Blind Faith | Blind Faith | Album

Blind Faith "Blind Faith" (1969)

LP (NEW) - Vinyl, RSO, Europe, 2008, 0602517753167, 180g Vinyl, Reissue

Blind Faith is the one and only studio album from supergroup Blind Faith, released in 1969. The band started as a project between Eric Clapton after the breakup of Cream and Steve Winwood keyboardist and singer from Traffic. They had worked together on a blues compilation years earlier and their respective touring paths crossed many times when Clapton was an apprentice to John Mayall and his Bluesbreakers and Steve was the child prodigy in the Spencer Davis Group. Coming aboard on drums was Ginger Baker and completing the foursome was Ric Grech, bassist and violinist from prog rockers Family. So was Blind Faith just Cream without Jack Bruce? Far from it, the big difference being the wunderkind Steve Winwood who brought his characteristic vocal, keyboard and songwriting skills to the mix, adding a gospel/soul element to Clapton’s blues based approach. The album‘s six tracks are lengthy with plenty of room for soloing. Three of the Six tunes are written by Winwood, One by Clapton and one by Baker. After some elongated solos on the opener "Had to Cry Today", which clocks in at over 8 minutes, comes the gentle Winwood composition "Cant Find My Way Home" with some acoustic picking by Clapton introducing Winwood’s heartfelt lyrics. Next comes the album’s only cover version and the chosen single "Well All Right", which is a re-working of a Buddy Holly tune. Clapton’s guitar wired through an organ speaker and Winwood’s keyboard work on piano and organ are nothing short of brilliant. Closing side one is the Clapton epic "Presence of the Lord" which features one of those Clapton classic moments similar to the break in the Cream single "Badge". Side Two has only two tracks. The opener is Winwood’s "Sea of Joy", which features some fine violin soloing by Ric Grech. The closing "Do What You Like" is 15 minutes long and, you guessed it, is a vehicle for a drum solo by the effervescent Ginger Baker. Controversially, the cover featured a topless young girl holding a model 'spaceship'. American and Australasian labels sanitized the cover with a group photo taken at Clapton’s country estate. The bubble burst on Blind Faith much too soon, with Clapton and Winwood going their separate ways leaving just the one album as a lasting testament to their brilliance.

Artist Website: wikipedia/Blind_Faith

Related Artists: Cream, Traffic, Family, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood