Thriller!
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Album Summary
Thriller! arrived in 1973 as Cold Blood's fifth studio outing, released on Reprise Records out of the United States, and it found the Bay Area band in a groove-deep pocket that only years of hard touring could buy. Led by the powerhouse vocals of Lydia Pense and backed by a formidable horn-driven ensemble including the likes of Mic Gillette, Mel Martin, and Bill Atwood, the band brought their signature West Coast funk and soul fire to a set that leaned into both originals and carefully chosen covers. The album showcased a collective with serious musical muscle — Rod Ellicott, Max Haskett, Peter Welker, Raul Matute, Skip Mesquite, and Mike Andreas all contributing to that thick, warm sound that made Cold Blood one of the most electrifying live acts the Bay Area ever produced.
Reception
- Thriller! did not generate significant documented mainstream chart success upon its release, reflecting the challenging commercial climate for horn-driven Bay Area funk acts in the early 1970s.
- Critical reception at the time recognized Lydia Pense's vocal performance as a standout element, with her delivery consistently drawing comparisons to the era's great soul voices.
- The album has since earned a loyal following among deep soul and funk collectors who regard it as an underappreciated gem of the West Coast funk canon.
Significance
- Cold Blood and Thriller! stand as a testament to the vibrant Bay Area funk and soul scene of the early 1970s, a regional sound that often operated in the shadow of its East Coast and Southern counterparts but matched them in raw passion and musicianship.
- Lydia Pense's commanding vocal presence on this album helped cement her reputation as one of the most powerful and undersung female soul voices of her generation.
- The album's interpretation of Stevie Wonder's 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' demonstrates the band's ability to transform pop material into fully realized funk and soul statements, a hallmark of Cold Blood's artistic identity.
Tracklist
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A1 Baby I Love You 108
6:10
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A2 You Are The Sunshine Of My Life 123
7:40
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A3 Feel So Bad —
7:22
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B1 Sleeping —
5:16
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B2 Live Your Dream 139
3:21
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B3 I'll Be Long Gone —
5:40
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B4 Kissing My Love 95
6:07
Artist Details
Cold Blood was a hard-driving American funk and soul outfit that brought a fiery, horn-drenched sound out of the San Francisco Bay Area, anchored by the powerhouse vocals of Lydia Pense and a deep roster of gifted musicians including the likes of Mel Martin, Mic Gillette, and Bill Atwood. Released through Reprise Records, their recordings captured the raw, sweaty energy of a band that was built for the stage, blending gritty soul grooves with a full-bodied brass attack that put them in a class all their own. With a lineup stacked with talent — Rod Ellicott, Max Haskett, Peter Welker, Raul Matute, Skip Mesquite, and Mike Andreas rounding out the ensemble — Cold Blood was a collective force that embodied everything righteous about the American funk and soul movement.
