THE Supergroup.  Or at least the first one.   Two from Cream (Eric Clapton & Ginger Baker) plus Spencer Davis Group wunderkind Stevie Winwood plus relatively unknown (and damned lucky) Rich Grech from Family.   While the quartet was not destined for a long and healthy relationship, they did manage to create a fitting super album in 1969 – the eponymous Blind Faith.   Only six songs long, but so very good.

The opening cut, Had To Cry Today, is a perfect introduction to the wonderful blend of Clapton’s guitar and Winwood’s voice.   Eric had pretty much proved everything at this point and was growing up as a musician.   The frenzied psychedelia was about gone.   Stevie, too, had tasted much success and was ready to run the show.   Frankly, it was just too much horsepower under a single hood and they probably realized this fairly soon into the project.

The next cut, Can’t Find My Way Home, is the best song on the album and a certified classic rock masterpiece.   I also particularly like Clapton’s Presence Of The Lord and its bold, distinctive wah-wah guitar solo.   No player (with the possible exception of Jimmy Page) could hang the listener out for a naked pause like Clapton and then blow the top off your head with a powerhouse lead (Badge, a Cream classic he co-wrote with George the Beatle, also comes to mind).   Well All Right and Sea of Joy are excellent as well, and the Ginger Baker tune Do What You Like is surprisingly good, given its extra long drum solo – a musical device that’s hardly ever enjoyable unless you’re at the show and you are bombed.   The best part of the long song is that all the players get a turn to contribute.   And fourth man bassist and violinist Grech gets to (successfully) prove his worth.

Blind Faith is but a speck in time, but a formidable preface to Traffic, Derek & the Dominos, and a number of stellar solo careers.   Worn, but not a bit worn out.   Get the remastered CD and enjoy it anew.      GD