ReviewThis is probably one of those staple texts of late sixties hippie-dom, along with Love: Forever Changes...
(although this doesn't seem to be rated as highly by most for some reason)
...But it comes from the same kind of place, but with a brass section. Kind of Jazz-Blues with big band elements, but very groovy.
I have to say that the cover versions on here are actually probably (almost) the best versions, as Smiling Phases (Traffic) on this is my favourite version, as is God Bless The Child (Billie Holiday) - nearly, for that last one! - and the reason is David Clayton-Thomas' amazing blues voice, without which, this album would admittedly not be what it is.
Spinning Wheel is one everyone knows ("What goes up... must come down..."), and You've made Me So Very Happy is brilliant. The longer Blues - Part II, More And More, And When I Die rounds this out for me as an excellent album which is consistently good all the way through.
(The Variations On a Theme are just tacked on to the beginning and end as intro and outro pieces really)
CBS vinyl is always good of this time (almost as good as a later Polydor.... but not quite :), and this is no exception... the only gripe I have is this is one of those inside of the gatefold hinge opening sleeves, which in addition to being very fragile and prone to tearing if you're too forceful, can be grief to get the record in and out of the sleeve (So you have to use a little persuasion to get it in and out - Catch 22!). So you have to be careful with it.
These can be bought for peanuts too which is surprising given how much you'd have to pay for a first press Forever Changes these days, and you're probably getting as good an album...