Often compared to Tower of Power, Cold Blood formed in Oakland in 1968. Their punchy, soulful horn sound was fronted by vocalist Lydia Pense, who was recommended to the band by Janis Joplin. They released their first record under Bill Graham's label in 1969. Their concerts featured a hard rock-and-soul groove that complemented Pense's oft-searing vocals, which effortlessly veered into pure soul songs such as Donny Hathaway's "You Had to Know."
