Just One Smile

Blood, Sweat & Tears: Al Kooper (lead vocals, piano, organ), Fred Lipsius (alto sax, piano), Randy Brecker and Jerry Weiss (trumpet, flugelhorn), Dick Halligan (trombone), Steve Katz (guitars, lute), Jim Fielder (bass guitar, fretless bass guitar), Bobby Colomby (drums, percussion) and orchestral ensemble. From the album This Is Father to the Man (1968).

In 1976, Bob James produced More Than Ever, the last album recorded for the Columbia label, with the singer Patti Austin as a guest artist and the participation of a large number of New York studio musicians, but its sales were a disaster. Then, Bobby Colomby, the only surviving founding member of the group, left it and Don Alias took over the percussion until Roy McCurdy replaced him. In 1977, Blood, Sweat & Tears recorded for ABC Records Brand New Day, which received favourable reviews, but was not a bestseller.

In 1979, David Clayton-Thomas decided to completely change the line-up of the band and brought together Canadian musicians like him. The group signed with the MCA/LAX label and in 1980 published Nuclear Blues. The album was another effort to reinvent the group by giving it a funk sound, but it wasn’t well received by its fans. However, Clayton-Thomas continued to perform with a list of constantly changing musicians until 2004, and then the band went ahead without him. Larry Dorr has been the Blood Sweat & Tears manager for more than 30 years, and the group continues to tour.

In 1993, Al Kooper arranged two concerts at New York’s Bottom Line to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the release of the first album. In 1999, David Clayton-Thomas released Bloodlines to celebrate thirty years of joining the band, which features numerous former members. The group continues its busy touring programme around the world, and under the leadership of Larry Dorr and original member Bobby Colomby is enjoying a revival. Since 2005, Blood Sweat & Tears has been touring again with a renewed team and from 2013 has been directed by Bo Bice.