Blood, Sweat & Tears is one of those bands I have never heard before yet they had a number 1 album and won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. I am confused because I thought it was going to be rock music, but it is jazz rock.
“Variations on a Theme By Erik Satie” (1st and 2nd Movements) Adapted from “Trois Gymnopédies” is misleading because it is a song that does not exactly fit the rest of the album. It is so melancholy that my sadness felt sadness after listening to this instrumental piece.
The original piece from French composer Erik Satie
Their music is top notch for an infusion of rock and jazz. I was not convinced about the vocals, especially when it sounds strained in “Smiling Phases“.
The album picks up with “And When I Die” because they make it accessible to the general population. It is a catchy tune about not being afraid to die, even though it sounds hopeless because the person does not know for certain the outcome,
“My troubles are many, they’re as deep as a well
I can swear there ain’t no heaven but I pray there ain’t no hell
Swear there ain’t no heaven and pray there ain’t no hell,
But I’ll never know by living, only my dying will tell”.
It sounds more like wishful thinking. We all want to know what will happen when we die. What if there is a heaven and a hell?
The band continues with the religious theme in “God Bless the Child” a Billie Holiday tune released in 1942. The songs scenario gives the impression that religion does not have an effect on how they treat people.
Them that’s got, shall get
Them that’s not, shall lose
So the Bible said, and it still is news
Mama may have, and papa may have
God bless’ the child,
That’s got his own
That’s got his own
Yes the strong seem to get more
I have you what I need and you do not, so what. I would say that is not exactly true. Of course, there are preachers making more money than their congregation who give to them, but there is always a flip side to every coin. There are rich people or well-off people who do not give and there are poor people who give a lot. The song is okay, but not Holiday’s best and Blood, Sweat & Tears do it justice.
“Spinning Wheel” was a hit for them. It is melodic, but I hate spinning and I do not like painted ponies, although a horse of a different colour can be entertaining.
I think there Motown hit “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” is one of the best songs on the album. I like the feeling of love it gives off and his appreciation of his lover with a “Thank you, baby”.
“Blues, Pt. 2” is a great tune and a bit sexy in parts, but it is really long. I will give it a pass because it actually sounds like a few songs wrapped into one.
And we close where we begin this journey with “Variations on a Theme By Erik Satie” (1st Movement)“. I like that they went into a circle. Everything is in circles for me. I talk in circles, I run in circles, I sleep in circles and I cry in circles.
This self-titled album is quite surprising. I did not think I would like it, but it drew me in and took on a journey, then returned me home. 8.5/10.
an ocean roars 