The jazz/rock excursions made by Blood, Sweat And Tears offered a refreshing change to late 60s guitar-dominated rock music. The many impressive line-ups of the band comprised (among others) David Clayton-Thomas (b. David Thomsett, 13 September 1941, Surrey, England; vocals), Al Kooper (b. 5 February 1944, New York, USA; keyboards, vocals), Steve Katz (b. 9 May 1945, New York, USA; guitar), Jerry Weiss, Randy Brecker (b. 27 November 1945, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; saxophone), Dick Halligan (b. 29 August 1943, New York, USA; trombone, flute, keyboards), Fred Lipsius (b. 19 November 1944, New York, USA; alto saxophone, piano), Bobby Colomby (b. 20 December 1944, New York, USA; drums), Jim Fielder (b. 4 October 1947, Denton, Texas, USA; bass, ex-Buffalo Springfield), Lew Soloff (b. Lewis Michael Soloff, 20 January 1944, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA; trumpet), Chuck Winfield (b. 5 February 1943, Monessen, Pennsylvania, USA; trumpet), Jerry Hyman (b. 19 May 1947, Brooklyn, New York, USA; trumpet) and Dave Bargeron (b. 6 September 1942, Athol, Massachusetts, USA; trombone). The band was conceived by Kooper, who, together with Katz, had played with the Blues Project, but Kooper departed soon after the debutChild Is Father To The Man, which contained two of his finest songs, ‘I Can’t Quit Her’ and ‘My Days Are Numbered’.
The record, although cited as a masterpiece by some critics, was ultimately flawed by erratic vocals. Kooper, Brecker and Weiss were replaced by Winfield, Soloff and Clayton-Thomas. The latter took over as vocalist to record Blood Sweat & Tears, which is now regarded as their finest work, standing up today as a brilliantly scored and fresh-sounding record. Kooper, although working on the arrangements, missed out on the extraordinary success this record achieved. The album topped the US album charts for many weeks during its two-year stay, sold millions of copies, won a Grammy award and spawned three major worldwide hits: a cover version of Brenda Holloway’s ‘You’ve Made Me So Very Happy’, ‘Spinning Wheel’ and ‘And When I Die’. The following two albums were both considerable successes, although unoriginal, with their gutsy brass arrangements, occasional biting guitar solos and Clayton-Thomas’ growling vocal delivery. Following BS&T4, Clayton-Thomas departed for a solo career, resulting in a succession of lead vocalists, including the former member of Edgar Winter’s White Trash, Jerry LaCroix (b. 10 October 1943, Alexandria, Louisiana, USA). The band never regained their former glory, even following the return of Clayton-Thomas. New City reached the US album charts, but the supper-club circuit ultimately beckoned with the Blood, Sweat And Tears name continuing in one guise or another behind Clayton-Thomas. Nevertheless, the original band deserves a place in rock history as both innovators and brave exponents of psychedelic-tinged jazz/rock.
