The original version of this album is a standard bearer for quality seventies hard rock and worthy of inclusion in any collection by itself whether on vinyl, cassette, CD or 8-track (if yours still works!) but to have it remastered and reissued in such a grand way, well it is just beyond words, but let me try anyway.

First off the incredibly well presented and thought out packaging. The picture of the thirteen year old topless girl is back on the cover after having been banished from the origional artwork shortly after its release. Strange as it may sound this was truly one of the most non-sexual artistic displays ever for album artwork and not the prurient
depiction of a child it was made out to be. There is a plastic slipcase covering her chest now so that thirty-years later it will probably be able to get shelf space at any CD store. If you must have a reproduction of the alternative cover it too is included as the cover of the CD booklet.

The CD booklet has everything that the origional album had along with a plethora of period shots of each of the band members, most never seen by the public before. There are expansive liner notes by John McDermott following the history of the band track by track right up until it all fell apart for BLIND FAITH. This couldn’t have been packaged any better or more lovingly.

As for the music, well you would only be picking this up if you were at least somewhat familiar with the band so you will know much of the music here but there are some surprises. In addition to the entirety of the origional albums contents being re-mastered this collection comes with a full hour and half of bonus material, so in the end you are getting three times as much BLIND FAITH here as ever available before.

As you might expect there is a lot of jamming between Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and Ginger Baker, this fills an entire second disc. Here you will hear themes that are both familiar and new at times a template of one of the main album's songs pops up in a jam allowing you to see the genesis of a classic.

Disc one represents the origional material in its cleaned up form with some alternative version, the incredible “Can’t Find My Way Home” done electrically as opposed to its familiar un-plugged version is one example, and still more jamming and previously unreleased tracks that came form the same recording sessions.

For better than two hours worth of music packaged this well to be available at little more cost than a single new CD is reason enough to rejoice but wait until you have it in hand because this is a limited edition printing and you wouldn’t want to miss the chance to get yours.

Released by Polydor Records

Review By David Lee
DAVID LEE WILSON
IAN SCOTT ENTERTAINMENT
69080 N. FOREST
RICHMOND, MI USA 48062
810-727-4897