Today’s classic song of the day is another big one in the jazz-rock or horn rock genre. It’s “Go Down Gamblin'” from Blood, Sweat & Tears, the lead single from their BS&T;4 album.
BS&T;4 (note the semicolon in the title) was a bit of a departure from Blood, Sweat & Tears’ previous albums, in that it featured more original tunes and fewer covers. It was also the last album before vocalist David Clayton-Thomas left the group (he came back a few years later), and the first after Jerry Hyman left and was replaced by Dave Bargeron on trombone and tuba. (IMHO, Bargeron was a terrific addition; his playing was outstanding.)
“Go Down Gamblin'” was written and sung by David Clayton-Thomas. DCT also played the guitar solo on this one, which ain’t bad. Released as a single in July of 1971, this one peaked at just #32 on the Billboard Hot 100. This one really cooks, more on the rock side of the group’s ongoing jazz-rock divide; listen to Bobby Colomby’s driving drums under DCT’s guitar solo, it’s powerful stuff. There’s also a terrific tuba solo by new guy Dave Bargeron, which is something you don’t find in most top forty singles.
The BS&T;4 album contained a number of great songs, even if “Go Down Gamblin'” was the only decent hit. (And a lesser one at that, at least compared to their previous hits.) I’m particularly fond of the near-hit “Lisa Listen To Me” (it only reached #73 on the Billboard Hot 100), ex-member Al Kooper’s “John the Baptist (Holy John),” the contemplative “Cowboys and Indians,” the rousing “Redemption” (with terrific stick work by drummer Bobby Colomby), and two lovely ballads by guitarist Steve Katz, “High on a Mountain” and “Valentine’s Day.” BS&T;4 did well but not as well as the group’s two previous albums, peaking at #10 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
Just because, today’s daily bonus track of the day is also from BS&T;4. It’s Steve Katz’ gentle ballad, “Valentine’s Day,” which was the flip side of the “Go Down Gamblin'” single. Terrific horn arrangement, great trumpet solo by Lew Soloff, and those lyrics just kill me: “Yesterday, the many ways you looked into my eyes seem so strange for all the many years together…”
