NEW BLOOD

The title refers to the arrival of singer Jerry Fisher and keyboard player Larry Willis to replace the departed David Clayton- Thomas and Dick Halligan respectively. Lead guitarist Georg Wadenius also arrived, the band finally addressing the limited abilities of Steve Katz in that department. Katz would remain in the line up for this album though as second guitarist and sometime vocalist.

No matter what the reasons were behind DC-T's departure, the simple fact is that he had established himself as the voice of BS&T, thus leaving the band with a quandary. Did they try to find a DC-T impressionist, or did they attempt to move on from his departure with a fresh start? In the end they went for the latter, Fisher's voice being radically different, but far less distinctive.

The opening cover of Bob Dylan's "Down in the flood" certainly suits Fisher's southern drawl, the bayou blues feel of the song being accentuated by Steve Katz harmonica solo. The placing of a cover version at the start of the album is revealing, as it signifies the band reverting to a policy of using selected songs from outside the band, with just a couple of songs composed by band members appearing.

"Touch me" is a "Hi-de-ho" like spiritual sounding ballad arranged by non-band member Bobby Doyle. "Alone", written by band memebr Lou Marini Jr., is one of the most progressively structured songs the band had recorded in some time. Guitarist Georg Wadenius gets his first opportunity to demonstrate why he had been drafted into the band while the latter half of the track has a real jazz feel, with Dave Bargeron soloing on tuba.

Steve Katz takes the lead for the soft "Velvet", an ode to a horse which sounds rather out of place. It is followed by a couple of upbeat brass rock numbers "I can't move no mountains" and Dave Bargeron's "Over the hill". Barry Mann's "So long Dixie" slows things down again, sounding remarkably like a song by The Band with a horns arrangement.

Carol King and Gerry Goffin's "Snow queen" may not be one of that team's best known songs but the jazz rock arrangement here, which includes piano, sax and trombone solos, is highly commended. The rendition mirrors the sort of music Lighthouse were creating around the same time. The track segues via a brief drum solo into the only instrumental on the album, a cover of Herbie Hancock's "Maiden voyage" effectively forming a 12 minute suite. Wadenius vocalises in the early part of the track before the brass takes up the theme.

"New blood" represents a bold step for Blood Sweat and Tears. While there are a few commercially orientated songs on the album, it does not have any obvious hit singles. The subtle change of direction helps to deflect comparisons with their most famous works, rendering the album fresh and appealing.