Bloodstone is the debut studio album by Australian singer songwriter Russell Morris. The album was released in September 1971 and peaked at number 12 on the Australian Go-Set chart.[1]
The album won Best Album at the 1971 King of Pop Awards.[2]
Australian music journalist Ian McFarlane said; "Bloodstone featured singer-song writer rock mixed with folk and US West Coast country-rock influences and with Morris having written every track. It featured an all-star cast of session players from the upper echelons of the then current Aussie rock fraternity. The front cover presented a design by artist Geoff Pendelbury, one of those impressionistic art pieces that were fashionable back in the day but seem to be too esoteric and oblique to have any real significance or impact now. Bloodstone is somewhat more down-home and modest without losing sight of certain lofty intentions. Song titles such as "Saints and Sinners’" "Our Hero is Dead", "Heaven Shines’" "The Cell" and "Ride Your Chariot" bear the brush of an earnest and serious young artist finding his way in an already established world of adult contemporary pop-rock. At least Morris was willing to take up the challenge and his efforts did result in one of the best local albums of the year. There are some basic themes running throughout the album with the original Side One of the vinyl being the uptempo side while Side Two was the big ballad side.[3]
