The history of Blind Faith, that featured Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Rick Grech, is a quick story. The group only released one record in 1969, and the group's self titled record shot to #1 in the U.S. airplay charts in August 1969, achieving platinum sales status, also hit #1 on the U.K. airplay charts in September of that year and achieved Gold sales status there.
The original cover, featured above, was banned in some countries and created a bit of social outrage in some corners, which did not hurt sales and made it more collectable when the record labels made changes to circumvent the bans.
Below are a few clips of Blind Faith's debut when they performed at a free concert in London's Hyde Park on June 7, 1969.
Well...All Right, Sea Of Joy & Sleeping On the Ground
In a time when few artists and bands have anything meaningful to say with regard to bringing about revolutionary change, it does not hurt to flash back to actual changemakers and revolutionaries who would be raising hell if they were still here today.
Nina Simone - (Live at Harlem Cultural Festival - 1969)
Connect direct with the legacy website of Nina Simone at NinaSimone.Com
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Received Bob Lefsetz' mailbag e-mail this morning and read the letter (down below) from Terry Ellis, co-founder of Chrysalis Records and a producer tied to way too many great records to name including my favorite Jethro Tull album titled Aqualung. Terry wrote to Bob about Alvin Lee who just passed away recently. He referenced Alvin with Ten Years After at Woodstock. Had to revisit this excellent take. Enjoy!
Ten Years After - I'm Going Home at Woodstock on August 17th 1969
Band members: Alvin Lee -- guitar, vocals, Leo Lyons -- bass, Ric Lee -- drums, Chick Churchill -- organ
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From: Terry Ellis
To: Bob Lefsetz
Subject: Alvin Lee
Bob,
When Alvin Lee walked on the stage of a small UK blues club in 1967 in his trademark clogs, blonde locks and dramatic good looks and began to play that red Gibson with the peace symbol sticker, fingers flying across the frets, you just knew you were in the presence of a star.
Ultimately millions agreed as Ten Years After stole the show at the UK's Sunbury Jazz and Blues Festival in 1968 and later, as, for many, Alvin became the face of Woodstock after the movie was released in 1970.
Alvin was a warm man, with a ready smile and an easy sense of humor to go with those flying fingers.
As an aspiring musician in England, Alvin entrusted his life and career to two recent University graduates, still wet behind the ears! In doing so, Alvin helped put in place the first building block of a business which became known as Chrysalis.
Chris Wright and I will always be grateful.
Alvin left us far too early and we will miss him,
Terry
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Classic clip of CSNY live at Big Sur (Esalen Institute), California, September 14, 1969. Neil Young (vocal, guitar), Stephen Stills (guitar, vocal), David Crosby (guitar, vocal), Graham Nash (keyboards), Greg Reeves (bass), Dallas Taylor (drums).
Crosby Stills Nash & Young - Down By The River (Live at Esalen in 1969)
Music Television is very proud to present one of the greatest artists and civil rights activists in the history of modern music, also known as The High Priestess of Soul. Nina Simone was a true original.
This live concert footage, captured in the summer of 1969 when she performed at the Harlem Cultural Festival in Harlem's Mount Morris Park, is a treasure.
Nina Simone - Ain't Got No...I've Got Life (Live in Harlem 1969)
Here is some more live concert footage shot in London in 1968, where she performs the same song, for a audience in Europe, at a slightly slower tempo and cops a subdued groove than the take above. Enjoy!
Nina Simone - Ain't Got No...I've Got Life (Live in London 1968)
Nina Simone's legacy continues at her official website: NinaSimone.Com
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