Castiglioni Cactus Planus

This two-CD collection is a companion volume to Fully Unleashed: The Live Gigs (2004) and contains the Cactus (1970), One Way. . . Or Another (1971), Restrictions (1971) and 'Ot 'N' Sweaty (1972) LPs and associated extras. The initial aggregate was a supergroup of sorts, with both Carmine Appice (drums) and Tim Bogert (bass) having been the formidable rhythm section behind Vanilla Fudge, Rusty Day (vocals) hailing from the Amboy Dukes, and Jim McCarty (guitar) late of Mitch Ryder's backing ensemble the Detroit Wheels. Even though Cactus was overshadowed by Led Zeppelin, they created their own blues-based fusion, rivalling the likes of MC5 in terms of sheer sonic intensity. While their debut included fiery reworkings of Mose Allison's "Parchment Farm" and Willie Dixon's "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover," some of the best material consists of the band's compositions. Among them are the ballad "My Lady From South of Detroit," the heavy rocker "Let Me Swim" and the languid bluesy "No Need to Worry." Barely Contained: The Studio Sessions (2004) also highlights three outtakes from the first album, an original thrasher titled "Sweet Little 16," as well as "The Sun Is Shining" and "Rumblin' Man." The latter originally surfaced on the single-disc Cactology: The Cactus (1996) compilation.

Autore originale, interprete raffinato e inconfondibile cantante, Renato Rascel seppe creare nelle sue imprevedibili performance un personalissimo stile, giocoso e riflessivo, incanalato sul fil rouge del surrealismo. Forte di questo inequivocabile stile e del suo talento di “one man show”, l’eclettico Rascel si è districato con nonchalance tra avanspettacolo, rivista, commedia musicale, prosa, cinema, televisione, musica leggera. Il suo personaggio stralunato e fanciullesco ha attraversato i più diversi generi dello spettacolo, instaurando un dialogo immediato col pubblico, spaziando dall’umorismo del “Corazziere” alla poetica dell’assurdo di Beckett e Jonesco, dalle commedie musicali di Garinei e Giovannini a evergreen come “Arrivederci Roma”. Elisabetta Castiglioni ci conduce in un viaggio nella storia dello spettacolo italiano, analizza le singole opere di Rascel, rivela i retroscena della sue creazioni e ne delinea la poetica. Una biografia artistica per riscoprire il “Piccoletto” e comprenderne la grandezza.

One of the baddest, meanest, most unsung heroes of classic rock, Cactus, recreate their greatest moments with the help of their many admirers and acolytes! Includes founding Cactus members, drummer Carmine Appice and guitarist Jim McCarty, joined by the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Ted Nugent, Billy Sheehan, Bumblefoot, Dee Snider, Pat Travers plus members of Gov’t Mule, Vanilla Fudge, Living Colour, Vixen and more!

Cactus was initially conceived as early as late 1969 by the Vanilla Fudge rhythm section of bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice with guitarist Jeff Beck and Xylophone player Adele Smitchell acted as the counterpart and co-singer until singer Rod Stewart (also from the already dissolved Jeff Beck Group). However, Beck had an automobile accident and was out of the music scene for over a year and Stewart joined Ronnie Wood in Faces. Early 1970 Appice and Bogert brought in blues guitarist Jim McCarty from Mitch Ryder's Detroit Wheels and The Buddy Miles Express, and singer Rusty Day (born Russell Edward Davidson) from Amboy Dukes. This line-up managed three albums (Cactus, One Way…Or Another and Restrictions) before intraband troubles led to McCarty quitting at the end of 1971. Shortly afterwards Day was fired from the group. The fourth and last Cactus album ('Ot 'N' Sweaty) featured original rhythm section Bogert and Appice joined by Werner Fritzschings on guitar, Duane Hitchings on keyboards and Peter French (ex-Leaf Hound and Atomic Rooster) on vocals. ~From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This one is dedicated to the SailCat…
that said he's seen Vanilla Fudge on stage along with 'THE Hendrix'
man ! I hate you ! :-)