Song:Well Alright
Album:Blind Faith
These days the term Supergroup is thrown around very liberally. But back in the late 60s, Blind Faith was probably the first real Supergroup. The best way to describe Blind Faith is they were a very successful failure because though their only album was a huge seller, they didn't stay together long enough to be a real success. Blind Faith came out of the breakup of the very successful blues rock trio Cream. Bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker weren't getting along and guitarist Eric Clapton was tired of refereeing. Meanwhile, Traffic had split up and lead singer and keyboard player Steve Winwood was looking for something to do. Winwood had been on Clapton's Powerhouse album. So they were already good friends and started jamming in Clapton's basement. One day Ginger Baker turned up to jam. Clapton liked the results but he didn't want to form a new band with Baker so soon after Cream's split. Winwood convinced Clapton that Baker was the best drummer available and then they invited bassist Ric Grech from Family to join. The album was produced by Jimmy Miller. He knew Winwood from The Spencer Davis Group. The band debuted at a free concert in London's Hyde Park June 7, 1969. They signed with Polydor Records but had to lease Winwood from Island Records. They were on Atco in North America. The band continued to record the album and did a small tour because they planned a much bigger tour upon the album's release. So there was a lot of hype before the album's release. But they didn't have a name yet. The controversial album cover provided the name. You've probably seen it and the truth is it helped sell the album. Clapton thought agreeing to the cover was an act of Blind Faith. Atco in the US chose an alternative cover which you see here because that is what is on Amazon's page. It was controversial at the time. Today, who cares? The album topped the Billboard Hot 200 and was certified Gold. Of course Well Alright is an old Buddy Holly song. Despite the success, Blind Faith split up in Oct. 1969. Clapton joined Delaney & Bonnie and then Derek & The Dominoes. Ginger Baker tried to keep the rest of the band together as Ginger Baker's Air Force. But Winwood went back to reform Traffic and took Grech with him. Baker has had Air Force for many years. Grech died in 1990 but the other three guys are still around doing various things. Here's Blind Faith performing Well Alright at Hyde Park in London June 7, 1969. That concert is available on DVD.
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