Blood, Sweat and Tears

SWG255 · « **on:** 13 Sep 2003, 09:20 pm »

I decided to start a thread on Blood, Sweat and Tears recordings since there were some questions about them in the "New Music" topic.

When I bought my first hi-fi system, consisting of a Garrard turntable a second-hand Knight Kit tube integrated amp and second-hand Jensen 3-way loudspeakers, "Child is Father to the Man" was one of the first LPs I bought to listen to on it. Later I bought the self-titled album and the third recording. When I finally entered "audiophiledom" I bought the Blood, Sweat and Tears dbx record. This was one of the most interesting and in some ways best sounding of these LPs. The dbx process gave one such a silent background that I could easily hear all the studio "goings-on" in the recording. This included the changing of gain in certain channels, tape saturation, mic preamp overload and saturation in the bass track which may have been the mic preamp, it was hard to tell. Even with all that and the dbx compression/decompression artifacts, the recording was musically involving and a real showoff disc for friends dropping by to party.

When the CD age came along I started with a BS&T "Best of" compilation, and was rather disappointed with its sound. I eventually bought the self-titled CD from Mobile Fidelity, and this was also excellent, but it didn't have the "hear-back-to-the-studio" quality of the dbx record I would still recommend it if it can be found somewhere.

Most recently, I bought the self-titled SACD, and this too is very satisfying. it seems to have the transparency of the dbx recording, but it's a little smoother. In fact, it sounds more like 30 ips master tape than the dbx record. The bonus live tracks are interesting too, but only as historical documents. They don't sound particularly good, unless you like the over-saturated, distorted sound of a live band blowing hard through stage mics and a Shure PA mixer.

I'm glad to hear "Child..." has been re-issued, and since I loved the music I'll have to pick it up.

BeatleFred · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Sep 2003, 01:06 am »

I am glad to hear that someone else out there appreciates what a classic record, CIFTTM, is. Its one of my all times favorites.

B/F

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 Sep 2003, 04:53 am »

Its also one of my fav. albums. Al Kooper is the reason why !! Saw his free show over the summer in NYC, great show, but his vision is going.When he left BST it was not the same, went into POP. Check out Kooper in the Blues Project !! Good (old) stuff !! Plus his solo stuff !!(Try the Rare and Well Done ). As a side note, "Child...... Time" album is also a favorite of Wayne's from Bolder Cable.You might check out Koopers website http://www.alkooper.com/

ABEX · « **Reply #3 on:** 21 Sep 2003, 08:26 am »

I saw B,S&T's when I was a kid. They were good. There are still a few songs I like by them. Cannot remember if there are any in my LP collection.

SWG255 · « **Reply #4 on:** 21 Sep 2003, 01:55 pm »

Al Cooper is also why I like "Child is Father to the man". I too have some of his recordings with The Blues Project, but I don't have any of his solo work.

Even on the self-titled BS & T album, "Sometimes in Winter" is a stand-out because Al Cooper's voice and arrangement is so different from Clayton-Thomas on the rest of the album.

Quote from: BeatleFred

I am glad to hear that someone else out there appreciates what a classic record, CIFTTM, is. Its one of my all times favorites.

B/F

Tbadder1 · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 Sep 2003, 05:07 pm »

Al Kooper is the bomb, check out the new old live stuff with him and Mike Bloomfield. Can't remember title off hand, but I'll post later. Primo stuff Dude!

Peace Love Dope
Dan

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Sep 2003, 08:42 am »

Super Session !! Excellent cd to check out if you have never heard !! http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=CASS80305150938&sql=Ahx65mpv39f5o

SWG255 · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 Sep 2003, 01:47 am »

Quote from: lonewolfny42

Super Session !! Excellent cd to check out if you have never heard !! http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=CASS80305150938&sql=Ahx65mpv39f5o

Hi,

I agree about "Super Session with Al Cooper and Mike Bloomfield. I was just listening to this CD last week. It doesn't have bad sound, and it DOES have great music!

jqp · « **Reply #8 on:** 25 Sep 2003, 02:14 am »

Yesterday ordered Super Session with Al Cooper and Mike Bloomfield and Blood, Sweat and Tears along with Famous Blue Raincoat

SWG255 · « **Reply #9 on:** 25 Sep 2003, 02:53 am »

I'm glad you mentioned "Famous Blue Raincoat" This was my absolute favorite CD in the late 80's, and it was a joy to hear decoded with a Theta D/A converter on Infinity IRS speakers at the old Excalibre store in Alexandria Virginia. I haven't played it in a year or two, I guess I'll dig it out real soon. Has it been remastered? It wasn't bad for the timeframe, but i think it could sound better now, unless the digital master is a limiting factor.

Quote from: jqp

Yesterday ordered Super Session with Al Cooper and Mike Bloomfield and Blood, Sweat and Tears along with Famous Blue Raincoat

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Sep 2003, 06:09 am »

Quote from: jqp

Yesterday ordered Super Session with Al Cooper and Mike Bloomfield and Blood, Sweat and Tears along with Famous Blue Raincoat

Well, put on your famous blue raincoat, don't get any blood sweat or tears on it, because your in for a super session ! Couldn't resist some late nite humor !!

SWG255 · « **Reply #11 on:** 10 Oct 2003, 08:19 pm »

I noticed in one of my emails from Elusive Disc a couple weeks ago that MFSL is re-releasing their Blood, Sweat and Tears self-titled album on SACD. I don't know if I really need another copy of this, but since I started this thread with a comparison of the various flavors of this album over the years, I suppose i should pick it up and compare it to the Sony SACD i already have and like. It would be instructive to compare the two SACDs to get an idea how much different mastering techniques contribute to the sound of SACD. I already know there's a big sonic difference between the standard CD and the SACD, so now it will be interesting to hear the differences between two SACDs. I'm hoping MFSL is re-releasing this because they've got a better sounding "master", otherwise, why do it?

jqp · « **Reply #12 on:** 10 Oct 2003, 09:36 pm »

Quote from: SWG255

I'm glad you mentioned "Famous Blue Raincoat" This was my absolute favorite CD in the late 80's, and it was a joy to hear decoded with a Theta D/A converter on Infinity IRS speakers at the old Excalibre store in Alexandria Virginia. I haven't played it in a year or two, I guess I'll dig it out real soon. Has it been remastered? It wasn't bad for the timeframe, but i think it could sound better now, unless the digital master is a limiting factor.
...

I have listened to this CD several times now. The "gain" on it was not as high as most CDs I have so it seemed kind of subdued at first. I also listened to it at work one day on a PC. Of couse no comparison but I got more familiar with the music. Last night I turned up the preamp volume to get the level right and got to do some real listening. It is a good recording, mixing and production.

I compared it to The Best of Jennifer Warnes. Probably not as good an overall mastering and of course this was a complilation from different CDs including pop and country. But my oh my she has a rich and beautiful voice...no wonder everyone wants her to do their songs.

I also compared it for grins to ABBA Gold - digitally remastered. I found this CD wanting, although I guess he had to work with tapes from the mid 70s. And once its on tape it on tape. I think they made some disco-mistakes in the studio - some voices to soft, too shrill, too forward, etc.

Famous Blue Raincoat is a very balanced mix on all songs. Voices and instruments were all heard at seemingly natural levels in relation to one another. Everything is clean and clear, not harsh. There is plenty of bass and Warnes voice comes through in all its buttery richness. I will do some more listening and do a real review of this CD, probably Sun night. And btw I am listening with the gear in my signature.

SWG255 · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Oct 2003, 07:19 pm »

"Famous Blue Raincoat" is a good test for my new Carver pro ZR 1600, even more reason to dig it out and give it a fresh listen. I haven't done this yet, too many other things getting in the way.

The lower gain of the CD is typical of CDs for the period, many I bought circa 1986 are like this. Very few sound as good is this one though. I too have Jennifer's "Best of' and it's uneven sonically, suffering on many tracks from problems associated with analog tape to digital transfer. I sure like the music though.

Quote from: jqp

I have listened to this CD several times now. The "gain" on it was not as high as most CDs I have so it seemed kind of subdued at first. I also listened to it at work one day on a PC. Of couse no comparison but I got more familiar with the music. Last night I turned up the preamp volume to get the level right and got to do some real listening. It is a good recording, mixing and production.

I compared it to The Best of Jennifer Warnes. Probably not as good an overall mastering and of course this w ...