Blind Faith (Deluxe Edition)

Blind Faith (Deluxe Edition) Review

Short-lived classic-rock supergroup Blind Faith's sole album (1969) has aged remarkably well. Blind Faith fused the psychedelic blues of Eric Clapton and the soulful vocals and keyboards of Steve Winwood with the polyrhythmic, Afrocentric leanings of drummer Ginger Baker. "Can't Find My Way Home" is easily one of the hippie era's most lyrically poignant, sonically subtle tunes. The record has a lot of surprises; "Presence of the Lord" is rousing and melancholy at the same time, while the way the bass and guitar double-team on the introductory melodic line to "Had to Cry Today" makes a hard-rock cliché fresh again. The 10-minute drum solo on "Do What You Like" is pretty good as 10-minute drum solos go; Blind Faith is not a purchase for the jam-shy, especially in its present, bloated form, which adds almost an hour and a half of unreleased jams and mixes. And while surely there are levitational moments within the five 12-to-16-minute improv sections included here, the excess (and lack of great material; remember that this band was only together a few months) grows tiresome. One notable exception is the "Change of Address Jam," excerpts from which were pressed up as a record label change-of-address announcement back in the day. It's got a pleasant, near-swinging, Graham Bond/Booker T on Quaaludes vibe, with Winwood's keyboards rollicking nicely in a manner recalling his work on Electric Ladyland. The rest of disc two is for wank aficionados and completists only. --Mike McGonigal