Blood, Sweat & Tears - You've Made Me So Very Happy (Appreciation)

Written by Brenda Holloway, Patrice Holloway, Frank Winson and Berry Gordy this song was first recorded by Brenda Holloway and released on Motown's Tamla label in 1967.

A year later the Jazz-Rock group Blood Sweat & Tears would cover thesong on their second album and score a huge hit with it in 1969. The cover would peak at #2 on the Hot 100 (behind 5th Dimmensions 'Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In') and sell over 1M copies that year.



I've had the song in my head all day and the lead vocal by David Clayton-Thomas is magnificent, very soulful.




Any love for this song on the SHF?

 

Great version of the song, especially the unedited album version. That whole album is fantastic, and for me, the definitive jazz rock album. It was my gateway into jazz.

 

I've loved it since 1969 (11 yrs. old)



Since added the ORG 2 X 45 vinyl, and the AF 4.0 Quad SACD.

 

Great song! One of my favorites of the period. I'm going to be taking a 5 hour road trip with my parents soon and I've been working on a playlist full of songs from their youths for us to listen to. This one is on there! So is their terrific version of Laura Nyro's "And When I Die."

 

great song on a great album.

BS&T is a very over-looked band.

 

The organ behind the opening lyrics is KILLER. What a mood it sets. Excellent, A+ song/recording.

 

I don't hear very much about them. They peaked in 1969/1970 around the time of CCR, who you hear a lot about still.

 

Much like The Doors 'Light My Fire' the organ in this song sets the mood perfectly.

 

Great song. IIRC, it was first done live by the Al led version of the band.

 

An excellent song from an excellent album.

Scott

 

My guess is because CCR is more accessible than BS&T.

 

My High School Prom song back in '75. Lot's of good memories of that tune.

 

As a youngster I recall first hearing this on (AM) radio. IMO, one of the best covers BS&T's ever did. Still love this version.

 

and every CCR song is sung in the same key using the same guitar tone and tuning.....while BS&T used a horn section and complex jazz changes..........sometimes some things just don't seem to make much sense.

 

Creedence had a string of big radio hits whereas Blood Sweat & Tears had just a few.

They kind of disappeared from the radio after BS&T 4, which had "Go Down Gamblin'" and "Lisa Listen to Me".

 

well, every one of their albums (11 + a live album and numerous best of's) has something of value to offer.

try one of their best of's (i recommend the 2 CD set) and go from there.

 

Yes, there is a live recording of Al Kooper singing it with the first lineup.

 

#1 wedding song for my wife and me (26 years ago).

Also, our host has a good post regarding the release and his purchase of the second album.

Doug

 

It is quite the wedding song. Congrats on 26 years BTW.

 

Al Kooper had brought it to the band and worked on the arrangement. There is a live version with his vocal circulating from 1968 but it likely took DCT's vocals to make it such a big hit.

 

Say No More!

 

I like it (it was their only British hit single, though it wasn’t huge) and I love the album.

Very jazzy but also quite psych, too, in a hard to define way.

 

That was Columbia's biggest selling album of 1969. The label was always big on horn sections. "More Today Than Yesterday" was a hit at around the same time.

 

That song, in fact the whole album, brings back memories of freshman year at High School. Lots of changes going on at the time (break-up of The Beatles, Woodstock, FM radio on the verge of taking over AM), BS&T was a part of the soundtrack of the times.

 

Don't forget Chicago Transit Authority also came out around the same time on Columbia.