Blind Faith - Blind Faith

Is there anybody who doesn't like a good drum solo? The longer the better in my experience. Loud, energetic, deafening? Nope me neither. Actually for that matter, I don't really like extended guitar solos either. For much the same reason; that they exist so the musician can show off....for ten minutes.

Now you may think this is a little hypocritical as I have already, in the very pages of this blog, waxed lyrical about the merits of Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, Cream and now Blind Faith. These bands are no strangers to extended solos. Some lasting days. But in most cases they add something to the song in which they're placed. Not unnecessarily navel gazing. This is equally true for other genres of music. Take 'I Am The Resurrection' by The Stone Roses. A long groove of a track with extended guitar and rhythm solos. At 8m 12sec it could outstay its welcome but the musical passages add to the song. Not once do you start to wonder what's for tea.....

For most of the 15m 20sec of 'Do What You Like' things are moving along nicely. Cool, rhythmic, melodic..... then it goes off the rails - the drum solo starts. And it goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and.....you get the idea. The warning signs were there I suppose as the track was composed by Ginger Baker. No stranger to drum solos that fella. So apart from the (seemingly) eternity of the drum solo, what is the rest of the album like?

Well before I get onto that, I feel compelled to mention the cover. Surely one of the contenders for the worst ever album cover. Ever. Full stop. Ever. Who on earth had the idea that it was either a) appropriate b) tasteful or c) representative of the contents of the record. Awful and slightly dodgy. Little wonder that it caused uproar resulting in the record company changing it. Mind you the replacement was equally rubbish, just for different reasons. Yuk!

So you might get the impression that I don't like this album. Not at all. It is definitely a child of its time - when super-groups were cool, long hair was de rigeur and extended solos a demonstration of your manhood. But the six songs on offer here (yes only six - well they had to make room for those solos!) are bluesy, rocky and showcase the talents of the individual members, especially when length is sacrificed for quality such as on 'Can't Find My Way Home'. A lovely (short) gospel blues track.

In principle I am all for long songs; they allow the artist to go places that the three minute pop song doesn't allow, they help musical ideas develop and are great value on a jukebox. Sure everyone in the pub will hate your guts for playing that thirty minute Hawkwind epic, but you can nurse your bruises safe in the knowledge that you got value for money.