Founder Al Kooper conceived Blood, Sweat and Tears as an experiment in expanding the size and scope of the rock band with touches of jazz , blues , classical , and folk music. When Kooper was forced out of the band soon after its eclectic debut, Child Is Father to the Man, BS&T became increasingly identified as a "jazz-rock" group, although its music was essentially easy-listening rhythm and blues or rock with the addition of brass.
Kooper formed BS&T after leaving the Blues Project in 1967. The nucleus of the original band was Steve Katz, also of the Blues Project; Jim Fielder, who had played with the Mothers of Invention and Buffalo Springfield; and Bobby Colomby, who had drummed behind folksingers Odetta and Eric Andersen. The horn players were recruited from New York jazz and studio bands. Child Is Father featured songs by Harry Nilsson, Tim Buckley, Randy Newman, Gerry Goffin, and Carole King, along with Kooper originals and arrangements by Fred Lipsius for brass, strings, and studio effects. The band nearly broke up when Kooper, Randy Brecker, and Jerry Weiss left (Brecker to join The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra). Regrouping under Katz and Colomby, and fronted by David Clayton-Thomas (who had sung with a Canadian blues band, The Bossmen), BS&T entered a period of immense popularity. Blood, Sweat & Tears featured arrangements of music by French composer Erik Satie and jazz singer Billie Holiday, as well as by Laura Nyro, Steve Winwood, and others. It was the #1 album for seven weeks in 1969, sold over 3 million copies, and spawned three gold singles: “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” “Spinning Wheel,” and “And When I Die,” each of which hit #2.
In 1970 the U.S. State Department sent the band on a goodwill tour of Yugoslavia, Romania, and Poland. Blood, Sweat & Tears 3 duplicated the Blood, Sweat & Tears mix of styles and was almost as popular. The album went to #1, and two singles, “Hi-De-Ho” and “Lucretia MacEvil,” hit the Top 30. But interest in the group began to wane, and 4, which contained almost all original material, barely made the Top 10. In 1971 “Go Down Gamblin’” was its last hit. By the time Clayton-Thomas left for a solo career in 1972, BS&T’s place on the charts had been filled by similarly styled bands such as Chicago, Chase, and Ides of March. Katz left the next year, first to join the short-lived American Flyer and then to an A&R position at Mercury Records.
BS&T became regulars in Las Vegas, with ever-changing personnel recruited largely from big bands like Maynard Ferguson’s, Woody Herman’s, and Doc Severinsen’s. Vocalist Jerry LaCroix appeared between his tenures with Edgar Winter’s White Trash and Rare Earth, while guitarist Mike Stern later played with Miles Davis’ early-’80s band. Clayton-Thomas’ return in 1974 briefly boosted BS&T’s popularity, but Columbia dropped the group, and Colomby, the last original member, left in 1976. He continued to influence BS&T as producer of Brand New Day and, with Clayton-Thomas, as co-owner of the band’s name and catalogue. He then moved on to a career in A&R for several labels, as well as TV reporting. Since 1975 the live act has been billed as Blood, Sweat and Tears Featuring David Clayton-Thomas. [from The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Simon & Schuster, 2001)
http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bloodsweatandtears/biography
In late 2005, the band returned to touring. The year 2007 witnessed the band's first world tour in a decade. From 2008 through 2010, Steve Katz returned to appear at BS&T's shows as a special guest.
From 2013 till 2018, Blood Sweat and Tears was fronted by Bo Bice, who was the runner-up against Carrie Underwood in the fourth season of American Idol.
In 2018, the group decided to replace Bice with former Tower of Power singer Tom Bowes, who had previously done a brief stint with BS&T back in July through November 2012.
In 2019 Keith Paluso, from the reality TV show The Voice, was chosen as BS&T's new singer.
Spinning Wheel
Blood Sweat & Tears Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spinnin' wheel got to go 'round
Talkin' 'bout your troubles it's a cryin' sin
Ride a painted pony let the spinnin' wheel spin
You got no money and you got no home
Spinnin' wheel all alone
Talkin' 'bout your troubles and you, you never learn
Did you find the directing sign on the
Straight and narrow highway
Would you mind a reflecting sign
Just let it shine within your mind
And show you the colors that are real
Someone is waiting just for you
Spinnin' wheel, spinnin' true
Drop all your troubles by the riverside
Catch a painted pony on the spinning wheel ride
Someone is waiting just for you
Spinnin' wheel, spinnin' true
Drop all your troubles by the riverside
Ride a painted pony let the spinnin' wheel fly
The lyrics of Blood Sweat & Tears's ever-popular song Spinning Wheel are a mix of philosophical and practical reflections on life's ups and downs. The first verse, "What goes up must come down, Spinnin' wheel got to go 'round," sets the theme of the song, that life is full of cycles of ups and downs, but we must keep going. The song suggests that talking about our troubles is pointless, as it never really helps in the long run. Instead, the song encourages us to find ways to escape our troubles, to find something that makes us happy, like riding a "painted pony," or doing something that distracts us from our problems.
The second verse is more about the difficulties of having no money or a home. The lyrics suggest that the spinnin' wheel can be lonely, but it keeps on turning. The song implies that the singer has been through trouble before but has not learned from their experiences. Instead, the song suggests that we ride the spinnin' wheel, keep going, and keep evolving.
The last verse suggests that we should look for signs in our lives that point us in the right direction. If we see a reflecting sign, we should let it shine in our minds, and show us the real colors of life. The song implies that each of us has a destiny, and someone is waiting for us "just for us." We should drop our troubles and catch a painted pony to ride on the spinnin' wheel. It is a reminder that there is always something to look forward to in life.
Line by Line Meaning
What goes up must come down
Everything in life that rises high will come crashing down eventually.
Spinnin' wheel got to go 'round
Life is like a spinning wheel, always moving and changing.
Talkin' 'bout your troubles it's a cryin' sin
It's not productive to constantly complain and dwell on your problems.
Ride a painted pony let the spinnin' wheel spin
Enjoy the ride of life and let it take you where it may, without worrying too much about the outcome.
You got no money and you got no home
When you have nothing materialistic, life can be challenging.
Spinnin' wheel all alone
Even when you feel alone, life keeps moving forward.
Talkin' 'bout your troubles and you, you never learn
If you keep talking about your problems without taking any action, you'll never overcome them.
Ride a painted pony let the spinnin' wheel turn
Take control of your life and embrace the uncertainty of the future.
Did you find the directing sign on the
Have you found the path in life that you want to follow?
Straight and narrow highway
The path in life that is straightforward and honest.
Would you mind a reflecting sign
Are you open to a sign in life that makes you pause and reflect?
Just let it shine within your mind
Allow yourself to be open and receptive to new ideas and situations in life.
And show you the colors that are real
Experience life as it truly is, without any illusions or distortions.
Someone is waiting just for you
Someone out there is waiting to share your journey and support you along the way.
Spinnin' wheel, spinnin' true
Life keeps moving, and it's up to you to keep up with it and stay true to yourself.
Drop all your troubles by the riverside
Leave behind your worries and find peace in nature.
Catch a painted pony on the spinning wheel ride
Embrace the journey of life and find joy in the unexpected.
Ride a painted pony let the spinnin' wheel fly
Take control of your destiny and don't be afraid to take risks.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Clayton-Thomas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@walruslennon9782
What goes up must come down
Spinnin' wheel, got to go round
Talkin' 'bout your troubles, it's a cryin' sin
Ride a painted pony, let the spinnin' wheel spin
You got no money, you got no home
Spinnin' wheel, all alone
Talkin' 'bout your troubles and you, you never learn
Ride a painted pony, let the spinnin' wheel turn
Did you find the directing sign
On the straight and narrow highway
Would you mind a reflecting sign
Just let it shine within your mind
And show you the colors that are real
Someone's waitin' just for you
Spinnin' wheel, spinnin' true
Drop all your troubles by the riverside
Catch a painted pony on the spinnin' wheel ride
Someone's waitin' just for you
Spinnin' wheel, spinnin' true
Drop all your troubles by the riverside
Ride a painted pony, let the spinnin' wheel fly
That wasn't so good
@dorothyjohnson8051
69 year old black woman! Loving it. That brass section is on point. I used to listen to Blood Sweat and Tears back inthe day love them. And still do. So much meaning for right now. These days we are living in be encourage. Love Peace And Soul. Out!!!!!
@rippi37
Hello Dorothy......63 year old here ..loving it too. Peace love health and happiness to you and yours !! xxx
@ddziegler44
77 year old white guy. We are now continuing what we started in the 60’s and we will get there. Dan
@rippi37
@@ddziegler44 Absolutely !!!! xxx
@dorothyjohnson8051
Hi nice to meet you! Have a amazing day. Peace
@mastic5519
Still sounds great.
@robertdegrandis5180
I was 11 years old when this song came out. I'm 63 now, I survived colon cancer and Covid 19. When I will be gone, this song will still be carrying on and on and on. Great song, God knows how I miss the 60s and the 70s.
@tallenpelegrin7026
I was 10 when I got introduced to B,S&T, and I've never abandoned them since then.
@Youffy23
I know best the 80's and the 90's (born 1976) but clearly = I am with you about the 70's... 99% of my DVD's are 70's movies, and goes the same on music.... A good evening is one evening I can feel the 70's !
@ZeroGravity60
Congrats on beating colon cancer. I've been stage 4 cancer for just over 3-years but am feeling good for the most part. [I might beat it.] What would we do without YouTube, every hit from the past is at our fingertips. Peace brother.