Sweet Blindness

"Sweet Blindness" is a song written by Laura Nyro, released in 1968, and included on her Eli and the Thirteenth Confession.^[2]

The song is a drinking song with an old fashioned sound, with tempo changes and a brass section. Critics have said the "song captures a carefree spirit and the liberating feeling of letting go of inhibitions to find joy in the moment".

The best-known version, however, was recorded by The 5th Dimension later in 1968. It was featured on their 1968 album Stoned Soul Picnic.^[3] The song was produced by Bones Howe and arranged by Bill Holman, Bob Alcivar, Ray Pohlman, and Howe.^[4] It reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #45 on the U.S. R&B chart. Outside the US, "Sweet Blindness" went to #15 in Canada, #10 in New Zealand^[5] and #19 in Australia.^[6]

• Liza Minnelli performed the song, with two male dancers, on The Ed Sullivan Show.
• Holly Cole released a version of the song on the 1997 tribute album Time and Love: The Music of Laura Nyro.

• The 5th Dimension sang a version of the song with Frank Sinatra on his 1968 television special, Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing.