Blood, Sweat & Tears: Greatest Hits
This was submitted by a reader who was shocked we hadn’t already posted it. You could probably guess from the previous albums posted we probably not big “BS&T” fans, or even born when this came out, but that wont stop us from posting it.
It’s a shame they had to have the label’s logo and repeat the bands name above the wood block. It lessens the impact of the cover. I guess someone decided aesthetics were less important than making sure the message was clear.
Even with that for a cover that’s 35 years old it still feels fresh.
The only artwork credit I can find is for “Howard Fritzson” who is credited for the art direction of many other albums of the 70’s. He’s probably aged 60+ now and has little need for an online portfolio or Myspace page, so unless someone know his personally this is all the info I’m going to get on Howard.
Upon researching this album I found that almost all the other ‘BS&T’ covers featured the bands lineup in a group photo. I’m not sure why though, take a gander at the group below (the line up has changed many times previous and since).
It looks like a game of musical chairs at a YMCA or a school excursion with the standing guy the “hip and funky history teacher” who takes students to day trips to record stores.
Other BS&T albums that used a similar wood cut type treatment include the average looking “Spinning Wheel” from 1969.
And their “Super Hits” album from 1998.
kerin:
one of my favourite albums ever!
It’s great to see it featured here : )
# 20 Nov 07 at 1:14 am
Chuck:
I just stumbled across this AIGA interview with John Berg, who was art director at Columbia Records from the ’60s through the ’80s. I’m not sure what (if any) role he had in this BS&T album, but it’s an interesting article, especially the bit about the first 14 Chicago covers.
Personally, I don’t share the enthusiasm for this one. It seems rather dull to me.
# 21 Nov 07 at 12:03 am
John Hodge:
What about the cover to the first BS&T album, Child Is The Father To The Man. Apart from being a super album with Al Kooper’s - as well as songs by Tim Buckley and others - being put into horn and string arrangements - basically check it out. The cover is a curious image of each band member with a child on their knee, and the child has a copy of their own face. It also features the BS&T logo as appears on some of these covers.
# 10 Jul 08 at 10:09 pm