Search - Cold Blood :: Cold Blood / Sisyphus

Thank You Lord, Cold Blood #1 & #2 are on CD!!!!!

E. Nielsen | Orange County, CA United States | 08/16/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This wonderful CD contains the full contents of Cold Blood's first and second albums: Cold Blood, released in late 1969, and Sisyphus, released in early 1971, both originally on the San Francisco label. To say it's great to hear all these tracks with the quality of a CD would be an understatement. If you're reading this review, you probably didn't land here by accident, you know how hot this band is and you know how brilliant Lydia Pense is as a soulful blues rock vocalist. Hearing "Your Good Thing" (featuring the Pointer Sisters on backing vocals) with CD quality was a rush. There are too many highlights to dwell on in this review. So get this CD already!"

Really one CD and one L.P.

E. Nielsen | 08/24/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As with many bands & artists, Cold Blood's best stuff came at the beginning--so if you buy one Cold Blood album, this is definitely the one.The first album, Cold Blood, appears to be from an original source but alas, as with the Best Of Cold Blood CD, the tracks from the fabulous Sisyphus album are (obviously) from a record. So...if you've never heard 'em, run and buy this. But if have the LPs and were expecting to hear Shop Talk with crisp digital clarity, you might just want to run your LP though that pop and crackle software and make your own CD. I realize things get lost over 30 years but I wish they would be upfront and just say original tape is unavailable."

Two great albums nicely mastered from tape to CD!

E. Nielsen | 02/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My review addresses the sound quality of the CD, not the musical performance, which is adequately documented elsewhere.I originally bought the first Cold Blood album on 8Track tape back in 1970, and bought the Sisyphus album on LP in 1971. I love both albums, but have been frustrated for years in my attempt to replace my antiquated 8Track with anything better than a scratched up copy of the LP. Until now!I'm happy to say that both albums have been nicely mastered to CD by our friends at Rhino and released as a double album on the Collectables label. The sound quality is very good, but not exceptional. To my ears the transfer is typical of many I've heard of recordings from that era. Atlantic now owns the rights to these recordings that were originally released on the San Francisco label, but the CD was manufactured by Rhino, and I suspect the CD may not be mastered from the original master tapes. The sound lacks some transparency and exhibits some harshness, but is generally very good. Also, there is some very noticable distortion for about two seconds at the beginning of the song "Your Good Thing", but this is an isolated flaw. This defect might be mistaken by some as static from a poor quality LP to CD transfer, but it is certainly from another cause. Both "Cold Blood" and "Sisyphus" are definately mastered to CD from tape. The overall sonic quality is comparable on both albums, and the two blend seemlessly on the CD. The minor imperfection shouldn't deter anyone from purchasing this CD. I think this CD release is an excellent bargain. I've waited a long time for this music to come out on CD and I'm very happy to have it."