As the summer of 1969 unfurled, the music scene was ablaze with a new kind of energy, a whirlwind of festivals and concerts sweeping across the UK and North America. Amid this thrilling era, a musical debut occurred that would leave an indelible mark on rock history. On June 7, a Saturday painted by the sun, Blind Faith stepped onto the stage in London's Hyde Park for their very first live performance, a free concert organized by Blackhill Enterprises, a force in the London underground scene.
This was a time when every summer weekend seemed to buzz with a festival somewhere. It was a year that set a benchmark for all others in the realm of music festivals. In Britain, the Hyde Park concert was the first big event of the season, a gathering that drew a crowd of around 120,000 including notable figures such as Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull.
Blackhill Enterprises, a team that initially faced a resounding "no" from the U.K.’s Ministry of Public Building and Works when they first proposed the idea of staging concerts in Hyde Park, had paved the way for this moment with their relentless perseverance. Now their acts, including Blind Faith, were reaping the benefits, gaining a profile far beyond what they could have expected from low-key gigs around Britain.
The lineup included the Third Ear Band, Richie Havens, Donovan, and the Edgar Broughton Band. However, it was Blind Faith, the newly formed 'supergroup' comprising Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Stevie Winwood, and Rick Grech, that the crowd was eagerly anticipating. The music began around 2.30 p.m., but it was only when Blind Faith took the stage at 5:00 p.m. that the true purpose of this gathering became apparent.
Their set, featuring most of their debut album, was a blues-infused spectacle that brought a different flavor compared to Cream's music. Although Clapton felt nervous about his performance, the band's somewhat raw and unpolished set resonated with the spirit of rock 'n' roll, showcasing the musicianship of these master musicians.
This concert, though barely noticed by the national press, would go on to make waves in the music industry. Notably, it inspired Mick Jagger to consider a free concert in Hyde Park as a means to promote The Rolling Stones' new single and boost their public image after a low period1. Thus, Blind Faith's debut not only marked the beginning of their journey but also influenced other major acts of the time.
The concert served as the prelude to Blind Faith's debut album, which was released in July of that year. Despite their short lifespan as a band, Blind Faith made a significant impact on the music scene, their debut concert serving as a testament to their influence and the potential they held.
In an era of significant musical development and innovation, Blind Faith's Hyde Park debut stood as a memorable event that set the stage for future performances and provided a compelling start to the band's journey. While their time together was brief, the ripple effect of their influence continues to be felt in the world of music.
BLIND FAITH (featuring Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Ric Grech) - CAN'T FIND MY WAY HOME.
Blind Faith's first and last album remains one of the jewels of the Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, and Ginger Baker catalogs, despite the crash-and-burn history of the band itself, which scarcely lasted six months.
As much a follow-up to Traffic's self-titled second album as it is to Cream's final output, it merges the soulful blues of the former with the heavy riffing and outsized song lengths of the latter for a very compelling sound unique to this band.
The album was released in the UK with a cover photo of an 11-year-old girl named Mariora Goschen. The cover photo because as famous as the album itself, since it showed Goschen naked and holding a model spaceship (a different cover with a band photo was used in the US and for stores that wanted an alternative in the UK).
Bob Seidemann came up with the concept and took the photo, which represents humankind's relationship with technology (this was when the mission to put a man on the moon was big news). The band wasn't yet named, and when Seidemann took the photo, he called it "Blind Faith." Clapton decided that should be the name of the band.
The LP topped the album charts in the UK, Canada and US, and was listed at No. 40 on the US Soul Albums chart. It has been certified platinum by the RIAA.
Unfortunately, the group was never that together as a band and evidently had just the 42 minutes of new music here ready to tour behind.
CAN'T FIND MY WAY HOME
Steve Winwood wrote this and sang lead. Many critics noted that Blind Faith sounded a lot more like Winwood's old band Traffic than Clapton's Cream, which is what Clapton was going for.
Clapton played acoustic guitar on this track, which is something he rarely did. In his previous group, Cream, he played long, intense solos, something he wanted to get away from with Blind Faith.
Many have speculated about the true meaning behind the lyrics of the song. Some say Steve is singing about at the break-up of a relationship or the meaning of life; others claim that it’s about war and death. The most well-known interpretation of the “Can’t Find My Way Home” is that it’s merely a song about drugs.
