Blood, Sweat & Tears / OR, USA 07.17.1991 Complete Soundboard Edition

It has already been a month since the passing of the great singer David Clayton-Thomas. In the collector community, the search for—and discovery of—new recordings that capture that powerful baritone voice continues to this day. This week sees the release of a “hidden gem” soundboard album that offers a superb listening experience, capturing him at the peak of his vocal maturity. The recording documents the concert held on July 17, 1991, in Medford—a newly unearthed stereo soundboard recording from the band’s appearance at the traditional “Jackson County Fair.” A “Hidden Gem” Soundboard Unearthed by a Renowned Source: This new discovery comes courtesy of “Krw_co,” a name that commands immense respect in the collector community. In recent years, this prestigious group has unearthed a vast number of soundboard master tapes—many previously unknown to exist—and has been releasing them one by one over the course of several years. They consistently excite the collector community by meticulously digitizing and sharing their massive archive, and this new release stands as a brilliant addition to that collection. After returning to his old band, Blood, Sweat & Tears, in 1984, Clayton-Thomas served as their signature frontman for many years. The 1991 recording featured here captures him during that period of artistic maturity; however, the band’s activities at the time were relatively low-key. There were no large-scale tours, and consequently, very few audio recordings exist from this era. This is a precious document of a single night that might otherwise have been lost to the cracks of history had it not been unearthed. The “Jackson County Fair” engagement apparently consisted of two performances—an afternoon show and an evening show—and this album captures the first of the two. It preserves an unpretentious yet incredibly spirited performance that unfolded amidst the excitement of the fair. Stunning Sound Quality That Rivals Official Releases: This album, which documents that memorable night, was mastered directly from the original soundboard source, representing the ultimate generation of the recording. The sound quality is, quite simply, extraordinary. The roar of the crowd at the venue feels distant—a faint, rippling sound washing in and out—because the audio is a direct feed from the mixing console; in its place, however, is a dense, rich wall of instrumental sound. Blood, Sweat & Tears are giants of brass rock, defined by the roaring of trumpets, trombones, and saxophones. That massive horn section dominates the entire performance with a thick, powerful presence. The growling organ, the undulating bass, and Clayton-Thomas’s resonant baritone—everything rises up with incredible richness and intensity. Usually, a recording that balances “ironclad quality” with such “raw immediacy” would warrant a description like “official-release caliber,” but even that falls short here. With the eye-opening vividness unique to an “Ultimate Generation” source and a transcendent musical experience that syncs perfectly with the live performance, this recording demands a new label: “beyond official quality.” It is an extraordinary soundboard recording that effortlessly surpasses even polished official releases. This is a full show packed with timeless masterpieces, delivered straight to your brain with that exceptional sound quality. Let’s take a look at the setlist: four tracks from *Blood, Sweat & Tears* (“Smiling Phases,” “And When I Die,” “God Bless The Child,” “Spinning Wheel”), two from *Blood, Sweat & Tears 3* (“Hi-De-Ho,” “Lucretia MacEvil”), and others including “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know,” “Go Down Gamblin’,” and “Gimme That Wine.” The show opens with an introductory jam that leads into Clayton-Thomas taking the stage, immediately captivating the audience with “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know.” From there, the band rolls out a succession of signature songs from their golden era, including “Smiling Phases,” “Hi-De-Ho,” and “And When I Die.” The set features tracks like Billie Holiday’s “God Bless The Child” and the third album’s highlight “Lucretia MacEvil,” culminating—as expected—in the timeless classic “Spinning Wheel.” Spanning approximately 63 minutes, this is a blissful set that distills the very best of Blood, Sweat & Tears. It captures a night from 1991—an era rarely documented—preserving a live performance that might otherwise have been lost forever; it is a newly unearthed masterpiece. This “hidden treasure” album showcases David Clayton-Thomas’s powerful baritone, brought to light by the renowned “Krw_co” label with unparalleled sonic freshness. It is the latest release in a series of archival discoveries made with respect and gratitude toward a great singer. This is a stereo soundboard recording of the July 17, 1991, Medford concert (1st show). As the latest entry in the prestigious “Krw_co” discovery series, it boasts the ultimate sound quality, mastered directly from the original source. Achieving a perfect balance of rock-solid fidelity and raw immediacy, the immersive experience—syncing perfectly with the live performance—delivers a stunning, “beyond-official-quality” impact. Jackson County Fair, Medford, OR, USA 17th July 1991 (1st Show) STEREO SBD (63:08) 01: Intro Jam 02: David Clayton Thomas Intro>I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know 03: Smiling Phases 04: Hi-De-Ho 05: And When I Die 06: Go Down Gamblin’ 07: Gimme That Wine 08: God Bless The Child 09: Lucretia MacEvil 10: Spinning Wheel STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING