2. music
  3. 1327268136

Rediscovering Cold Blood

I noticed Cold Blood "Thriller" in my collection a week ago, which I hadn't played in a year or so. Damn, I forgot just how good that disc is....the incomparable Lydia Pence, a rhythm section tighter than the jeans you wore in high school, sophisticated arrangements that build and progress until you can hardly keep from dancing in the living room. Tons of fun for fans of Janis Joplin, funk/rock/blues, horn section dynamite and a drum/bass groove as solid as Bobby Colomby and Jim Fielder.
77jovian
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,305 posts
 
amazing how much really good music there is out there that I have not heard - thanks!
eleet
24 posts
 
Now you’re talking! Lydia and Cold Blood could really bring it. The opening to “I just want to make love to you” has to be the coolest intro I’ve ever heard. While Janis was great, I preferred Lydia’s voice which had a touch more “smooth” and “richness”. Another under the radar singer from the 70’s who could blow your face off and melt your heart at the same time was Joyce Kennedy (Baby Jean) of Mother’s Finest. What an eclectic group they were. Rock drums and guitar combined with funk bass and keyboards coupled with soaring – raw – soulful vocals. They were too hard-rock for black radio and had too much “flava” for white radio. No band I’ve ever heard played and sang with as much musical power as MF. Probably not an Audiogoner favorite:)
chazro's avatar
chazro
635 posts
 
Big Cold Blood fan here although I wouldn't compare Lydia Pense to Janis Joplin. I never thought Janis (bless her heart) had such a great voice whereas Lydia....

Rummaging thru a used CD store a few yrs ago I came across a NEW (2005) Cold Blood recording called 'Transfusion'. Amazingly enough, Lydia STILL sounds great! As does the band. If you dig the sound of LP & Cold Blood I strongly recommend:

Sons of Champlin - 'Hip Li'l Dreams' Found this at the same shop! Also recorded in 2005 by a band that I hadn't heard since the '70's. Featuring founder Bill Champlin, one of the last great (IMO)blue-eyed soul-brothers.

Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns - 'When The Curtain Goes Up'. Great music by one of the best kept secrets in music!!

If ya can't get your goove thang goin' with these records it's 'cause you ain't got a groove thang!!;)
77jovian OP
385 posts
 
Eleet, which Mother's Finest disc do you recommend? Thanks for the suggestions, Chazro.
maxnewid
449 posts
 
eleet-
Mother's Finest is great. They were a big part of the soundtrack to my youth growing up in Atlanta. They still play around town from time to time. My favorites are the self titled Mother's Finest, Another Mother Further, and the live album. They have a greatest hits that is a decent collection. You are right as far as how the band suffered from radio and the labels having a hard time pigeon holing them into a genre.The bottom line is that Mother's Finest makes soulful rock and roll that is fun party music.
More to discover