Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 20, 2026

First Taste of Sin

First Taste of Sin is the third album by the Oakland, California band Cold Blood, and their first for Reprise Records. This album is noted for being produced by soul singer/musician Donny Hathaway. It also includes the original version of Hathaway's "Valdez in the Country", which Hathaway himself would record the next year for his 1973 album Extension of a Man.

Last revised
Jun 20, 2026
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First Taste of Sin
Studio album by
Cold Blood
Released1972
Recorded1972
StudioWally Heider Studios, San Francisco & Los Angeles, California
GenreSoul, rock, jazz
Length36:38
LabelReprise Records
ProducerDonny Hathaway
Cold Blood chronology
Sisyphus
(1971) 		First Taste of Sin
(1972) 		Thriller
(1973)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllmusicStarStarStar 1

First Taste of Sin is the third album by the Oakland, California band Cold Blood, and their first for Reprise Records.2 This album is noted for being produced by soul singer/musician Donny Hathaway.3 It also includes the original version of Hathaway's "Valdez in the Country", which Hathaway himself would record the next year for his 1973 album Extension of a Man.4

Track listing

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Visions"Donny Baldwin, Boroquez3:19
2."Lo and Behold"James Taylor4:12
3."Down to the Bone"Danny Hull, Cecil Stoltie5:19
4."You Had to Know"Donny Hathaway5:47
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."My Lady Woman"Hull, Stoltie4:01
6."No Way Home"Hull, Raul Matule3:23
7."Inside Your Soul"Max Haskett3:26
8."All My Honey"Hull, Stoltie3:27
9."Valdez in the Country"Hathaway3:44
Total length:36:385

Personnel

  • Lydia Pense - lead vocals
  • Sandy McKee - drums, vocals
  • Raul Matute - organ, piano
  • Rod Ellicott - bass
  • Michael Sasaki - guitar
  • Paul Beaver - Moog synthesizer
  • Mel Martin - flute, tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Danny Hull, Pete Christlieb - tenor saxophone
  • Bill Baker - alto and baritone saxophone
  • Gordon Messick, Pat O'Hara - trombone
  • Max Haskett - trumpet, vocals
  • Bill Atwood - trumpet
  • Ernest Diridoni - tuba
  • Donny Hathaway - piano, organ
  • Pete Escovedo - congas
  • Coke Escovedo - timbales, percussion
Technical
  • Richard Moore - engineer
  • Wally Heider - recording
  • Marty Evans - cover photography

Charts

Chart (1972) Peak
position
Billboard Top LP's & Tape6 133
References

References

  1. Collins, Paul. Cold Blood: First Taste of Sin Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  2. "Progressive Sounds". Delhi Express. June 15, 1972. p. 8.
  3. Laycock, John (June 20, 1972). "Black Soul, Inspiration". The Windsor Star. p. 18.
  4. "Donny Hathaway – Extension Of A Man". Discogs. 1973.
  5. "Cold Blood – First Taste Of Sin". Discogs. 1972.
  6. "Cold Blood US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 19, 2011.