The first
Blood, Sweat & Tears disc following the departure of lead singer
David Clayton-Thomas and chief arrangers
Dick Halligan and Fred Lipsius has its moments. The band vocals on "Touch Me" and the arrangement of
Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage" are among the highlights, but then there's
Bob Dylan's "Down in the Flood" and Steve Katz's "Velvet" (about a horse, for Pete's sake!).
Gerry Goffin and
Carole King's "Snow Queen" almost makes up for it, with sensational solos from
Dave Bargeron on trombone and
Lou Marini on sax. ~ Ross Boissoneau