I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m thrilled that our film captured your interest and compelled you to take two hours out of your busy day to watch.<\/p>\n
My phone and inbox have been blowing up in the past few hours from readers of\u00c2\u00a0“The Lefsetz Letter,” some of whom knew I was the filmmaker behind\u00c2\u00a0“What The Hell Happened To Blood, Sweat & Tears?,” some of whom did not\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6thinking I should be aware of the film about which you wrote so eloquently and passionately.<\/p>\n
I very much appreciate your thoughtful perspective about BS&T, the political parallels and, as you say, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153counterpoints\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to today.<\/p>\n
Thanks, too, for your kind words about the documentary. It was a real passion project from start to finish and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got so many cool behind-the-scenes production stories on which I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sure I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be dining for some time to come.<\/p>\n
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m very proud of this film and very much hope others will be equally affected by it.<\/p>\n
All the best \u00e2\u20ac\u201c<\/p>\n
John Scheinfeld<\/p>\n
Director\/Writer\/Producer<\/p>\n
WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS?<\/p>\n
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Hello: I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m really looking forward to this..AL KOOPERS\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 input \u00c2\u00a0and influence extended past the first album..The original group with Al Singing was performing You Made Me So Very Happy, Smiling Phases,and More and More in their Live Show..All made it to the Second album with DCT singing Lead.<\/p>\n
Louis Levin<\/p>\n
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Something\/someone important left out of the BS&T story – James William Guercio. \u00c2\u00a0 He brought Chicago Transit Authority to Clive Davis at Columbia in \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc68. Clive agreed to sign them, IF, Guercio agreed to produce the second Blood, Sweat & Tears album, which was to be released first. He did it, won the Grammy for album of the year (back when that still mattered), and then went on to produce 11 albums for Chicago, including 5 in a row that went Billboard number 1, (back when THAT still mattered.<\/p>\n
Got this story from Jim Foglesong, back when he briefly headed Columbia.<\/p>\n
Cheers.<\/p>\n
Michael Canfield<\/p>\n
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Bob. \u00c2\u00a0BST put out two great, but very different, albums: \u00c2\u00a0Child is the father to man and the first one with DCT. I would play both on the console stereo (before component took over) at home and mom and dad ignored the first but loved the DCT outing. \u00c2\u00a0Dad was a child of the Big Band era and the influences of the second album rung clear to him. \u00c2\u00a0You talk of the counterculture in the 60s and how our music connected a generation, and our battle with the over 30 crowd and the Vietnam war and how we were going to change the world. Yup, that was an amazing time and we talked about the unjust war and Mayor Daly and Kent and we wrote songs of protest – and they were everywhere. \u00c2\u00a0Street corner buskers yelling down the war. \u00c2\u00a0It was, truly, visceral. And, yes, we took off our bell bottoms and beads and went to work for the man and still smoked – at home. \u00c2\u00a0But it never leaves you. \u00c2\u00a0Not even today. \u00c2\u00a0It (indeed) was the best of times and the worst of times. \u00c2\u00a0And my vinyl still rolls.<\/p>\n
Robert Tussey<\/p>\n
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Thanks for the reminders…<\/p>\n
I was in NYC in 68 and 69 and B,S & T’s owned it. America had changed the game once again.and i too am happy to have have had the Al Kooper experience in my live…<\/p>\n
Best , o<\/p>\n
Andrew Loog Oldham<\/p>\n
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Wow!! Thanks for the heads up, Bob.<\/p>\n
My first concert was The Chambers Brothers and Blood, Sweat & Tears at Fordham University. I was 13. It was fantastic! After the show, we went to a White Castle on Fordham Road and had a few 20-cent burgers.<\/p>\n
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll never forget that night.<\/p>\n
Vicky Germaise<\/p>\n
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Child Is Father to the Man is one of my top five records ever.<\/p>\n
My kids are in their mid 30\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s. Their father was in Vietnam Veterans Against the War, I made them listen to my music all the time growing up, and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve made them watch 60\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s-70\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s documentaries. But I just can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get them to feel it. How sure we were that we were changing the world. And how our music was everything<\/p>\n
Kids\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6..<\/p>\n
Amy Polan Clarke<\/p>\n
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Thanks for writing about this. BS&T is an important band for many reasons; several of which you talked about. They were arguably the first jazz-rock band (Chicago took a little longer to gain traction).<\/p>\n
And \u00e2\u20ac\u201d-yes, as usual I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m talking about drummers\u00e2\u20ac\u201dthere is Bobby Colomby.<\/p>\n
His clearly jazz inspired playing was really the first time you heard Philly Joe Jones\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 influence in a rock band.<\/p>\n
Bobby is a brilliant drummer\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 highly influential on many\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6. Of course he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s happily still with us; I just wish I could hear more of his playing on more records.<\/p>\n
Regards,
\nMark Feldman<\/p>\n
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I’m an old Al Kooper fan and remember him from The Blues Project and earlier coming from Queens, NY and his first wife was my best friend.\u00c2\u00a0 He used to hang around my house and play our baby grand piano.<\/p>\n
Loved their first album… It’s the best thing BS&T ever did, I agree.\u00c2\u00a0 Kooper’s “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know”\u00c2\u00a0 Is one of the best songs ever written period.<\/p>\n
Al’s a musical genius!<\/p>\n
Iona S. Elliott<\/p>\n
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I Can’t Quit Her is my favorite on BS&T, so many times Bob you send me back into my vinyl collection; I have 4 Al Kooper albums, but Child Is Father To The Man must have been lent out and not returned (understandably) and I only have the CD. Those 5 albums influenced my writing More Than You’ll Ever Know. I can’t wait to see this movie, please give us a ‘heads up’ when it’s available.<\/p>\n
Jeff Watz<\/p>\n
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I’ve been listening to Al Kooper solo records on repeat (I Stand Alone, You Never Really Know Who Your Friends Are, Act Like Nothing’s Wrong) for the past 3 days and then you sent me thismissive! Serendipity.<\/p>\n
As a former high school band geek, BS&T were worshipped! I love all the LPs, even Nuclear Blues!\u00c2\u00a0\u00f0\u0178\u02dc\u00a8<\/p>\n
I certainly appreciate that David Clayton-Thomas is never afraid to “Say Somethin'”<\/p>\n
Cheers,<\/p>\n
EveAnna\u00c2\u00a0Dauray\u00c2\u00a0Manley<\/p>\n
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I love Al Kooper. Have all of his solo LP’s, all the Blues Project albums, and all of the BS&T albums. The first BS&T album is amazing and the second album is a classic. I cannot wait to see this movie.<\/p>\n
Count me in the crowd.<\/p>\n
Dennis Paulik<\/p>\n
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Now I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m excited! \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Thanks for the info. \u00c2\u00a0This is one that I will find. \u00c2\u00a0One of my all time favorite autobiographies is Al Kooper\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s. \u00c2\u00a0He was the Forrest Gump of the music scene. \u00c2\u00a0From growing up with Paul Simon to Dylan, to BS&T, to Skynyrd and so much in between. \u00c2\u00a0Will be on the lookout for this film.<\/p>\n
Patti Martin<\/p>\n
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I was a big fan of the Blues Project\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6attended their \u00e2\u20ac\u0153final\u00e2\u20ac\u009d concert at Town Hall and their reunion show years later at the Bond? Not sure of the venue name\u00e2\u20ac\u00a61981?
\nI filled in the Blues Project\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s songs I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t own on Napster.
\nThe first CD I bought was a gold edition of BS&T\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s, Father Is Child To The Man.
\nThe great songs and performances of both bands still hold up.
\nOver the years I also wondered what the hell happened to them.
\nIf you get wind of where and when this documentary will be available please let us know.
\nThanks Bob.
\nAlan Crane<\/p>\n
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Hi Bob \u00e2\u20ac\u201d the first single off of BS&T3, was Hi-De-Ho. \u00c2\u00a0That album followed up the DCT first post-Al Kooper album, the album with, what, three enormous hit singles; the album that won Album of the Year, beating out Abbey Road (imagine that!). \u00c2\u00a0So .. no pressure when the band went in to record the follow-up!<\/p>\n
JIm Charne<\/p>\n
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The godfathers of smooth jazz?\u00c2\u00a0\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve Made Me So Very Happy\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is to Spyro\u00c2\u00a0Gyra what\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00e2\u20ac\u0153All Day And All Of The Night\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is to The Ramones.<\/p>\n
Also responsible for launching the careers of Al Kooper and Bobby Colomby, without whom we wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have Lynyrd Skynyrd or Jaco Pastorius.<\/p>\n
Vince Welsh<\/p>\n
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What goes up, must come down\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6.I played alto saxophone (not very well!) in the jazz band in middle school when Spinning Wheel was on WABC in NYC multiple times per day.
\nThanks for the memories and pointing me to this documentary- very much looking forward !<\/p>\n
David Levin<\/p>\n
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Very few records from this era still sound good 50+ years later. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0I equate BS&Tears( Lou\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s trumpet solo is still a master class) Katz Kooper and DC were beyond years. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Of course the drama with DCT comes up into play<\/p>\n
But Spinning Wheel and Zep and Doors records still sound good. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Rest of the crap sounds like poorly recorded records that sonically still sound like crap . \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0BS@T s first record from the horn intros is still a piece of art. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0I still have it on vinyl. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need a movie that I will never watch change that. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0You fail to mention the additional MOFOs that played on this record<\/p>\n
Chris Apostle<\/p>\n
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Thank you, Bob Lefsetz. \u00c2\u00a0I read you religiously and agree less than 1\/2 the time. \u00c2\u00a0I am 76 years old, an early \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Boomer\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and love our music. Can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t wait to see this movie. Keep us posted.<\/p>\n
Jeff Douglas<\/p>\n
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Did they get into when the great Jerry LaCroix was in the band?<\/p>\n
Ex Boogie Kings, White Trash, then later joined Rare Earth for a while.<\/p>\n
And 2 VERY GOOD solo albums.<\/p>\n
Check out him singing I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll Love You More Than You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll Ever Know from 1974 and giving Kooper props.<\/p>\n