🎵 Blood Sweat & Tears - Spinning Wheel REACTION

[@thefoss5387]

A painted pony on a spinning wheel describes a merry-go-round or carousel, a metaphor for grabbing the fun out of life.

[@ffjsb]

And way back in the day, they used to put out a brass ring, and if someone could grab it while riding the carousel, they got a prize. There were also iron rings that could be grabbed and tossed at a target while riding, but the brass one was the one you wanted to get.

[@KenWins1]

And when I was growing up “going for the brass ring” meant trying to seize on an opportunity

[@surlechapeau]

Brad & Lex, you’ll love their “You Made Me So Very Happy” and “And When I Die”!!! (Spinning Wheel studio version has a great Trumpet solo. That was cut out on this live version!!)

[@buhovadis3454]

Right!!! Also "without her" and "I can't quit her" are great tunes!

[@boosuedon]

The solo was done by Lou Soloff who was only with the group for two albums and was one incredible jazz player! Yes, the studio album (album of the year!) was incredible with many top ten hits!

[@jayarr961]

And perhaps God Bless The Child

[@jerryhorne7547]

Plus Go Down Gamblin’ and Lucretia MacEvil are two additional great tunes from BST

[@boosuedon]

@@jayarr961 AGREED! God Bless The Child BS&T version is a perfect combination of blues, rock, gospel and jazz! Billie Holiday did it first, but I've got to say, the BS&T version is PERFECT!

[@bluebird3281]

You should hear the studio version; in fact, I recommend the studio version for all BST songs.

[@jimwilcox2964]

Seemed a little muddy and cut down from the album version. Especially the ending

[@BadlndsBob]

I always loved this song. I am always encouraging people to hear the studio version of a song, but I have to say that THIS performance of the song was great. It compares nicely to the studio version, unlike most live performances.

[@danlalonde2751]

When David Clayton Thomas was a young man ,he spent some time in a prison near my home town in Canada . The story he told later was that he was in his cell alone one day while all the prisoners were out in the yard . The empty cells had great acoustics . He was singing as loud as he could one day.. The prisoners were saying who is that singing ? They later told him that he could sing well so he decided that he would become a singer when he got out . True story. Canadians always loved Blood Sweat and Tears.

[@rossmacintosh5652]

When in prison with lots of time on their hands, one of his buddies taught David guitar cords. Problem was they had no guitar. They managed to put six elastics on a board on which they had drawn on the frets as lines. With that mock-up, his friend would show David where to put his fingers for each cord and how to finger the cord transitions - all without any sound. David apparently spent countless hours practising in that way. When released and able to get a real guitar he quickly learned to play.

[@saturnsabyss]

@@rossmacintosh5652 Now THAT is crazy!!! He must have had a good memory to remember the chords without the sounds!

[@ALD56]

"And When I Die" HAS to be your next selection from Blood, Sweat and Tears.

[@Reclining_Spuds]

Studio version please. 😎

[@jeffdetmer4681]

Lead singer David Clayton-Thomas also wrote the song. he said that the times were all tied up in the psychedelic, the spinning wheel was his way of saying just be cool and hang on, everything that goes around comes around. Or something like that. As for the constant smile and some of the "moves" I have no clue. Maybe he felt like Canada's Elvis??

[@michaelakkerman407]

You've made me so very Happy: BY BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS is another fantastic song.

[@bobschenkel7921]

Went to a BS&T show in my hometown at a large night club, and standing at the back was Mr. David Clayton Thompson, the lead singer, just hanging out. I walked over and to say hello, and he was very nice and genuine, and we had a five minute conversation about whatever. It sure jazzed me up and made me feel good about the whole event. He was a cool dude, ya know.

[@Lagib28]

David Clayton Thomas, actually.

[@bobschenkel7921]

@@Lagib28 You are correct Lagib28. My bad.

[@bendyrland7213]

I hadn't thought of this song for many years. 30 yrs ago I was in Jr High. We had a pretty awesome music teacher, who was a product of this time period. For one of our "concerts" we sang this song and a bunch of others (Sgt Pepper's, Monday Monday, If I Had a Hammer, Summer in the City, the list goes on). After all these years I can still sing along word for word. It's kinda crazy how good music can stays with you, transporting you to a different time and place when you hear it.

[@wendyryder2708]

Lucky you! Sounds like a VERY cool music teacher!

[@antarcticorb9197]

We were spoiled with the best music!

[@josephpavone4574]

How true. BTW you're making me feel old

[@toddstevens13]

Just Another talented Canadian Vocalist. You do enjoy them, that is for sure, lol.

[@genefoltzer551]

That was a very chill version of the song. The studio version had more energy

[@shanenolan8252]

Agreed i prefer the studio version

[@greg2976]

Dido that!👍

[@jonstiner3424]

Brings me back to a time when I was a little kid and we listened to songs like this on our AM radios. Such a simpler time.

[@Robomatic]

The singer was David Clayton Thomas. His vocals were always powerful and soulful. BTW another Canadian. Rock bands with horns was a thing back in the day. Chicago, of course. Edgar Winter had his “White Trash” band - listen to “Keep Playin' That Rock ‘n’ Roll”. In Canada we had Lighthouse who got to #24 on the Billboard charts in 1971 with “One Fine Morning”.

[@easyrolling]

David Clayton- Thomas was a Canadian singer who hooked up with this band after its original lead singer and founder Al Kooper, a rock legend, decided to move on and took the group into another genre of music with his swag and jazzy vibes mixed with the horns of BS&T made them a household name.. The first album with Kooper was wonderful but much different then when Thomas brought them to fame.. Much more to listen to from this band in both versions of it . Great review..

[@kehdepermit]

Blood, Sweat and Tears is one of those bands that had their own unique sound. Can't mistake them for anyone else.

[@johneldridge8678]

You guy's have to react to, " You make me so very happy." It's soooo good

[@kentclark6420]

This version is so subdued compared to the studio version, and it cuts out the trumpet solo by Soloff. I don't care for this version. Check out 'Go Down Gamblin' and 'God Bless the Child'.

[@thomastimlin1724]

Probably had to cut the length for time on a TV Variety show.

[@pablovandyck]

Goin Down Gambling has a great tuba solo by David Bergeron. (Now tell me, how many songs have a tuba solo ?)

[@karenmandeville7116]

And When I Die is a great song of theirs! they were one of the first LPs i bought back in the early 70s.

[@thomastimlin1724]

Known as Jazz-Rock along with Chicago and others always used horns. Late 1960's early 1970's.

[@CCDzine]

Go Down Gamblin' by BST is a kick-ass rock song, complete with tuba solo.

[@timothybush9633]

Hi Brad and Lex, Good song. I'm a Musician and we played this song from them and one also from them called "You Make Me So Very Happy" also from 1968

[@boosuedon]

BS&Ts' version of; "God Bless The Child" is a perfect balance of rock, gospel and jazz all mixed into one! This, off of the same album as "Spinning Wheel". I believe the original artist was Billie Holiday many years ago.

[@angier5775]

Highly recommending Hod Bless the Child! Both versions cause they’re done so differently 🎵🎶 In fact, I’m going to listen to BST’s right now!

[@mickeyd6444]

What a fantastic band, and an iconic voice upfront. It seems these guys get short shrift, really should be more highly regarded. And agree with the other commenters that noted the studio versions are always better places to start.

[@betsyduane3461]

One of the greatest voices ever.

[@martyemmons3100]

David Clayton Thomas with Blood Sweat and Tears has that very unique sound. I'll always remember when that 'unique Blood Sweat and Tears sound' combined with a song written by Laura Nyro, "And When I Die". It took me quite a while of listening to songs from that era to notice a common credit for 6 of those songs: "Ashes to Ashes" "Sweet Blindness" "Stoned Soul Picnic" "Wedding Bell Blues" by The 5th Dimension "Stoney End" by Barbra Streisand "And When I Die" by Blood Sweat and Tears It had never occurred to me that there was a commonality with all those songs. But when I became interested with who Laura Nyro was, that's when I discovered the many accolades showered on her by her fans. Laura Nyro was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Down through history, the music Laura Nyro wrote should be remembered - will be remembered.

[@anthonydaxis1209]

Glad you two are appreciating actual live performances in a lot of your videos. Not to say that some audio might not be dubbed or mixed every once in a while, but back then they didn't have all the mixing, synthesizer, and track tech that bands have today, so when you see them you're getting raw talent especially with the vocals, because there is less of a way to 'cheat' or (post-produce) a video back then. Many vocalists today cannot even touch these people who had to sing (for real) back then. Nothing like raw vocal talent.

[@DerEchteBold]

This doesn't look like an actual live performance. I think it was common practice to pre-record for TV performances, to have something different from the album version but to avoid the surprises of performing live.

[@Irockthere4]

Great singer saw him in the early 1990’s and he could still sang. They had a few hits, but there was a one hit wonder from Canada who had the same kind of sound. Check out “One Fine Morning” by Lighthouse.

[@MsPrincesspaulina]

And When I Die by them has so much SOUL to it.

[@jacqueline4514]

My parents had a Blood Sweat and Tears album and I loved every single song on it. Especially “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”

[@kennethbrown5164]

Al Kooper founder and keyboardist with BS&T was the 1st to sign Lynyrd Skynyrd on his sound of the south record label. Skynyrd had been turned down by several record labels prior to this... early 70's.

[@andrewhoran7088]

Used to hear this on the boardwalk at the Jersey shore in the sixties

[@OronOfMontreal]

Good answer, Brad: "I don't really know... I was enjoying the performance." THAT'S what it's about. Blood Sweat and Tears was a great Canadian band, with lots of hit singles and big-selling albums.

[@MRVISTA-wz7vj]

David Clayton Thomas- legend! 😅😅😅😅😅

[@terryv2006]

I was lucky enough to see DCT about 10 years ago. A perfect country gentleman and what a set of pipes.

[@21anthem12]

So this time Brad was into the performance and Lex absorbed the lyrics. Cool.

[@marleneclausen30]

David Clayton Thomas was a great voice for BS&T. He complimented the instruments so beautifully. My all time favorite group, their recordings are amazing: but, their live performances we’re phenomenal! They had so much jazz in their music. Yes, BS&T musicians were classily trained.

[@SG-js2qn]

Blood, Sweat & Tears generally reminds me of the Ray Charles school of music. Which was still big in the Sixties.

[@davidbarlow372]

good band from Canada lead singer in Canada ..music hall of fame

[@franklopez2803]

For many days back in 1970 I thought I’M YOUR VEHICLE by the Ides of March was done by Blood, Sweat and Tears.

[@morrison62]

Great horn section. The singer, David Clayton Thomas, did a lot of jingles too, most notably McDonald’s.

[@jameswaddell3348]

The drummers out there, know Bobby Colomby was a BADASS!! Bobby Colomby, was one of the drummers invited to pay tribute to the great jazz drummer Gene Krupa, and Buddy Rich went over to Colomby's table to give him praise on his drumming on the first BST album. Drummers know Buddy didn't pass out compliments that often; So it was a big thrill to have the drumming giant Rich give him kudo's

[@mlhesler68]

The 60s music was based on talent. Didn't matter what kind of music or what you looked like. It was all about talent.

[@mlhesler68]

1st band to popularized jazz, rock, blues, and psychedelic music. Al Kooper got the idea from Mike Bloomfield's Electric Flag. They opened the doors for Pacific, Gas and Electric, Ides of March, and Chicago.

[@RobbyNowell]

"And When I Die" / "One Room Country Shack" from their Live and Improvised album is one of the best BS&T recordings of all time. It has a tuba solo in the middle by Dave Bargeron. He kills it!

[@accam6734]

David Clayton Thomas has a great voice.

[@jeffgee1148]

I kept thinking he was going to stop singing and try to sell me car insurance.

[@VZ935]

"When I Die" us another great song from BS&T

[@stephenhuber1219]

David Clayton Thomas started to sing in prison. Al Kooper started this band before moving on to produce Lynyrd Skynyrd.

[@thatdamelana]

Blood Sweat & Tears was one of my Dad's favorites. As I got older I appreciated why he listed to them & Chicago so much. He was a musician. He loved musicianship. Thanks for the memories.

[@eximusic]

This was huge hit in the 60s. This was constantly on the radio for what seemed like a couple of years.

[@joes2514]

If you enjoyed it you should really listen to the studio version. The horns really come alive. And if you want to hear a fantastic cover, look up the Russian band Leonid & Friends. They have a ton of Chicago songs but venture to other groups with horn sections. Most of their uploads are studio recordings and they strive to sound exactly like the original. They also upload live performances on occasion. Their content is amazing.

[@loudog2326]

Hi-De-Ho, And When I Die, Lucretia Mac Evil !! Blood Sweat & Tears !! What A Fantastic Band !!

[@kerrylewis2581]

One of my favorite things about this channel is returning memories of songs I've forgotten. Please do more BS&T ASAP.

[@doobd9]

Great Song. I have this on 45 in my childhood collection. Wow DCT had a great voice.

[@browntabproductions]

While this Live version is surprisingly good, as usual, it doesn’t do the Studio version the justice it deserves. It’s only 2-dimensional, which BS&T are not. Try the Studio version

[@emanuelsanders2030]

Wow, haven't heard this one in a while. This song crossed racial barriers back in the day. Still has that flow. Funny, somethings are just TIMELESS .

[@NobodySpecial512]

BS&T was my second concert. I saw them in 1976. By then David Clayton-Thomas had started wearing a flat cap to hide that he was going bald. I was close enough that I could have grabbed that hat off his head. The show was just great.

[@xiurong888]

Bobby Colomby, was one of my favorite drummers. Lew Soloff on lead trumpet was also great, having played in Maynard Ferguson's big band. I was lucky to have seen them live at Carnegie Hall around the time of this video.

[@terryevans1976]

YES! Blood, Sweat, and Tears! As others have noted, this is a very mellow version of the song. Much, much, more passion on the studio version. One of the things that makes BST sound great is the incredible passion in the songs.

[@unusual686]

Love this song, a staple of AM radio in the 1970's.

[@americanmutt9089]

Spinning wheel is like to me that if you don't get off the Merry-go-round(painted pony on the spinning wheel ride) you'll see the same things.

[@charleserickson8119]

I was always wondering if it was a carousel, with the "spinning wheel" and "ride a painted pony.....".

[@chrisa4695]

Back in the time when rock bands had horns. They evolved into a jazz band and at various times included Michael Brecker, Jack Pastorius, Joe Henderson and Steve Kahn.

[@chrisa4695]

Modern day music regardless of genre (other than metal) is like fast food. Old school music is like your grandmother’s home cooking. Those guys were musicians and performers.

[@nativetexan9776]

Live version does this classic no justice. Studio is best on this song.

[@richardconnolly4835]

As you enjoyed BS&T, take a listen to Lighthouse and their hit Sunny Days, a celebration of the joys of summer.

[@canaguy]

David Clayton-Thomas has a great jazz - blues - rock sound. He was another Canadian singer that did very well with many hits.

[@fan123casual8]

Brad: I’ve never heard the phrase”That’s a different hill to climb” before. I love it and I’m going to use it from now on. Thanks. 👍

[@wayne_twentyfive]

Lex could have made a career doing impressions ! .. She's hilarious and very accurate .. Love your work !

[@DivaInTheWoods]

This is not the version I recall as a kid; however, I was only like 1 or 2 when this released. This was an 8-track that was left in the extra bedroom at granny's house in the headboard beside an 8-track player. My older cousins made it using a "Dymo" label maker. 😁 When I started reading some basic words around 4, I vividly recall laying on the bed listening to that 8-track. The only titles I could read was this one and "Green-Eyed Lady" by Sugarloaf (which I requested many times on the 60s stream with no luck). I absolutely both songs (it was probably the studio version of "Spinning Wheel"). I'm not sure if it's because they were the only titles I could read or if they were actually the best songs on the 8-track. LOL I'm pretty certain "Green-Eyed Lady" was a definite hit back then. I still ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ that song! B&L are missing out!! Thanks for stirring up a sweet memory with this one!

[@kenhenderson1762]

David Clayton-Thomas said this was his attempt to write a psychedelic song.

[@shwicaz]

THANK you so much. I've heard this song all my life, but never paid attention. BUT, after seeing this live performance, WOW, David Clatyon-Thomas is amazing -- he has an adorably cute face, that six-million-dollar-man-action-figure haircut, that amazing voice, the leather outfit, and the little 'swag' he brings to his performance. I think I'm in heat. LOL.

[@bettybaby63]

Oh man haven’t heard this song in years!

[@ewetoobblowzdogg8410]

Their cover of God Bless The Child by Billie Holiday is simply superb. If you two dig B,S&T, don't miss this one. You won't be disappointed!

[@mamaral77]

Love the horn section, You should check out Tower of Power, Your Still A Young Man, or So Very Hard to Go, Time Will Tell., maybe the band Malo, the song Suevecito, then you'll open up a can of worms with East LA Oldies.

[@marksawicki3595]

I've always loved this song. Great chill vibes, And the way the trombone slides that one solo note.. wow

[@jameskennedy721]

Major hit in the late 1960's . The lyrics have that spacey , psychedelic vibe . It seeped into styles that were not really hippie , before it all got washed away by country rock styles like the Eagles and the Allmans .

[@johnmontgomery2784]

Trumpet solo in studio version

[@TheSlumsofMediocrity]

Shirley Bassey's cover of this is incredible. You should check that out, too.

[@riskyseeds423]

Check out God Bless The Child Best song on this album also And When I Die.

[@angusdrummond6719]

"Catch a painted pony, let the spinning wheel fly" .....I always took this as...and I could be wrong but a comparison to life as the spinning wheel represents life as a merry go round at the fair and the painted pony you catch is your direction in life. that being said please check out "when I die" by Blood sweat and tears as well. a masterclass in my humble opinion!

[@rayjingloryproductions3770]

And --- NO AUTO TUNE. These guys were the shit back then. I love that you guys covered BSAT. There's one I really wish you would cover. Live "Take hold of the Flame" by Queensryche. It is a definite mind blower. It is Metal at it's FINEST. I don't want to explain much about this as I want you two to be astonished. The video is from around 1984 or 85. I saw them open for the KISS Animalize tour. They did this one and I was FLOORED. Thanks. Michael Ray.

[@floorticket]

Psychedelic imagery maaaan.

[@Cathidee]

Oh yes! Y’all have to listen to more of these guys. Great memories from my childhood 🙂

[@CHAUNCEY.GARDNER.]

Another great band from Canada

[@Sam-je7ti]

I don't think the band was Canadian but David Clayton Thomas is.

[@allendesalme197]

Lead singer is David Clayton Thomas - Bill Tillman used to play sax with BST but I don't think I see him here. Tillman's band used to play the Railhead in Dallas a lot.

[@victormendez2789]

Blood, Sweat and Tears was one of my first "cassettes" purchased from Columbia records promo to buy 10/11 cassetes for 1$-can you imagine? Talk about excited when my package arrived 3-4 wks later? OMG that was so great! So many good groups and some I didn't recognize cuz I was all of 15? but luvvved music! BST was one I didn't know and it was awesome. Heck, I think I got John Denver, CCR, Statler bros(back when it was country and not just pop/rock disguised as country)..thank you Columbia!!!

[@victorcowboywest]

An intriguing metaphor for the cycle we go through in life. Studio version is a lot better and check "WHEN I DIE"

[@johnroberts5637]

The only time I know of that David Clayton Thomas did anything but sing on a BST record, he absolutely killed it on guitar. Check out "Go Down Gambling" and you might wonder why he didn't strap that guitar on a little more often.

[@rossmacintosh5652]

Hi John. In my comment on John Lalonde's comment I tell the unusual story of how David Clayton Thomas came to learn to play guitar.

[@MrCubswin1]

One of the most interesting bands of all time.

[@Teresia12]

My jam!

[@anthonyblakely399]

"God Bless The Child" by Blood Sweat & Tears. Should be your next song from this band.

[@scottperry8354]

A first time reaction should always be a studio version.

[@ronaldgines171]

Brad & Lex, your playing some really great songs today...... Great job.

[@mconnaghan]

I'd like to be stoked about anything as much as this band was about merry-go-rounds.

[@CB-gr1uk]

One of my favorite groups. I love horns and this group has a ton of hits! I played trumpet and this was one of my favorites to play.

[@bobbyscott8024]

Hey y'all, your perspective on music that I grew up on is simply amazing! This was a very difficult and confusing time in my opinion, much like today.....but not as confusing!

[@wild8757]

Every time I’ve heard that song I can’t get it out of my head and will be humming it for the next two weeks lol

[@lorainelavoy4083]

I love you guys ! Showcasing great music 🎼 keep it up 👍🏻

[@Gashouse69]

I loved this song as a young kid. Sang along when it came on the radio.