Cold Blood
A San Francisco-based R&B band originally formed by guitarist Larry Field as the "New Invaders" in the wake of the Summer of Love, Cold Blood had the key elements of strong female vocalist, a fine guitarist, and a powerful horn section. After successful gigs at Golden Gate Park and at the Fillmore, they were signed by impresario Bill Graham to his new San Francisco Records label, on which they released their self-titled debut in 1969. Four more albums followed over the next five years -- in fact, later efforts boasted the production and musical contributions of Steve Cropper -- but all were hamstrung by Graham's underhanded distribution deals with Columbia and Atlantic.
Though the debut's single "You've Got Me Humming" crawled up to number 52 on the American charts, Cold Blood seemed doomed to labor in the shadow of bands like Tower of Power, Chicago, and especially Janis Joplin. The latter comparison became endemic among critics; for although blues belter joined Field's band as its youngest member -- she had formerly been, of all things, a childhood national rollerskating champion -- her magnetic stage presence established her as the band's central force. Eventually, the band billed itself as Lydia Pense With Cold Blood, and even released an album simply titled Lydia. Joplin sensed a kindred soul; after screaming at Cold Blood for scooping her on a blistering cover of "Piece of My Heart," she warmed to Pense enough to give her a swig of Southern Comfort.
After hitting increasingly lower tier venues in San Francisco by the late '70s, Cold Blood disbanded for most of the next decade; Pense focused her energies on child rearing. By the late '80s, the band slowly awoke from its long sleep, and they began regular features on California's festival and fair circuit. A 1998 return to their Fillmore stomping ground brought out the band's faithful.
© Paul Collins /TiVo
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First Taste Of Sin
Rock - Released by Rhino - Warner Records on 24 Nov 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Thriller!
Rock - Released by Rhino - Warner Records on 26 Jul 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Lydia (2004 Remaster)
Rock - Released by Rhino - Warner Records on 1 Apr 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Black Horde
Rock - Released by Santo grial producciones on 7 Apr 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Organic Love
Drum & Bass - Released by Dnbb Digital on 17 Mar 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cold Blood - KSAN FM Broadcast Fillmore West San Francisco 30th June 1971 Part Two.
Rock - Released by Metal on 14 Dec 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Oh Yeah!
Miscellaneous - Released by 4 Jungle Records on 26 May 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
City Hunters
Chill-out - Released by Pillower Music on 15 Sep 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rhino Hi-Five: Cold Blood
Rock - Released by Rhino on 30 Jan 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Cold Blood - KSAN FM Broadcast Fillmore West San Francisco 30th June 1971 Part One.
Rock - Released by Metal on 15 Dec 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Parasite
Drum & Bass - Released by 4 Jungle Records on 1 Dec 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Why Cb so Sad ?
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Cold Blood on 31 May 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo