Blood, Sweat & Tears — Blood, Sweat & Tears

Columbia Records | CS 9720 | 12" Vinyl LP

About the Artist

Blood, Sweat & Tears emerged from the New York City music scene in 1967, pioneering a bold fusion of rock, jazz, blues, and classical influences anchored by a powerful brass section. The band's second album marked a pivotal turning point: the arrival of Canadian vocalist David Clayton-Thomas, whose gritty, soulful delivery gave the group a commanding new identity. Under his lead, BS&T became one of the most commercially and critically successful acts of the late 1960s.

About the Album

Released in 1968, Blood, Sweat & Tears is a landmark of the jazz-rock genre. The album spent seven weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 and swept the 1970 Grammy Awards, winning Album of the Year — beating out Abbey Road and Johnny Cash at San Quentin. It produced three consecutive Top 2 singles on the Billboard Hot 100: You've Made Me So Very Happy, Spinning Wheel, and And When I Die — a commercial feat rarely matched in rock history.

Highlights

• "You've Made Me So Very Happy" — A Motown-flavored opener driven by Clayton-Thomas's powerhouse vocals and the band's signature brass punch.
• "Spinning Wheel" — Written by Clayton-Thomas himself, this jazz-inflected groove became one of the defining songs of 1969.
• "And When I Die" — A Laura Nyro cover reimagined with gospel energy and jubilant horns.
• "God Bless the Child" — A stunning reworking of the Billie Holiday classic, showcasing the band's jazz roots and emotional depth.
• "Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie" — An ambitious orchestral piece that opens the album, signalling the band's classical ambitions and genre-defying scope.

Record Details

• Label: Columbia Records
• Catalog #: CS 9720
• Side A Matrix #: XSM137878-1F P
• Format: 12" Vinyl LP, Gatefold,

Condition

Vinyl: Carefully cleaned with a Spin-Clean record washing system and placed into a new plastic inner sleeve. Minor surface scuffs are visible; however, the album played flawlessly on a quality turntable with no skips. Minor pops and crackles were noted during playback.

Jacket: Fair condition with visible wear, as shown in photos.