Woodstock Day 15: Blood, Sweat, & Tears

Formed in 1967, Blood, Sweat, & Tears played at Woodstock on August 18th at 1:30 am. At the time, their line-up consisted of David Clayton-Thomas on vocals, Bobby Colomby on drums, Jim Fielder on bass, Dick Halligan on keyboard and flute, Jerry Hyman on trombone, Steve Katz on guitar and harmonica, Fred Lipsius on alto sax and piano, Lew Soloff on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Chuck Winfield on trumpet and flugel horn as well. Their belend of jazz, psychedelic, soul, and R&B was a perfect addition to the musical diversity of Woodstock.

Clayton-Thomas singing at Woodstock.

In 1969, BS&T already produced two hit albums: Child Is Father to the Man and Blood, Sweat & Years both released in 1968. This allowed the band to choose from a bevy of popular and well-known songs and their set was well received. Most of their songs from the set were not taped and their performance wasn't included in the 1970 film Woodstock. However, their set was played flawlessly and with a lot of feeling. But sax player Lipsius felt that Woodstock was the worst gig that the band had played, claiming that Clayton-Thomas sang off key that night, which would have been the only time in the band's history that it had ever happened.

The band continued to be highly successful until their disbandment in 1981. However between Woodstock and the break-up, the band had so many incarnations that only one original member remained at the end. In 1983, the band restarted with Clayton-Thomas at the wheel until 2004. The band had an ever changing roster and still continues to change very often. Though active today, the band is very different than they were in the 60s and 70s, most likely due to lack of the influence of the original members.

The eponymous Blood, Sweat, & Tears album (1968).

BS&T put out some great hits: "Spinning Wheel," "More and More," "Fire and Rain," and "And When I Die." 1968's Blood, Sweat, & Tears was featured in the 2006 book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Website: http://www.bloodsweatandtears.com/