Blood, Sweat и Tears Released in Hybrid SACD Stereo by Mobile Fidelity

Blood, Sweat & Tears self-titled second album from 1969 is the latest Hybrid Layer Stereo Super Audio CD release from Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab. It is the third in a series of recent Stereo SACD releases of classic 1960’s and 1970’s albums from the Sony Music catalog by Mobile Fidelity.

The Blood, Sweat & Tears SACD also follows up Mobile Fidelity’s release of the group’s Blood, Sweat & Tears 3 album in Hybrid Super Audio CD Stereo (Mobile Fidelity UDSACD 2013) at the 2004 Consumer Electronics Show.

Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears
SACD Stereo/CD Audio

(Mobile Fidelity UDSACD 2009)

Blood, Sweat & Tears marked the debut of David Clayton-Thomas as the lead singer of the group Blood, Sweat & Tears. This well known album features several of the band’s best known hits including Spinning Wheel, You’ve Made Me So Very Happy amd And When I Die. This edition of the album features the same song line up and bonus tracks as the original Sony Music Single Layer Stereo SACD of the album that was released in 2000 (Columbia CS 63986).

Mobile Fidelity notes that

“In 1969, faced with both the departure of founding member Al Kooper and the pressure created by the critical acclaim their debut Child Is The Father To Man had garnered, Blood Sweat and Tears stood tall and delivered with their 1969 self-titled sophomore release. Welcoming vocalist David Clayton-Thomas aboard, the band advanced beyond its R&B / Blues Project origins to create what can only be described as a masterpiece, culminating in a Grammy that same year for Album Of The Year.”

Utilizing Erik Satie’s Variations On a Theme to quietly open and close the album, in-between they mixed songs from exciting, contemporary writers; Laura Nyro – “And When I Die” Traffic’s “Smiling Phases” and Barry Gordy – “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”, with original material; “Spinning Wheel” and “Sometime In Winter”, creating virtually ‘greatest hits’ and concert staples with all. Engineered by legendary Columbia staffers Roy Halee and Fred Catero, the blend of jazz-pop arrangements with just a hint of classical, created a breakthrough recording that was constantly featured on radio for years.

As a bonus, ‘live’ versions of “More and More” and “Smiling Phases”, recorded in 1968 at NYC’s Cafe’ Au Go Go, allow the band to really stretch, giving the original audience and now the listener, a taste of a live BS&T performance in their prime.”

The new Mobile Fidelity Hybrid SACD edition of the album was mastered by Shawn Britton at the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab in Sebastpol, CA. The SACD was made by Sony DADC at their Terre Haute, Indiana plant.

While the 2000 Columbia Records Stereo SACD release of this album stands up well to the test of time, the new Mobile Fidelity edition is even better. It’s a real treat to hear some of the memorable songs on this album like Spinning Wheel, And When I Die and You’ve Made Me So Very Happy take on even more power and detail through this Stereo Super Audio CD. It’s recommended for fans of the group and pop/jazz recordings.

Album Tracks
1. Variations On A Theme By Erik Satie (1st And 2nd Movements) [Adapted From “Trois Gymnopedies”]
2. Smiling Phases
3. Sometimes In Winter
4. More And More
5. And When I Die
6. God Bless The Child
7. Spinning Wheel
8. You’ve Made Me So Very Happy
9. Blues – Part II
10. Variations On A Theme By Erik Satie (1st Movement) [Adapted From “Trois Gymnopedies”]
11. More And More (Live) (Bonus Track)
12. Smiling Phases (Live) (Bonus Track)

3 More Mobile Fidelity SACDs On The Way
Mobile Fidelity also has plans for three more Hybrid Stereo SACD releases in early 2006. This includes Mr. Tambourine Man by the Byrds in a special mono and stereo edition Super Audio CD as well as albums by jazz artists Gerry Mulligan & Scott Hamilton and Pat Martino. Both of the latter two albums were licensed from the Concord Jazz/Fantasy labels while the Byrds album is another Sony Music catalog reissue on Super Audio CD.

Mobile Fidelity Stereo SACD – Upcoming Releases

  • Gerry Mulligan & Scott Hamilton – Soft Lights & Sweet Music (Mobile Fidelity UDSACD 2017)
  • Pat Martino – East! (Mobile Fidelity UDSACD 2018)

 

Mobile Fidelity Mono/Stereo SACD – Upcoming Release

  • The Byrds – Mr. Tambourine Man (Mobile Fidelity UDSACD 2014)

 

Availability
The Mobile Fidelity Hybrid Stereo Super Audio CD of Blood, Sweat & Tears is now available in local music stores including Tower Records (filed in with the regular Stereo CD section) and at Fry’s Electronics stores as well. The SACD is also available from web sites that carry Super Audio CDs such as Acoustic
Sounds, Elusive Disc and Music Direct.