Nuclear Blues
1980
Track Listing:
Agitato (5:51)
Nuclear Blues (4:24)
Manic Depression (4:18)
I'll Drown in my Own Tears (7:21)
Fantasy Stage (5:41)
Suite: Spanish Wine (13:30)
I--Introduction: La Cantina (2:15)
II--Theme: Spanish Wine (1:02)
III--Latin Fire (2:22)
IV--The Challenge (2:15)
V--The Duel (2:20)
VI--Amor (3:16)
VII--Spanish Wine Reprise (1:42)
Lineup:
David Clayton-Thomas: Vocals
Bruce Cassidy: Trumpet, Fluegelhorn,
Steiner Electric trumpet
Bobby Economou: Drums
David Piltch: Bass
Robert Piltch: Electric and
Classical Guitar
Earl Seymour: Baritone and
Tenor Sax, Flute
Vern Dorge: Alto and Soprano
Sax, Flute.
William Smith: Background
Vocals on "Drown in my own Tears."
Lonnie Jordan: Background
vocals on "Drown in my own Tears."
Produced by Jerry Goldstein
Chart History:
Released
in April of 1980 (LAX 1865) on both regular and Gold Vinyl and came with
a huge fold out poster that had the album cover on one side and their 1980
concert schedule on the other. It boasted "Featuring the New Hit
Single, "Nuclear Blues." LAX was an MCA subsidiary. The album
is currently in print on CD on Rhino Records. There were two singles,
one of them was Nuclear Blues Stereo/Mono (MCA 41198) Thanks to Jorgen
for mentioning that there was at least one other single for this record.
"Nuclear Blues (Disco Mix)"/"Drown in my own Tears." David Clayton-Thomas
won a award at the Rio music festival for "Fantasy Stage." There
is also a companion live album in print on CD on Rhino as well. "I'll
Drown In My Own Tears," was also on DCT's ABC solo record Clayton AND
on the recent Blue Plate Special release.
Billboard Magainze's April 12,
1980 Review Read:
The
group which pioneered a fusion of jazz rhythms and horn-fronted pop-rock
in the late '60s on CBS, debuts on its new label with a set of instrumentally
funky tunes like David Clayton-Thomas' "Nuclear Blues," and Jimi Hendrix's
"Manic Depression." Much of side two is dedicated to a suite entitled
"Spanish Wine," written by six of the eight band members. The sound
is big, funky, and brassy.
Jeremiah Rickert writes:
While
my friend, the die-hard BS&T fan who got me into the group, refuses
to listen to this record, I happen to like it. Not only because it's
BS&T, but because I've learned to appreciate straight jazz as well
as fusion and jazz rock. The sound on this album is oddly reminiscent
of Tower of Power and Spyro Gyra records of that same period. I like
the tight funkiness of tracks like "Nuclear Blues," "Agitato," and "Manic
Depression," as well as the heavier, blusier, "Drown In My Own Tears,"
which I believe is in its best incarnation on this record, mostly because
of Richard Martinez's fine piano accompaniment. I had the orange
vinyl version in my hands, but thought that $6 was too much to pay for
a record, recently I was able to buy it for $3.50! So I'm glad I waited.
:)
Return
to the BS&T Discography Page