The story of Canned Heat is one of imperishable music, of zeitgeist-capturing hit singles and albums and of glorious performances at epochal events like the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and the 1969 Woodstock Festival and at legendary venues like San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium. And most of all, perhaps, the story of Canned Heat is one of triumphant perseverance for through all their successes and disasters the band have retained their musical integrity and commitment to playing the blues and they remain admired and active to the present day. By the time of the band's 1998 Rockpalast gig Fito de la Parra and Larry Taylor, who had formerly played bass but was now on guitar, had been joined by singer-slide guitarist Robert Lucas and bassist Greg Kage. "On The Road Again" on which de la Parra attempts to replicate Wilson"s extraordinary, spooky vocals while the band recreate something of the mesmerizing magic of the hit record. de la Parra also channels his inner Alan Wilson on "Going Up The Country".
Original Hits: 70s is a decent six-disc set, highlighting 111 pop singles released in that decade. Along with the original versions of radio classics by Al Stewart, Blondie, the Knack, KC & the Sunshine Band, and Dr. Hook, are less-than-obvious inclusions by Peter Tosh, XTC, the Move, and Benny Hill!
In 1993 the Giants of Jazz label released a collection drawing upon seven different Verve albums by Anita O'Day (1919-2006), a skilled and at times somewhat formidable vocalist who had the kind of chops and temperament usually associated with trumpeters, drummers, and booking agents. Recorded in early December 1955, "Honeysuckle Rose" first appeared on the album This Is Anita; technically speaking, this track falls outside of this collection's stated timeframe of 1956-1962. "Stompin' at the Savoy" and "Don't Be That Way" come from Pick Yourself Up, an LP that took almost all of 1956 to create. "Star Eyes" as well as tracks one through seven were taken from Anita O'Day Sings the Winners, a 1958 release that found her backed by a somewhat slick orchestra under the direction of Russ Garcia. Anita O'Day seems to have spent a lot of time in the recording studios during April 1959; during that month she made a Cole Porter album with Billy May (cuts 13 through 21) and collaborated with Jimmy Giuffre on the Cool Heat album, from which "Hershey Bar" was extracted. During 1962 this stunning woman made an LP with Gene Harris and the Three Sounds (see track eight "Whisper Not") and teamed up with vibraphonist Cal Tjader on the marvelous Time for Two album, the source for her rendition of Dave Frishberg's pleasantly smutty opus, "Peel Me a Grape."
Welcome to Mississippi Heat’s 13th album, just in time for the venerable Chicago blues band to celebrate its 30th Anniversary! Mississippi Heat stands as one of the longest running bands in Chicago, as well as a launching pad for many blues players who’ve gone on to successful solo careers. MH’s alumni reads like a Who’s Who of Chicago Blues past and present: Billy Flynn, Lurrie Bell, Carl Weathersby, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith, Deitra Farr, Bob Stroger, Calvin “Fuzz” Jones, James Wheeler, Barrelhouse Chuck, Jon McDonald, Robert Covington, Bob Carter and more. Madeleine stands as a fitting tribute to a remarkably unique and enduring band now entering its third decade; listen and enjoy the blues as only Mississippi Heat can play them!
Canned Heat founder and guitar great Bob Hite once described his band as "a rock band with country/blues roots" and perhaps a little less modestly, "the first and greatest boogie band ever." Canned Heat's "greatness" has always seemed to elude them by a hair, however, regardless of their versatility and devotion to the strange and wonderful mutations their music endured, particularly in the '60s. But these dudes do nothing if not persevere. Having lost their signature falsetto and lowdown harp man Alan Wilson in 1970, 1996's Canned Heat Blues Band fronts "The Bear's" third vocal replacement, Robert Lucas, who wisely doesn't pretend he can cover those cool old road-trip-on-acid songs (like "Going Up the Country") in a particularly familiar manner.
Following their highly acclaimed studio album "Into The Great Unknown", H.E.A.T. went on an extensive tour to showcase their incredible live performance skills…