Vintage

by Canned Heat

Overview

These are the earliest-known recordings of Canned Heat with the primordial lineup of Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson (guitar/harmonica/vocals), Stuart Brotman (bass), Henry "Sunflower" Vestine (guitar), Bob "The Bear" Hite (vocals), and either Keith Sawyer (drums), or perhaps his replacement, Frank Cook (drums), who joined circa 1966. Another notable name among the personnel listed on the original LP jacket is rhythm & blues legend, Johnny Otis as producer. This is certainly fitting, as the Heat wind their way through compact, high-energy versions of a variety of selections, directly contrasting the longer psychedelic showcases that would evolve over the next few years. Their almost cerebral respect for their predecessors would have suggested that the band hailed from anywhere other than their Topanga Canyon digs. However, Wilson, Vestine, and Hite were consummate students of authentic R&B, as evidenced by their practically note-for-note transcriptions of tunes from Chicago icons such as Muddy Waters ("Got My Mojo Working"), Willie Dixon ("Spoonful" and "Pretty Thing"), John Lee Hooker ("Louise" and "Dimples"), and Elmore James ("Rollin' and Tumblin'.") The latter cut is actually presented in two distinct renderings -- with and without Wilson's hard-hitting harmonica leads, closely resembling the sound of their self-titled debut, Canned Heat (1967) from the following year. A second holdover is "Big Road Blues," which is also given a similar driving beat and an otherwise solid reading. These sessions have surfaced on an endless array of reissues including Don't Forget to Boogie: Vintage Heat (2002), Vintage Canned Heat [Sundazed] (1996), or paired with a 1969 concert platter on the Akarma Records double-play Live at the Topanga Corral/Vintage (2002). ~ Lindsay Planer

Product Details

Release Date:	12/04/2020
Label:	Good Time Records
UPC:	0730167316538
Rank:	6471

Tracks

1. Spoonful
2. Big Road Blues
3. Rollin' & Tumblin', Pt. 1
4. Got My Mojo Working
5. Pretty Thing
6. Louise
7. Dimples
8. Can't Hold on Much Longer
9. Straight Ahead
10. Rollin' & Tumblin', Pt. 2

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Canned Heat   Primary Artist
Henry Vestine   Guitar
Alan Wilson   Guitar,Vocals
Stuart Brotman   Bass
Larry Taylor   Bass
Bob Hite   Vocals
Frank Cook   Drums

Technical Credits

McKinley Morganfield   Composer
A. Wilson   Composer
James Taylor   Composer
Larry Taylor   Composer
John Lee Hooker   Composer
Johnny Temple   Composer
Johnny Otis   Producer
Willie Dixon   Composer
Bob Hite   Composer
Preston Foster   Composer
Henry Vestine   Composer
Bo Diddley   Composer
Allan Wilson   Composer
James C. Bracken   Composer
Frank Cook   Composer