Blood, Sweat & Tears / Netherlands, September 20, 1970 – Complete FM Broadcast Edition

David Clayton-Thomas passed away on June 24, 2026, at the age of 84. While the cause of death was not disclosed, reports indicate he breathed his last peacefully in a Toronto hospital, free from significant suffering. He was a singular vocalist who anchored the golden era of Blood, Sweat & Tears. Born in the UK and raised in Canada, Clayton-Thomas eventually joined the band in New York. Their second album—the self-titled *Blood, Sweat & Tears*—topped the US charts for seven weeks and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, surpassing even *Abbey Road*. Songs like “Spinning Wheel,” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” and “And When I Die”—classics still sung today—were all delivered to the world through his voice. He was a key figure who pioneered the “brass rock” genre, a man who both defined an era and was sometimes buffeted by its changing tides. Now, that voice has fallen silent forever. To honor this great singer, we are releasing these titles—precious artifacts that serve as vivid records, testifying to the undeniable reality of his performances. We invite you to savor your memories of Clayton-Thomas to your heart’s content. This release is one of a two-part series, featuring an FM soundboard recording of the concert held in Amsterdam on September 20, 1970. It captures a performance at the prestigious Concertgebouw, taking place when Blood, Sweat & Tears were at their peak, touring in support of their third album, *Blood, Sweat & Tears 3*. That album had been released in June of that year and, like its predecessor, had shot to number one in the US. This concert took place right in the midst of the European tour that carried that momentum forward. Let us first look back at the schedule of the time to understand the context of this performance.・Jan 28 & 30: North America #1 (2 shows) ・Feb 27 – May 8: North America #2 (14 shows) *Release of “BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS 3” in June* ・June 18 – July 6: Europe #1 (8 shows) ・July 17 & 25 / Aug 27 & 28: North America #3 (4 shows) ・Sept 13 – Oct 1: Europe #2 (5 shows) ← ★Here★ ・Oct 10 – Dec 5: North America #4 (15 shows) A refined vintage sound captured from the best master source—this is Blood, Sweat & Tears in 1970. The Amsterdam performance featured here marks the second show of the “Europe #2” leg, taking place roughly three months after the album’s release. It followed the opening night in Stockholm, with a performance at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall scheduled immediately afterward. This was truly a stage performance from a time when the band was at its peak, touring across the continent. This release presents a vintage soundboard recording that captures the rich atmosphere of 1970. It originates from an FM broadcast by Dutch public radio, carefully transferred to disc from a hand-picked, top-quality master source. The sound quality is exceptional. Perhaps because it is a Dutch broadcast from the 70s, it lacks the meticulous studio-style polish found in official releases—but that is precisely what makes it so wonderful. Amidst an unadorned, raw soundscape, Clayton-Thomas’s vocals are thrust powerfully to the forefront. A sepia-hued vintage tone gently envelops the entire mix. Yet, thanks to the use of the best master source, the sound remains remarkably fresh and vivid, completely free from the muddiness associated with dubbing artifacts or age-related degradation. When people speak of an “analog feel,” they often imagine a sound that is rounded and muffled. However, this recording offers something a bit different. It possesses an aura best described as “analog elegance.” Even the applause filling the venue is refined and beautiful, reminiscent of a classical concert. This album delivers a dignified, amber-hued “vintage sound”—a gem of a full set that distills the essence of their early works. The performance captures the band at their peak, centering on new tracks from their then-latest album, *Blood, Sweat & Tears 3*, while generously weaving in classics from their early days. Let’s break down the tracklist: *Blood, Sweat & Tears 3* (6 songs)—”Fire and Rain” (★), “Somethin’ Comin’ On,” “40,000 Headmen” (★), “Sympathy for the Devil” (★), “Lucretia MacEvil” (★), “Hi-De-Ho” (★); Others (7 songs + α)—*Child Is Father to the Man*: “I Can’t Quit Her” (★), “Somethin’ Goin’ On (Blues: Part II)” (★); *Blood, Sweat & Tears*: “Smiling Phases,” “Sometimes in Winter,” “And When I Die,” “Spinning Wheel,” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” (Note: “★” indicates songs not included on the previously released *Live at Woodstock*). As you can see, the setlist features six tracks from the smash-hit *Blood, Sweat & Tears 3*, including highlights like “Hi-De-Ho” and “Lucretia MacEvil.” It also showcases a lineup of masterpieces from their second album—including a powerhouse trio of hits: “Spinning Wheel,” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” and “And When I Die”—alongside the evocative “I Can’t Quit Her” from their debut. It is a delight to find a host of songs here that were absent from the official *Live at Woodstock* release, despite both being drawn from the same archival source material. The performance concludes with a scorching, 31-minute rendition of “Somethin’ Goin’ On / Blues – Part II.” Clayton-Thomas’s vocals soar high above the sparks flying from the interplay of nine powerhouse musicians—capturing the boundless energy unique to the band’s peak era. That expansive, powerful voice will never ring out anew; yet, within this preserved recording, he continues to sing just as he did that night, when his voice truly shook the air of the prestigious Concertgebouw. ​​This is an FM-broadcast soundboard recording of the September 20, 1970, Amsterdam performance. Sourced from the best available master, the audio quality is superb; Clayton-Thomas’s raw vocals are brought to the forefront, and the sound—rich with a vintage, sepia-toned warmth—retains a vibrant freshness, free from the artifacts of overdubs or age-related degradation. This two-disc set offers a full experience of a night at their zenith, featuring a selection of masterpieces distilled from their first three albums and a blistering 31-minute rendition of “Somethin’ Goin’ On / Blues – Part II.” Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands – September 20, 1970 (Soundboard Recording). Disc 1 (71:43): 1 Announcer Intro, 2 Fire and Rain, 3 Somethin’ Comin’ On, 4 40,000 Headmen, 5 I Can’t Quit Her, 6 Smiling Phases, 7 Sympathy for the Devil, 8 Sometimes in Winter, 9 Lucretia MacEvil. Disc 2: 1 And When I Die, 2 Hi-De-Ho, 3 Spinning Wheel, 4 You’ve Made Me So Very Happy, 5 Somethin’ Goin’ On / Blues – Part II / Announcer Outro. Personnel: David Clayton-Thomas (Vocals), Bobby Colomby (Drums), Steve Katz (Guitar & Vocals), Jim Fielder (Bass), Dick Halligan (Keyboards, Trombone, Flute), Fred Lipsius (Alto Saxophone, Keyboards), Lew Soloff (Trumpet), Chuck Winfield (Trumpet), Jerry Hyman (Trombone).