CHILD IS FATHER TO THE MAN – Original Story
Some of these albums are curiosities for the most part, but that is most definitely not true of this one. To me, it is positively criminal that there are still some rock music fans out there who do not know about the debut 1968 album by Blood, Sweat and Tears, Child Is Father to the Man. Despite having zero hit songs and being recorded before lead singer David Clayton-Thomas joined the group, this album is even better than their second album, Blood, Sweat and Tears. Finally, this is also the best work by Al Kooper, who founded BST – and that is saying something.
Al Kooper formed Blood, Sweat and Tears in 1967; one of his bandmates in the Blues Project, Steve Katz became an important member of the group as well. Besides being one of the first rock bands to have a full brass section (there are also frequent strings plus an Ondioline, a precursor to modern synthesizers), Child Is Father to the Man has a classically based structure, with an “Overture” and an “Underture” and songs that flow from one into another covering rock, country, pop, jazz, blues, folk . . . there is even a fugue section. The songs are mostly original – “I Can’t Quit Her”, “Meagan’s Gypsy Eyes” and “My Days Are Numbered” are real standouts – but include some real beauties among the cover songs: Randy Newman’s “Just One Smile”, Harry Nilsson’s “Without Her” and Tim Buckley’s “Morning Glory”. The Stone Poneys also recorded the latter song, though with the title “Hobo” instead; it is my favorite Poneys song (even beating “Different Drum”) and one of my very favorite Linda Ronstadt songs. Simply put, Child Is Father to the Man is a joy from beginning to end.
Steve Katz remained with the group, unlike Al Kooper (who left the band or was pushed out after the release of Child Is Father to the Man due to creative differences). Katz has an excellent lead vocal on one song on Blood, Sweat and Tears, “Sometimes in Winter”.
(September 2012)
