Leaving A Hit Machine Behind

We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..

In 1972 the band Blood, Sweat & Tears released one of the greatest “Greatest Hits” LPs ever. Stuffed with excellent tunes, it served as a wrap-up for the first David Clayton-Thomas era of the band as the lead vocalist of the group headed out for a solo career with his self-titled LP.

We won’t spend time on the Greatest Hits package. Needless to say you will recognize the songs contained herein and will enjoy most of them….

Clayton-Thomas was a powerhouse front man. The Canadian had done his time in bands around Toronto and even had a few minor hits before joining BST when founder Al Kooper left after the band’s first LP in 1968.

The band flourished with it’s mixture of rock & jazz, powerful horns and delicate instumentation and that gospel drenched vocal power of Clayton-Thomas.

After BST 4, which included Clayton-Thomas’ roaring vocals and lead guitar on Go Down Gamblin, didn’t do well, he decided to head out on his own.

The solo record has some interesting stuff including decent covers of Neil Young’s “Don’t Let It Bring You Down”, Edgar Winter’s “Dyin To Live”, Todd Rundgren’s “Once Burned” and particularly “She” written by Burrito Brothers Gram Parsons & Chris Ethridge which includes an excellent second vocal from Patrice Holloway.

Another standout for me is the bluesy ‘North Beach Racetrack”

Other notables playing on the record include former BST members Bobby Colomby, Dick Halligan & Dave Bargeron. Joe Farrell plays sax and noted session cats like Hugh McCracken, Joe Osborn & Larry Knectel are also here. Steve Cropper adds some tasty guitar on a few cuts.

If there’s a quibble with this record it’s that, as powerful as the voice is…it rarely changes and that can get tiresome. But in small doses, “David Clayton-Thomas” delivers.