCroix on lead vocals but brought to life by Clayton-Thomas after he returned to the group. Other notable songs include "John the Baptist", an Al Kooper piece from BS&T 4, "Snow Queen/Maiden Voyage" and "40,000 Headman", another Traffic cover. If you like a lot of different styles of music, from rock to jazz, from pop to blues, "do yourself a favor/wake up to your mind/life is what you make it": Grab this collection!

In My opinion Ian Crenna like most rock based critics never got the point of Blood,Sweat & Tears. These passages are not crudely inserted and do not sound clumsy. Here is a band that did and could play jazz as well as rock. They brought something new to the table. The placement of these instrumental passages were what made this group interesting. For all those who like complex arrangements with the drive of rock. One could argue about what shoud've been included, but enough was included to satisfy. The cuts are complete not edited for single release.

SHORT REVIEW:
This is the true anthology of the work of Blood, Sweat, & Tears. Buy this to get the big hits (as I did) and be pleasantly surprised by what else comes along for the ride.

Gripes...

I would like to have seen a 40cut 2 disc of 20 greatest hits which seem to everywhere today...

1. Refugee From Yuhupitz
2. I Love You, More Than You'll Ever Know
3. Without Her
4. I Can't Quit Her
5. House In The Country
6. Smiling Faces
7. Sometimes In Winter
8. More & More
9. And When I Die
10. God Bless The Child
11. Spinning Wheel
12. You've Made Me So Very Happy
13. Children Of The Wind
14. Hi-Di-Ho (That Old Sweet Roll)
15. The Battle
16. Lucretia Mac Evil / Lucretia's Reprise
17. Fire & Rain
18. He's A Runner
19. Something's Coming On
20. 40,000 Headmen

1. Go Down Gamblin'
2. Cowboys & Indians
3. John The Baptist (Holy John)
4. Redemption
5. Lisa, Listen To Me
6. Valentine's Day
7. Mama Gets High
8. I Can't Move No Mountains
9. So Long Dixie
10. Snow Queen
11. Maiden Voyage
12. Time Remembered
13. Roller Coaster
14. Save Our Ship
15. Tell Me That I'm Wrong
16. Love Looks Good On You (You're Candy Sweet)
17. Ride Captain Ride
18. Got To Get You Into My Life
19. You're The One
20. Mean Old World [Live]

Leaving off Redemption was just unacceptable...
But this is the best that is on the market. Get it for the superhits, be surprised by what comes along for the ride...

Alright, here it is. If you're looking for a greatest-hits collection of this group then look no further, THIS IS IT!

The songs are all here and uncut. If you really like B,S&T and looking for a collection of thier stuff on CD (like I was) then pick this up, it's worth every dime and all the time.

This is one of everlasting memoris of Blood, Sweat & Tears! I think it expressed the music of the early and later '70's; Seeing I was NOT a Teenager in the '70's I was quite thrilles to find this Album here on the Eve of 2002! In the 70's, please remember this Album and all others were available only on LP! Yes, I have above Album in LP, also a Turntable on which to play same, and a Cassette recorder which I taped same from! This is truly a great work with beautiful harmony by the group and such beautiful medldies! Sorry if some of you did not happen to hear this LP back then. It is one of my favorites and feel fortunate to buy same on CD. Thanks -

This 2-CD compilation of the music of Blood Sweat & Tears is far superior to their Greatest Hits. If you want a full retrospective of this influential Jazz Rock group (or just want a healthy dose of their best music), this is the 2 CD package for you.

The tracks follow the chronological order of the albums from which they were taken. The first CD leads off with an early unreleased instrumental track, "Refugee From Yuhupitz". This is followed by three tracks from the first album, "Child is Father to the Man". The influence of Al Kooper is present on: "I Can't Quit Her", "House In The Country", and "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know".

The second album, the multi-platinum "Blood Sweat & Tears" is included almost in it's entirety (except for "Blues Part 2" and "Variations on a Theme by Eric Satie"). My one complaint here is that the tracks were not ordered as they appeared on the album. This section is followed by the unreleased track "Children of the Wind", not quite on a par with the material in the second album.

The first disk concludes with tracks from BS&T3. The Carole King penned "Hi-De-Ho" leads off this section followed by Lucretia MacEvil (including Lucretia's Reprise and the fantastic Lew Soloff trumpet solo which finishes during the fade with a high note you can't hear on the original album.) Another highlight is the 3-track set (from side 2) of "He's A Runner", "Something Coming On" and "40,000 Headmen". This is my favorite section of BS&T 3 - easily on a par with the previous album.

The second disk begins with BS&T 4 and the biggest hit from that album, "Go Down Gamblin'". Again the tracks do not follow the album order, but with BS&T 4 this doesn't seem to matter as much. There is "Lisa, Listen To Me", "Valentine's Day", "John the Baptist (Holy John)" and a true highlight, the Dixieland/Rock cut "Mama Gets High". However, one of the best tracks from BS&T4, "Redemption", was left off the compilation.

With the departure of David Clayton Thomas and other personnel changes, next up are 4 tracks from "New Blood", including the masterpiece "Snow Queen/Maiden Voyage". Another unreleased track "Time Remembered" occurs here.

The single track from "No Sweat" (an underrated album) is "Roller Coaster". I would have like to have seen at least the Lou Marini cut "Hip Pickles" here as well.

"Tell Me That I'm Wrong" is the sole representative of "Mirror Image" which was in fact the best cut on that album.

The return of David Clayton Thomas brought us the album "New City" which is represented here by the cover of the Beatles "Got to Get You Into My Life" - one of the best cuts. However, "Ride Captain Ride", "Naked Man" and the instrumental "No Show" should have been considered since "New City" was one of the better efforts of the later BS&T incarnation.

The album "More than Ever" is represented by the cut "You're the One". The CD finishes with "Mean Ole World" from a live album recorded in 1975 about the time "New City" was issued with a lineup that included David Clayton Thomas, Bobby Columby and Dave Bergeron.

More than matching the music in completeness are the liner notes contained in the accompanying booklet. Here is a multipage history of BS&T by Al Quaglieri going over in fine detail the origin, the rise, the personnel changes, the problems and the eventual fading of Blood Sweat & Tears. (He even mentions that little heard fact that BS&T performed in the rain at Day 2 of Woodstock.) Included is a complete discography and the personnel line-ups for each BS&T album to guide you through their various incartations. This booklet alone is worth the price of admission.

While it doesn't inlcude all the tracks I would have chosen, this CD set gives you an excellent retrospective of Blood Sweat & Tears; perhaps the most influential group in Jazz/Rock.

Only one thing that tells the entire historical B,S&T legacy story is "What Goes Up! The Best of". Because back in the mid sixties it was canadian singer David Clayton Thomas who was as second lead vocalist of the jazzy, blues & rock'n roll band ever to profile. The songs I like and enjoy listening to is "You've Made Me So Very Happy", "And When I Die", Spinning Wheel", "God Bless The Child" and "Hi-De-Ho" those are my favorite tunes I remembered from the radio!