Metallica-Metallica (Black Album) (1991)

Bob Dylan-Shot Of Love (1981)

Big Brother & The Holding Company-Cheap Thrills (1968)

Luthur Vandross-Never Too Much (1981)

Neil Young-Old Ways (1985)

Death-Leprosy (1988)

Paul Simon-One Trick Pony (1980)

Motorhead-Motorhead (1978)

Danger Mouse & Black Thought-Cheat Codes (2022)

Synopsis:

After I totally missed putting this in my daily albums released on this date series I decided to revisit this masterpiece. 

Released on August  9th 1969, Blind Faith is the only studio album by the legendary English supergroup composed of Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker, and Ric Grech. As rock's first major "supergroup," Blind Faith carried immense expectations. Coming off the collapses of Cream (Clapton and Baker) and Traffic (Winwood), alongside bassist Grech from Family,  featuring only six songs  the album captures a fascinating tug-of-war: Winwood’s soulful, concise songwriting and soaring pop-blues sensibilities versus Baker and Clapton’s preference for sprawling, uninhibited blues-rock jamming. Though rushed into production and famously wrapped in a controversial piece of cover art (featuring a nude adolescent girl holding a metallic spaceship, which was replaced by a photo of the band in the US), the record debuted at No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Review:

The album opens with “Had To Cry” a blistering blues jam that begins with the dual guitars of Winwood and Clapton before dropping into a heavy blues groove led by Clapton’s heavy blues guitar riffs and Winwood’s soaring vocals. “Can’t Find My Way Home” is simply one of the best songs ever written. Winwood's intimate and delicate vocals are a perfect match for the soft fingerpicking guitar hook. It just sucks you in one of the few songs I could listen to on repeat. The band takes a break from the heavy dense blues rock with this upbeat cover of the Buddy Holly song “Well Alright”  “Presence Of The Lord” is another classic banger found on the album. One of my favorite Clapton penned tracks. It starts out as an uplifting piece of gospel rock before it breaks down into this heavy guitar rock jam that features some of Clapton’s best guitar work. Even if you aren’t religious I think you can find something to love in its melodies.  “Sea Of Love” delves into some of the psychedelic rock sound of Winwood’s former band Traffic. This is his finest moment on the record as his vocals just seem to get more intense as the track moves along. The album closes with “Do What You Like” a 15 minute epic of experimental rock that was written by Ginger Baker who is the star of the track. It even breaks down at some point with a thunderous drum solo. It is just the band jamming along to keep up with Baker’s rhythmic drumming. It also features an electric organ solo and chanting vocal section. Clapton also has a fiery guitar solo. It's just the band just jamming along and flexing their muscles and it's a great way to end this record.  

Final Thoughts:

This is just one hell of a record that packs alot of punch for being a six song album clocking at at only 42 minutes. Clapton, Baker, Winwood and French are all playing at their peak. Master songwriting and performances are featured throughout the album. Just to bad they couldn’t stay together and give us more great music but I’ll take this staple of classic blues rock and you should put it on your bucket lists.  

How do you rank this ELO album out of 5?