Definitive Collection

My experience with Blood Sweat & Tears started in my very young years. On Saturdays my dad would break out his BS&T album and play Smiling Phases loud enough to fill the house with those energetic horns and drums. Many, many years later I have developed my own musical tastes that stray away from jazz fusion (or jazz-rock), however there is no denying good music. I still remember fondly those Saturday jams and ended up getting this Definitive Collection for myself. Boy was it well worth the purchase.Blood Sweat & Tears felt unique in that their kind of fusion was that of jazz, rock, gospel and blues to give some really energized music in a time when the hippy counterculture was taking over the air waves. They have changed it's roster more than a couple of times through what I call their album years (1968-1980) and beyond. This compilation isn't a collection of tracks spanning the total album run of BS&T. It's a best of album, which means almost half of the 11 studio albums are not represented here, and none of the live albums. If you want an archive of their sound over the years this isn't the album for you. However if you are looking for the music that made the band great this is a great collection.Just about the entire album is focused on the music sung by David Clayton-Thomas. This is by far the best era of the band so no problems there. Only one song is from the Jerry Fisher era (So Long Dixie). What this means is you will be getting that soulful sound from Clayton-Thomas consistently throughout the album. The albums included in this collection are the self titled Blood, Sweat & Tears, Blood, Sweat & Tears 3, Blood, Sweat & Tears 4 (I know... they aren't very creative on the album title front, are they?), New Blood, New City and More Than Ever. The earlier albums from this set seem to get the most coverage with their self titled second album edging out the rest with five tracks. This makes sense because the Blood Sweat and Tears album was their best selling by far.The albums that have absolutely no representation from their very first album (sung by Al Kooper) Child Is Father to the Man, the Jerry Fisher era albums No Sweat and Mirror Image, and last two albums Brand New Day and Nuclear Blues. Of the albums included New City and New Blood get the least attention.How do you describe how BS&T sound? In a word: horns! This is one of the few bands that sported a well rounded horn section as regular band members. You can say they are a lot like the band Chicago back in the 70's, but with a heavy mix of soul music and more than a few spurts of straight jazz peppered in. Here's a breakdown of notable tracks for me:You Made Me So Very Happy - This is likely their most popular song ever. It has a pretty contemporary sound to it that would be familiar in a lounge act as it would the concert stage. Has a bit of a Vegas/Tom Jones vibe to it. Very catchy with 60's/early 70's pop sensibilities.God Bless The Child - Very laid back, soulful and bluesy track. The horns give the song an edge reminiscent of the big band blues of yesteryear. A lovely track to mellow out to.And When I Die - A very gospel sounding track that also has a strong influence of the kind of music done on movie and TV Westerns from that time. It benefits a lot from David Clayton-Thomas' singing style. The song jumps to different tempos but in a way that makes it interesting and easy to listen to .Smiling Phases - This is the band at it's finest progressive/jazz/rock self. Fast rolling drums, great horn section, funky rhythms, and a tangent off to some aggressive fusion jazz make this song still my favorite to hear from this band.Lucretia Mac Evil - This is an aggressive and brassy song with some lyrics about the kind of woman you don't want poisoning the ground around you. This song is more a straight rock/blues sounding piece that I gathered would have gotten the attention of the rock crowd of that time period.Fire and Rain - BS&T is known for doing covers of popular tunes and jazzing them up with their own interpretation. Fire and Rain is of course the same song James Taylor wrote, but with the signature horns and rhythm section giving more color and texture. It's still a mellow and laid back track, and has enough going for it to make it a nice addition to the collection.Got To Get You Into My Life - Another cover track. This time of the venerable Beatles tune that also had a cool horn section on the original recording. I can't help but feel this one lacks the magic the original Beatles track had. Don't get me wrong. You get some good horn/rhythm section and David Clayton-Thomas sings it great. However all the wonderful horn hooks that made the original song great are gone, and in its place is something bland by comparison.I Love you More Than Ever - There is a mistake on the track list that Amazon shows. They show the song I Love you More Than You Know, which is VERY different from the actual track. That track was made in 1968 and is much more a blues/rock song with that 60's Santana sound. The actual track is the one recorded in 1976 and is in essence a ballad. At first I wasn't into this song, but that was before I got to hear the chorus. After that I was hooked. Very inspiring and soulful.If you are a fan of bands like Chicago or Earth Wind and Fire you should really consider getting this Definitive Collection. The music is remastered and sounds awesome. If you are already a fan and do not have maybe two of the BS&T self titled albums or the More Than Ever album the current price point on this collection make it a good buy. If you like progressive rock and dig horn sections definitely pick this one up.

But I thought mine was a 1995 release!? [Mine is not a Sony/BMG - but believe it was about that year when the songs were remastered] Tried other CDs on this "Definitive" import series, but, sadly, not as great as sound as this! Sounds great becuase the tracks were remixed/remastered from the session tapes (the way all CDs should be). Not sure if the Sony's 20 bit Super Bit Mapping or Gold CD had anything to do with the nice sound! But, yes, you'll find other BS&T CDs on SACD even Blue Ray, so you know Sony found some gold to publish!

The sound quality awful...Disappointed in CD

Persknnal

Along with the group 'Chicago', Blood Sweat and Tears was one of the first groups that combined outstanding vocals with ample brass in the background. Turn up the volume....rattle the walls....let it scream.

I'm wearing out this CD, it's that good! It has all of the full versions of their hits. If you're a fan of BS&T, you need this one!!

Great Oldies.Glad I bought this CD!

This disc brings back many memories. I have enjoyed listening to it, and when my friend comes for Christmas I am sure she will enjoy it, too.

Heard of this group years ago but paid very little attention to it. My brother gave me a first release vinyl copy of the BS&T 4 more than 10 years back and I did not play it until very recently. To my surprise, I find that I like the group's music very much. Did not realize until now that jazz rock in general and performed by BS&T in particular is so good.I selected this particular album out of the many others available after reading another reviewer's feedback on the good sound quality of this release. Very accurate. I commend the guys at Columbia Records for their marvelous work in remastering this album. Well done guys!I am so impressed with BS&T's music that I have placed orders with Amazon USA for vinyl reissues of their first, second and third albums. While waiting for the goods to arrive, I am now happily enjoying this CD compilation. Highly recommended.

Oh memories of the 70s - love this band and love all the songs without exception - if you are of my era.....70.....then this will remind you of your younger days, not exactly your youth!!

Some great tracks and great musicians but a bit dated.

GREAT BAND AND GREAT TOOONS

This is classic BST. Tracks are brilliant. Used to listen to them in 70s.

Great selection of tracks from this band

Needed a best of....brilliant thanks

A driving band at its best and much to my taste with its smokey vocals interspersed with the most dynamic backing.

Great stuff from a classic band...

This cd surpassed all my expectations , having all the tracks from my worn out cassette tape , plus several other favourites .Fabulous listening at a great price.

Brilliant band, vastly underrated, and unappreciated by so many!

es sind soweit alle hits von Bloot sweat and tears auf der scheibe drauf.die klangqualität lässt etwas zu wünschen übrig,ist mir schon des öfterenaufgefallen,bei scheiben wie greatest hits,super hits-,wie auch immer.scheinbar fehlt hier die liebe zum detail,oder es soll halt günstig sein?!man kann die scheibe hören und sich über musik freuen.ich finde,Blood sweat and tears waren eine sehr flexibele und homogene gruppe.soweit mirbekannt ist,sind bei der gruppe über einhundert musiker im laufe der jahre"durchgelaufen" und sie hatte trotzdem,oder gerade deshalb grossenerfolg.wer diese art musik mag kann hier ohne bedenken zugreifen.

I am a fan of Blood Sweat and Tears. I have most of the B S and T LP's but they were 'very' second hand when I bought them 35 years ago. This single disc is indeed definitive containing all/most of their best numbers.The sound quality is really good. The group have a huge dynamic range from sweet soft breathy lyrics to many FFF ( B---- Loud) brass instruments. This re-recording ( by their original Columbia label) of this disc made a better job of capturing their multi talented Jazzy sound than the 4 disc set on Original Album Classics which I bought at the same time. The 4 disc set is acceptable but not great sound quality.If you only buy one BS & T disc then pay a little more by going for this one( first) rather than the 4 disc set. The better sound makes up for the other tracks. You might buy the 4 disc set later if you really go for their style.

Die "Definitive Collection" ist genau das, was sie sein soll und will: eine tolle Zusammenfassung der bekanntesten Hits, aber auch weiterer Titel, die man nicht so oft hört. Für den, der sich einen Überblick über die wichtigsten Werke von Blood, Sweat & Tears verschaffen will, ist dies genau das richtige. Kaufempfehlung !

Not the greatest sound quality. Would look elsewhere for better sound quality. Disappointed.