Artist: BLIND FAITH
Album: BLIND FATE VINYL RE-ISSUE (LP)

Release date: 1969/ 2008
EAN/UPS: 00602517753167
Media type: LP

Blind Faith is the self-titled album by the British supergroup Blind Faith, which consisted of Eric Clapton (The Yardbirds, Cream), Ginger Baker (Graham Bond Organisation, Cream), Steve Winwood (Spencer Davis Group, Traffic) and Ric Grech (Family).

There was an intense buzz about the band and its debut album Blind Faith, which on release topped Billboard's Pop Albums chart in America (as it did the UK charts) and peaked at #40 on the Black Albums chart, an impressive feat for a British rock quartet. In addition, Rolling Stone published three reviews of the album in their September 6, 1969 issue, which were written by Ed Leimbacher, Lester Bangs, and John Morthland.

They began to work out songs early in 1969, and in February and March the group was in London at Morgan Studios, preparing for the beginnings of basic tracks for their album, although the first few almost finished songs didn't show up until they were at Olympic Studios in April and May under the direction of producer Jimmy Miller. The music community was already aware of the linkup, despite Clapton's claim that he was cutting an album of his own on which Winwood would play. The rock press wasn't buying any of it, knowing that Baker was involved as well, and then the promoters and record companies got involved, pushing those concerned for an album and a tour.

The recording of their album was interrupted by such a tour of Scandinavia, then a U.S. tour from July 11 (Newport) to August 24 (Hawaii), supported by Free and Delaney & Bonnie and Friends. Although a chart topper the LP was recorded hurriedly and side two consisted of just two songs, one of them a 15-minute jam entitled "Do What You Like." Nevertheless the band was able to produce two classic hits; Winwood's "Can't Find My Way Home" and Clapton's "Presence of the Lord."


SIDE ONE:

"Had to Cry Today" (Steve Winwood) – 8:48
"Can't Find My Way Home" (Steve Winwood) – 3:16
"Well All Right" (Norman Petty, Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, Joe B. Mauldin) – 4:27
"Presence of the Lord" (Eric Clapton) – 4:50

SIDE TWO:

"Sea of Joy" (Steve Winwood) – 5:22
"Do What You Like" (Ginger Baker) – 15:20


LINE-UP:

Steve Winwood - Hammond organ, keyboards, piano, guitar, bass, vocals
Eric Clapton - guitars, vocals
Ric Grech - bass guitar, violin, vocals
Ginger Baker - drums, percussion