Sunday
Jun212020
JUNE 24, 2020
Sunday, June 21, 2020 at 10:58AM 
(Porsche)
Porsche is upgrading many of the standard features in its 2021 718 Boxster and Cayman models. All 718 Boxster and Cayman models, as well as the T, S and GTS 4.0 variants, will come standard with automatic two-zone climate control, heated front seats and auto-dimming mirrors with rain sensor for the new model year. Additionally, Apple CarPlay® as well as bi-xenon headlights with the Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) (bi-xenon in Black with PDLS for GTS 4.0) will become standard features. Prices start at (ahem) $59,900 for the 718 Cayman, and $62,000 for the 718 Boxster, not including the $1,350 delivery, processing and handling fee. As before, all models come standard with a six-speed manual transmission. That's not all. The new 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 and 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 are now available to order for the 2021 model year and expected to reach U.S. dealers at the end of 2020. Both models are powered by a 4.0 liter, naturally aspirated six-cylinder boxer engine producing 394HP and 309 lb.-ft. of torque. Paired with a six-speed manual transmission as standard, both models can reach 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and reach a top track speed of 182 mph. Many performance features are standard on the GTS, including Sport Seats Plus, the Sport Chrono Package, Sport Exhaust System, PASM Sport Suspension, a mechanical limited-slip differential with Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) and 20-inch wheels painted in satin black. The 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 will be priced starting at $86,800, while the 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 has an MSRP of $88,900 (not including the $1,350 delivery, processing and handling fee). Other news? For the first time, the 718 Cayman GT4, 718 Spyder as well as the 718 GTS 4.0 models will be optionally available with the 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. Six-cylinder 718 variants ordered with this option are expected to reach U.S. dealers in early 2021.
Porsche is upgrading many of the standard features in its 2021 718 Boxster and Cayman models. All 718 Boxster and Cayman models, as well as the T, S and GTS 4.0 variants, will come standard with automatic two-zone climate control, heated front seats and auto-dimming mirrors with rain sensor for the new model year. Additionally, Apple CarPlay® as well as bi-xenon headlights with the Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS) (bi-xenon in Black with PDLS for GTS 4.0) will become standard features. Prices start at (ahem) $59,900 for the 718 Cayman, and $62,000 for the 718 Boxster, not including the $1,350 delivery, processing and handling fee. As before, all models come standard with a six-speed manual transmission. That's not all. The new 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 and 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 are now available to order for the 2021 model year and expected to reach U.S. dealers at the end of 2020. Both models are powered by a 4.0 liter, naturally aspirated six-cylinder boxer engine producing 394HP and 309 lb.-ft. of torque. Paired with a six-speed manual transmission as standard, both models can reach 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and reach a top track speed of 182 mph. Many performance features are standard on the GTS, including Sport Seats Plus, the Sport Chrono Package, Sport Exhaust System, PASM Sport Suspension, a mechanical limited-slip differential with Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) and 20-inch wheels painted in satin black. The 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 will be priced starting at $86,800, while the 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 has an MSRP of $88,900 (not including the $1,350 delivery, processing and handling fee). Other news? For the first time, the 718 Cayman GT4, 718 Spyder as well as the 718 GTS 4.0 models will be optionally available with the 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. Six-cylinder 718 variants ordered with this option are expected to reach U.S. dealers in early 2021.
(BMW)
When luxury auto manufacturers run out of ideas, they unleash a flurry of "special" editions. It's just Standard Operating Procedure. And so, behold the BMW 8 Series Edition Golden Thunder, or as we will forever refer to it: The Edition Golden Member. According to BMW's PR minions: "The BMW 8 Series Edition Golden Thunder demonstrates once again the capacity of BMW Individual to turn special vehicles into unique automobiles for customers with the very highest expectations in terms of style and quality. The exclusive design exterior and interior design features in GOLD! add unmistakable accentuations that give the edition models the character of a custom-built vehicle." A body finish in Sapphire Black metallic or Frozen Black metallic and carefully selected color accentuations in GOLD! underscore the athleticism of the luxury sports cars. The dark look is supplemented by BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line with extended features and black brake calipers for the M sports brake system. Here, a striking contrast is created by means of GOLDEN accentuation lines running from the front apron to the side skirts and on into the rear apron. Other features finished in GOLD! are the exterior mirror caps, the M rear spoiler (exclusively available for the BMW 8 Series Coupé) and the 20-inch M light alloy wheels in double-spoke design. You also get BMW Individual Merino leather trim in black with the “Edition Golden Thunder” inscription embroidered on the front headrests and the BMW Individual Alcantara Anthracite roof liner for the BMW 8 Series Coupé and BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé, but in particular by the interior trim finishers in Aluminium Mesh Effect GOLD! On the center console, the finely structured and high-end shimmering surfaces are supplemented with an edition emblem. The edition models also feature CraftedClarity glass applications for selected controls and the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System. The Edition Golden Thunder will be available for all model variants of the new BMW 8 Series Coupé, the new BMW 8 Series Convertible and the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé. The edition vehicles will be produced at the BMW plant in Dingolfing starting in September, 2020. The M sports package is always a standard feature in these vehicles. All together now: WE LOVE GOLD!!!
(Lamborghini)
Editor-in-Chief's Note: When a plain-old Lamborghini Urus just won't do, Automobili Lamborghini is now offering the Urus in a new design edition, called Pearl Capsule, "the start of new adventures in color and features for the Lamborghini Super SUV," according to Lamborghini's PR minions. This first exclusive customization option for the Urus is created by Lamborghini’s Centro Stile design department. The two-tone exterior embraces Lamborghini’s traditional high-gloss four-layer pearl colors of Giallo Inti, Arancio Borealis and Verde Mantis in combination with high gloss black roof, rear diffuser, spoiler lip and other details. The matte grey tailpipes are complemented by 23” high-gloss black rims (yes, you read that correctly -WG) with body color accent. The interior trim is based on a unique two-tone color combination, featuring the hexagon-shaped upholstery stitching - Q-Citura - with logo embroidery on the seat, plus carbon fiber and black anodized aluminum details. Available exclusively on the Pearl Capsule, the optional fully-electric seat features perforated Alcantara for enhanced comfort. The Urus Pearl Capsule is available on the 2021 Urus models, alongside an extended range of colors and features. More than 8,300 Urus have been delivered worldwide since its launch, with the most popular color options being several hues of greys, closely followed by Lamborghini’s trademark yellow. Alongside enhanced standard and optional equipment, Lamborghini Urus owners will now be able to choose from an updated standard color palette and a continuously-expanding range of special colors, as well as further interior customization offered by Lamborghini Ad Personam. The 2021 Lamborghini Urus is available now in the U.S. How much? It starts at $218,000.00. -PMD
Editor-in-Chief's Note: When a plain-old Lamborghini Urus just won't do, Automobili Lamborghini is now offering the Urus in a new design edition, called Pearl Capsule, "the start of new adventures in color and features for the Lamborghini Super SUV," according to Lamborghini's PR minions. This first exclusive customization option for the Urus is created by Lamborghini’s Centro Stile design department. The two-tone exterior embraces Lamborghini’s traditional high-gloss four-layer pearl colors of Giallo Inti, Arancio Borealis and Verde Mantis in combination with high gloss black roof, rear diffuser, spoiler lip and other details. The matte grey tailpipes are complemented by 23” high-gloss black rims (yes, you read that correctly -WG) with body color accent. The interior trim is based on a unique two-tone color combination, featuring the hexagon-shaped upholstery stitching - Q-Citura - with logo embroidery on the seat, plus carbon fiber and black anodized aluminum details. Available exclusively on the Pearl Capsule, the optional fully-electric seat features perforated Alcantara for enhanced comfort. The Urus Pearl Capsule is available on the 2021 Urus models, alongside an extended range of colors and features. More than 8,300 Urus have been delivered worldwide since its launch, with the most popular color options being several hues of greys, closely followed by Lamborghini’s trademark yellow. Alongside enhanced standard and optional equipment, Lamborghini Urus owners will now be able to choose from an updated standard color palette and a continuously-expanding range of special colors, as well as further interior customization offered by Lamborghini Ad Personam. The 2021 Lamborghini Urus is available now in the U.S. How much? It starts at $218,000.00. -PMD
(Mercedes-Benz images)
The Mercedes-AMG E63 S Sedan and Wagon get extensive updates for the 2021 model year. In its latest generation, high-performance vehicle dynamics are combined with considerably more comfort and supplemented by an extensive design update. The central air cooling inlet in the completely restyled front section is significantly larger than before and now also bears the distinctive AMG-specific radiator grille, featuring vertical slats and a larger central star. Together with the flatter, all-LED multibeam headlamps, aggressive wheel arches flared further outwards and the rounded-fit hood with twin power domes, a completely new, considerably more dynamic appearance is created. The reshaped front bumper has three large, functional air intakes and a front splitter enhances the overall proportions and also significantly reduces lift at the front axle. The interior is also thoroughly enhanced with the Widescreen Cockpit, the new AMG Performance steering wheel and the MBUX infotainment system with AMG-specific functions and displays. The Handcrafted AMG 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine in the E63 S is coupled to an AMG Speedshift MCT 9-speed transmission and delivers 603HP with a maximum torque of 627 lb-ft. available across a wide engine speed range from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm. The E63 S Sedan goes 0 to 60 mph in an estimated 3.3 seconds. The 0-60 mph time for the Wagon is an estimated 3.4 seconds. The E63 S is the only car in its competitive segment that is fitted with dynamic engine mounts. These mounts solve the conflicting goals of achieving as soft a connection as possible to the powertrain for high comfort and as rigid a connection as possible for optimum driving dynamics. The dynamic mounts are quickly and variably able to adapt their stiffness to the driving conditions and requirements. These measures enhance the vehicle's precision when driven dynamically, while the soft setting increases comfort. Top speed of the E63 S Wagon is 180 mph; 186 mph for the sedan. No price info as of yet.
The Mercedes-AMG E63 S Sedan and Wagon get extensive updates for the 2021 model year. In its latest generation, high-performance vehicle dynamics are combined with considerably more comfort and supplemented by an extensive design update. The central air cooling inlet in the completely restyled front section is significantly larger than before and now also bears the distinctive AMG-specific radiator grille, featuring vertical slats and a larger central star. Together with the flatter, all-LED multibeam headlamps, aggressive wheel arches flared further outwards and the rounded-fit hood with twin power domes, a completely new, considerably more dynamic appearance is created. The reshaped front bumper has three large, functional air intakes and a front splitter enhances the overall proportions and also significantly reduces lift at the front axle. The interior is also thoroughly enhanced with the Widescreen Cockpit, the new AMG Performance steering wheel and the MBUX infotainment system with AMG-specific functions and displays. The Handcrafted AMG 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine in the E63 S is coupled to an AMG Speedshift MCT 9-speed transmission and delivers 603HP with a maximum torque of 627 lb-ft. available across a wide engine speed range from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm. The E63 S Sedan goes 0 to 60 mph in an estimated 3.3 seconds. The 0-60 mph time for the Wagon is an estimated 3.4 seconds. The E63 S is the only car in its competitive segment that is fitted with dynamic engine mounts. These mounts solve the conflicting goals of achieving as soft a connection as possible to the powertrain for high comfort and as rigid a connection as possible for optimum driving dynamics. The dynamic mounts are quickly and variably able to adapt their stiffness to the driving conditions and requirements. These measures enhance the vehicle's precision when driven dynamically, while the soft setting increases comfort. Top speed of the E63 S Wagon is 180 mph; 186 mph for the sedan. No price info as of yet.
(Eagle photos)
Question: What’s the best an E-Type can be? Eagle - the world’s leading specialist in legendary Jaguars - from East Sussex, England, believes it has the answer. The company's more than 35 years of E-Type experience has been focused on the analysis of every component, identifying no compromise design improvements, followed by an 8,000 hour build to create the missing model in Jaguar’s E-Type evolution: a Lightweight, thoroughly re-engineered to be enjoyed on the road. Only twelve Lightweights were manufactured by Jaguar, introducing their most exotic E-Type for the 1963 season. Noisy, brutal, exhilarating and exhausting, these brilliant race cars were intoxicating on the track and visceral on the road. Six years earlier, Jaguar had re-equipped and re-tuned sixteen of their legendary D-Type racers to create the XKSS: race car fast, yet with a level of comfort and refinement that allowed owners such as Steve McQueen to drive them every day. Until now, there has been no Lightweight E-Type equivalent. “An Eagle E-Type is always an ultimate development of the model, with each variation created for a different type of driver,” explains Eagle founder Henry Pearman. “Three years ago, a customer asked us to create Eagle’s vision of Jaguar’s ultimate E-Type, the Lightweight. The result of that project is the Eagle Lightweight GT, rigorously developed and proven and now ready for further builds.” The challenge for Pearman’s team was even greater than that of creating its three other E-Type Special Editions, the Speedster, Low Drag GT and Spyder GT. “The factory Lightweight was a stripped-out racer. We wanted to retain that special feel of a 60s competition car from an incredible era in British motorsport, but with the comfort, refinement and reliability that would make it an exhilarating daily driver or long-distance GT.”
The process begins with a 100 per cent strip-down of an original Series 1 E-Type. Every panel is replaced with lightweight aluminum of a modern grade more suited to road use than the thin, fragile material of the original Lightweights. Specialist craftsmen invest more than 2,500 hours forming the sensual curves, then fitting them to a tolerance many times more demanding than those specified by Jaguar’s Competition Department. The famous Lightweight profile is faithfully recreated, with subtle enhancements to aerodynamics including a deeper rear ramp angle, deeper sills (which also increase chassis stiffness and allow the driver to sit lower, improving headroom and lowering the center of gravity) and increased screen rake front and rear with bespoke glass. Wheel arch size has also been enlarged to accommodate 16” peg-drive magnesium alloy wheels, modeled on the original Dunlop racing wheels but wider, with a little more offset and one inch taller to allow more modern tires.
The heart of the car is Eagle’s 4.7-liter evolution of the famous Jaguar XK straight six that was fitted not just to E-Types, but also to the C and D-Types that, in the 1950s, won an astonishing five outright victories at Le Mans. Factory Lightweights were specified with an aluminum block replacing the iron block of road cars, an upgrade replicated by Eagle. A bespoke crankshaft, pistons and con rods improve responsiveness and durability, while a wide-angle head, as specified for factory Lightweights, accommodates larger valves and a higher lift camshaft for improved breathing. Peak power of 380HP arrives at 5,750 rpm, but the pleasure of this unit is the vast wave of torque: 375 lb ft at 4,000 rpm and a wonderfully flat curve that makes the Eagle Lightweight GT feel effortlessly fast, before an urgent, howling dash for the redline. Ultra-lightweight magnesium alloys are specified for the gearbox case, bell housing, differential case, sump and rear hub carriers. The gearbox has been uprated to a carefully re-engineered, all synchromesh five speed unit, taking care to provide a perfect period feel to the change with no compromise in the position of the lever. There is no compromise allowed in the gearbox ratios either, as each one has been designed to ensure a seamless flow of torque that is ideally matched to the weight of the car and the characteristics of the engine.
Attention to detail is continued throughout the Eagle Lightweight GT in the most comprehensive review and enhancement of an E-Type ever undertaken, accomplished with great sensitivity to the original feel and aesthetic. Take the driving position as an example. The design of the floor pan, pedal mountings and the rear bulkhead have been tweaked to dramatically increase legroom in the E-Type’s notoriously cramped cabin while the seats are redesigned to improve safety, retention and long-term comfort. The remarkable attention to detail has even increased finger room around the seat adjusters, using the latest 3D printing techniques to create bespoke control levers. Comfortable road use also means resisting the temptation to give the Eagle Lightweight GT an exhaust note that shouts "race car" or a track-focused suspension calibration that too often makes such vehicles too harsh. “Far more challenging is to combine taught, sportscar dynamics with the ride quality and refinement of a world-class Grand Tourer,” explains technical director Paul Brace. Working together with the seats and tires, Eagle’s lightweight suspension, carefully specified geometry, spring rates, bushings and bespoke Ohlins adjustable dampers, ensures long distances can be completed in refreshing comfort.
Most of the revisions, like the gorgeous peg-drive magnesium alloy wheels and aluminum three-eared wheel spinner nuts, could be described as ultimate developments of the correct period technologies, but there are also carefully selected modern systems that have been discreetly integrated. Braking is by four piston, servo assisted vented discs, a subtly integrated electrical distribution panel increases safety and reliability and the extreme cabin heat of the original is solved by modern thermal barrier materials and the careful integration of a discreet air conditioning system designed in-house to eliminate the compromises that would be inevitable with a bought-in design.
Pearman says the Lightweight GT is a classic supercar that fuses the character and charm of the original Jaguar E-Type with the intoxicating thrills of a 1963 factory Lightweight, thoughtfully and comprehensively re-engineered to ensure the new owner enjoys every mile, every day. For enthusiasts wanting to wrap the intense flavors of 60s motorsport in the sumptuous, hand crafted comforts of a luxury GT, “this,” he states with confidence, “is as good as an E-Type can be.” The Lightweight GT joins Eagle’s three established E-Type special editions: the Speedster, Low Drag GT and Spyder GT. Just two of these E-Types will slip discreetly from their UK workshops each year, each one the product of more than 8,000 hours of skilled workmanship and 35 years of focused, passionate, E-Type experience. More? Go here: www.eaglegb.com
Question: What’s the best an E-Type can be? Eagle - the world’s leading specialist in legendary Jaguars - from East Sussex, England, believes it has the answer. The company's more than 35 years of E-Type experience has been focused on the analysis of every component, identifying no compromise design improvements, followed by an 8,000 hour build to create the missing model in Jaguar’s E-Type evolution: a Lightweight, thoroughly re-engineered to be enjoyed on the road. Only twelve Lightweights were manufactured by Jaguar, introducing their most exotic E-Type for the 1963 season. Noisy, brutal, exhilarating and exhausting, these brilliant race cars were intoxicating on the track and visceral on the road. Six years earlier, Jaguar had re-equipped and re-tuned sixteen of their legendary D-Type racers to create the XKSS: race car fast, yet with a level of comfort and refinement that allowed owners such as Steve McQueen to drive them every day. Until now, there has been no Lightweight E-Type equivalent. “An Eagle E-Type is always an ultimate development of the model, with each variation created for a different type of driver,” explains Eagle founder Henry Pearman. “Three years ago, a customer asked us to create Eagle’s vision of Jaguar’s ultimate E-Type, the Lightweight. The result of that project is the Eagle Lightweight GT, rigorously developed and proven and now ready for further builds.” The challenge for Pearman’s team was even greater than that of creating its three other E-Type Special Editions, the Speedster, Low Drag GT and Spyder GT. “The factory Lightweight was a stripped-out racer. We wanted to retain that special feel of a 60s competition car from an incredible era in British motorsport, but with the comfort, refinement and reliability that would make it an exhilarating daily driver or long-distance GT.”
The process begins with a 100 per cent strip-down of an original Series 1 E-Type. Every panel is replaced with lightweight aluminum of a modern grade more suited to road use than the thin, fragile material of the original Lightweights. Specialist craftsmen invest more than 2,500 hours forming the sensual curves, then fitting them to a tolerance many times more demanding than those specified by Jaguar’s Competition Department. The famous Lightweight profile is faithfully recreated, with subtle enhancements to aerodynamics including a deeper rear ramp angle, deeper sills (which also increase chassis stiffness and allow the driver to sit lower, improving headroom and lowering the center of gravity) and increased screen rake front and rear with bespoke glass. Wheel arch size has also been enlarged to accommodate 16” peg-drive magnesium alloy wheels, modeled on the original Dunlop racing wheels but wider, with a little more offset and one inch taller to allow more modern tires.The heart of the car is Eagle’s 4.7-liter evolution of the famous Jaguar XK straight six that was fitted not just to E-Types, but also to the C and D-Types that, in the 1950s, won an astonishing five outright victories at Le Mans. Factory Lightweights were specified with an aluminum block replacing the iron block of road cars, an upgrade replicated by Eagle. A bespoke crankshaft, pistons and con rods improve responsiveness and durability, while a wide-angle head, as specified for factory Lightweights, accommodates larger valves and a higher lift camshaft for improved breathing. Peak power of 380HP arrives at 5,750 rpm, but the pleasure of this unit is the vast wave of torque: 375 lb ft at 4,000 rpm and a wonderfully flat curve that makes the Eagle Lightweight GT feel effortlessly fast, before an urgent, howling dash for the redline. Ultra-lightweight magnesium alloys are specified for the gearbox case, bell housing, differential case, sump and rear hub carriers. The gearbox has been uprated to a carefully re-engineered, all synchromesh five speed unit, taking care to provide a perfect period feel to the change with no compromise in the position of the lever. There is no compromise allowed in the gearbox ratios either, as each one has been designed to ensure a seamless flow of torque that is ideally matched to the weight of the car and the characteristics of the engine. Attention to detail is continued throughout the Eagle Lightweight GT in the most comprehensive review and enhancement of an E-Type ever undertaken, accomplished with great sensitivity to the original feel and aesthetic. Take the driving position as an example. The design of the floor pan, pedal mountings and the rear bulkhead have been tweaked to dramatically increase legroom in the E-Type’s notoriously cramped cabin while the seats are redesigned to improve safety, retention and long-term comfort. The remarkable attention to detail has even increased finger room around the seat adjusters, using the latest 3D printing techniques to create bespoke control levers. Comfortable road use also means resisting the temptation to give the Eagle Lightweight GT an exhaust note that shouts "race car" or a track-focused suspension calibration that too often makes such vehicles too harsh. “Far more challenging is to combine taught, sportscar dynamics with the ride quality and refinement of a world-class Grand Tourer,” explains technical director Paul Brace. Working together with the seats and tires, Eagle’s lightweight suspension, carefully specified geometry, spring rates, bushings and bespoke Ohlins adjustable dampers, ensures long distances can be completed in refreshing comfort.Most of the revisions, like the gorgeous peg-drive magnesium alloy wheels and aluminum three-eared wheel spinner nuts, could be described as ultimate developments of the correct period technologies, but there are also carefully selected modern systems that have been discreetly integrated. Braking is by four piston, servo assisted vented discs, a subtly integrated electrical distribution panel increases safety and reliability and the extreme cabin heat of the original is solved by modern thermal barrier materials and the careful integration of a discreet air conditioning system designed in-house to eliminate the compromises that would be inevitable with a bought-in design.Pearman says the Lightweight GT is a classic supercar that fuses the character and charm of the original Jaguar E-Type with the intoxicating thrills of a 1963 factory Lightweight, thoughtfully and comprehensively re-engineered to ensure the new owner enjoys every mile, every day. For enthusiasts wanting to wrap the intense flavors of 60s motorsport in the sumptuous, hand crafted comforts of a luxury GT, “this,” he states with confidence, “is as good as an E-Type can be.” The Lightweight GT joins Eagle’s three established E-Type special editions: the Speedster, Low Drag GT and Spyder GT. Just two of these E-Types will slip discreetly from their UK workshops each year, each one the product of more than 8,000 hours of skilled workmanship and 35 years of focused, passionate, E-Type experience. More? Go here: www.eaglegb.comAE Song Lyrics of the Week:
And when I die and when I'm dead, dead and gone,
There'll be one child born and
a world to carry on, to carry on
I'm not scared of dying
and I don't really care
If it's peace you find in dying,
well, then let the time be near
If it's peace you find in dying,
when dying time is here,
Just bundle up my coffin cause
it's cold way down there,
I hear that's it's cold way down there,
yeah, crazy cold way down there
And when I die and when I'm gone,
There'll be one child born and
a world to carry on, to carry on
My troubles are many, they're as deep as a well
I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell
Swear there ain't no heaven and pray there ain't no hell,
But I'll never know by living, only my dying will tell,
Only my dying will tell, yeah, only my dying will tell
And when I die and when I'm gone,
There'll be one child born and a world to carry on, to carry on
Give me my freedom for as long as I be
All I ask of living is to have no chains on me
All I ask of living is to have no chains on me,
And all I ask of dying is to go naturally, only want to go naturally
Don't want to go by the devil, don't want to go by the demon,
Don't want to go by Satan, don't want to die uneasy,
Just let me go naturally
And when I die and when I'm gone,
There'll be one child born, there'll be one child born
When I die, there'll be one child born
When I die, there'll be one child born
When I die, there'll be one child born
When I die, there'll be one child born
"And When I Die" - by Blood, Sweat & Tears (1969)*. Written by the great Laura Nyro. Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group. Listen here.
*One of the most intriguing riddles in rock 'n' roll history is, How did Blood, Sweat & Tears get it name? In Al Kooper's book Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards, the truth is finally revealed: "One particular night, Jimi Hendrix, B. B. King, myself, and an unidentified drummer and bass player were going at it all night at the Cafe Au Go Go... At daybreak, when we finished playing, they put the house lights on and somebody observed: 'Christ! Look at the organ! There's blood all over the keyboard!' Sure enough, I had cut my hand playing, and in the state of bliss induced by my compatriot's sound had not felt a thing. What a great album cover, I thought. No. What a great name for a band." Al Kooper formed the band in 1967, but left after their first album. His replacement was the Canadian singer David Clayton-Thomas, who became the voice of the group. Clayton-Thomas brought the song "Spinning Wheel" to the group, which became their most enduring hit. The group was huge in 1969, which was a good time to be popular since it meant prime position at Woodstock. BS&T were slated to earn $15,000 at the festival, second only to Jimi Hendrix. Since Woodstock was a financial disaster, they didn't get paid. They were also not included in the movie, since they would have earned a percentage of the gross. When Blood, Sweat & Tears was first forming, they needed $40,000 seed money while the first album was in progress. This made Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records (the A&R behind Leiber and Stoller, Led Zeppelin, and Bob Dylan, amongst others) turn them down. Mo Ostin of Warner Brothers also nibbled but turned them down. Finally Bill Gallagher at Columbia signed them on, after attending the Monterey Pop Festival and becoming interested in the alternative market. Original drummer Bobby Colomby owns the name of the group and kept them active with a rotating cast of musicians. Their most visible member, David Clayton-Thomas, was with the group from 1969-1972 and again from 1975-2004. Various vocalist took the role over the next 10 years, with Bo Bice taking over in 2014. (Knowledge courtesy of songfacts.com)