COLD BLOOD
''COLD BLOOD''
1969
36:21
1/I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free
Dick Dallas / Billy Taylor/5:58
2/If You Will
Raul Matute/5:32
3/You Got Me Hummin'
Isaac Hayes / David Porter/5:45
4/I Just Want to Make Love to You
Willie Dixon/5:12
5/I'm a Good Woman
Barbara Lynn/3:01
6/Let Me Down Easy
Wrecia Holloway / James McDougal/5:27
7/Watch Your Step
Bobby Parker/5:26
Frank Davis /Drums
Rod Ellicott /Bass
Larry Fields /Guitar
Mic Gillette /Horn, Trumpet
Danny Hull /Sax (Tenor), Saxophone, Vocals
Jerry Jonutz /Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone), Saxophone, Trumpet
Larry Jonutz /Trumpet
Carl Leach /Trumpet
Raul Matute /Arranger, Keyboards, Organ, Piano
David Padron /Trumpet
Lydia Pense /Vocals
David Rubinson /Producer
REVIEW
by Lindsay Planer
Cold Blood was one of the Bay Area's non-psychedelic contributions to pop music in the late '60s and early '70s. Their R&B-influenced combination of rock, blues, and jazz stood out from the guitar-driven acid rock bands most identified with that scene. After establishing themselves at dancehalls such as the Avalon or Bill Graham's Winterland Ballroom, Cold Blood became one of the first acts signed to Graham's Fillmore record label -- which was named after another one of his venerable venues. Their 1969 self-titled debut -- although somewhat contained in comparison to their live shows -- is a good representation of their soulful, horn-driven funk. One of the major reasons for the band's success is the unadulterated and otherwise raw vocal style of Lydia Pense. The album features a mixture of dramatic ballads -- such as the medley of "I'm a Good Woman" and "Let Me Down Easy" -- as well as full-blown R&B rave-ups on the cover of Sam & Dave's "You Got Me Hummin'" or their freewheeling version of "I Just Want to Make Love To You." Keyboardist Raul Matute's contribution, "If You Will," is a perfect vehicle for Pense's vocals as it glides between licks from lead guitarist Larry Fields and the five-piece brass section. Inevitable comparisons have been made between Pense, Janis Joplin, and Lynn Hughes -- of another San Fran rock and soul combo, Stoneground. However, there is a smoky scintillation to Pense's approach -- particularly potent on the gospel-tinged opener, "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" -- that is downplayed or altogether lacking from her contemporaries. This intangible quality would become increasingly pronounced and evident on Cold Blood's follow-up LP, the classic Sisyphus(1971). In 2001 Collectables reissued this album along with Sisyphus as part of two LPs on one CD collection. Although marred by sloppy mastering, it is recommended as the only place to hear this album in its entirety.
BIOGRAPHY
by Paul Collins
A San Francisco-based R&B band originally formed by guitarist Larry Field as the "New Invaders" in the wake of the Summer of Love, Cold Blood had the key elements of strong female vocalist, a fine guitarist, and a powerful horn section. After successful gigs at Golden Gate Park and at the Fillmore, they were signed by impresario Bill Graham to his new San Francisco Records label, on which they released their self-titled debut in 1969. Four more albums followed over the next five years - in fact, later efforts boasted the production and musical contributions of Steve Cropper - but all were hamstrung by Graham's underhanded distribution deals with Columbia and Atlantic.
Though the debut's single "You've Got Me Humming" crawled up to number 52 on the American charts, Cold Blood seemed doomed to labor in the shadow of bands like Tower of Power, Chicago, and especially Janis Joplin. The latter comparison became endemic among critics; for although blues belter joined Field's band as its youngest member -- she had formerly been, of all things, a childhood national rollerskating champion -- her magnetic stage presence established her as the band's central force. Eventually, the band billed itself as Lydia Pense With Cold Blood, and even released an album simply titled Lydia. Joplin sensed a kindred soul; after screaming at Cold Blood for scooping her on a blistering cover of "Piece of My Heart," she warmed to Pense enough to give her a swig of Southern Comfort.
After hitting increasingly lower tier venues in San Francisco by the late '70s, Cold Blood disbanded for most of the next decade; Pense focused her energies on child rearing. By the late '80s, the band slowly awoke from its long sleep, and they began regular features on California's festival and fair circuit. A 1998 return to their Fillmore stomping ground brought out the band's faithful.
''COLD BLOOD''
1969
36:21
1/I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free
Dick Dallas / Billy Taylor/5:58
2/If You Will
Raul Matute/5:32
3/You Got Me Hummin'
Isaac Hayes / David Porter/5:45
4/I Just Want to Make Love to You
Willie Dixon/5:12
5/I'm a Good Woman
Barbara Lynn/3:01
6/Let Me Down Easy
Wrecia Holloway / James McDougal/5:27
7/Watch Your Step
Bobby Parker/5:26
Frank Davis /Drums
Rod Ellicott /Bass
Larry Fields /Guitar
Mic Gillette /Horn, Trumpet
Danny Hull /Sax (Tenor), Saxophone, Vocals
Jerry Jonutz /Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone), Saxophone, Trumpet
Larry Jonutz /Trumpet
Carl Leach /Trumpet
Raul Matute /Arranger, Keyboards, Organ, Piano
David Padron /Trumpet
Lydia Pense /Vocals
David Rubinson /Producer
REVIEW
by Lindsay Planer
Cold Blood was one of the Bay Area's non-psychedelic contributions to pop music in the late '60s and early '70s. Their R&B-influenced combination of rock, blues, and jazz stood out from the guitar-driven acid rock bands most identified with that scene. After establishing themselves at dancehalls such as the Avalon or Bill Graham's Winterland Ballroom, Cold Blood became one of the first acts signed to Graham's Fillmore record label -- which was named after another one of his venerable venues. Their 1969 self-titled debut -- although somewhat contained in comparison to their live shows -- is a good representation of their soulful, horn-driven funk. One of the major reasons for the band's success is the unadulterated and otherwise raw vocal style of Lydia Pense. The album features a mixture of dramatic ballads -- such as the medley of "I'm a Good Woman" and "Let Me Down Easy" -- as well as full-blown R&B rave-ups on the cover of Sam & Dave's "You Got Me Hummin'" or their freewheeling version of "I Just Want to Make Love To You." Keyboardist Raul Matute's contribution, "If You Will," is a perfect vehicle for Pense's vocals as it glides between licks from lead guitarist Larry Fields and the five-piece brass section. Inevitable comparisons have been made between Pense, Janis Joplin, and Lynn Hughes -- of another San Fran rock and soul combo, Stoneground. However, there is a smoky scintillation to Pense's approach -- particularly potent on the gospel-tinged opener, "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" -- that is downplayed or altogether lacking from her contemporaries. This intangible quality would become increasingly pronounced and evident on Cold Blood's follow-up LP, the classic Sisyphus(1971). In 2001 Collectables reissued this album along with Sisyphus as part of two LPs on one CD collection. Although marred by sloppy mastering, it is recommended as the only place to hear this album in its entirety.
BIOGRAPHY
by Paul Collins
A San Francisco-based R&B band originally formed by guitarist Larry Field as the "New Invaders" in the wake of the Summer of Love, Cold Blood had the key elements of strong female vocalist, a fine guitarist, and a powerful horn section. After successful gigs at Golden Gate Park and at the Fillmore, they were signed by impresario Bill Graham to his new San Francisco Records label, on which they released their self-titled debut in 1969. Four more albums followed over the next five years - in fact, later efforts boasted the production and musical contributions of Steve Cropper - but all were hamstrung by Graham's underhanded distribution deals with Columbia and Atlantic.
Though the debut's single "You've Got Me Humming" crawled up to number 52 on the American charts, Cold Blood seemed doomed to labor in the shadow of bands like Tower of Power, Chicago, and especially Janis Joplin. The latter comparison became endemic among critics; for although blues belter joined Field's band as its youngest member -- she had formerly been, of all things, a childhood national rollerskating champion -- her magnetic stage presence established her as the band's central force. Eventually, the band billed itself as Lydia Pense With Cold Blood, and even released an album simply titled Lydia. Joplin sensed a kindred soul; after screaming at Cold Blood for scooping her on a blistering cover of "Piece of My Heart," she warmed to Pense enough to give her a swig of Southern Comfort.
After hitting increasingly lower tier venues in San Francisco by the late '70s, Cold Blood disbanded for most of the next decade; Pense focused her energies on child rearing. By the late '80s, the band slowly awoke from its long sleep, and they began regular features on California's festival and fair circuit. A 1998 return to their Fillmore stomping ground brought out the band's faithful.
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