CANNED HEAT

'Canned Heat' is a blues-rock/boogie band that formed in Los Angeles in 1965. The importance of the group lies not only with their blues-based music, but with their efforts to reintroduce and revive the careers of some of the great old bluesmen, and their improvisational abilities.
The group was led by Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson (guitar, harmonica, vocals) and Bob Hite ("The Bear") (vocals, harmonica). The original line up included Keith Sawyer on drums, Mike Perlowin on lead guitar and Stuart Brotman on bass. Mike Perlowin was soon replaced by Kenny Edwards who in turn was followed by Henry Vestine (a.k.a Sunflower, an ex-member of Frank Zappa's ''Mothers of Invention''). Larry Taylor ("The Mole") (best known up until then as the Monkees session bassist), was their studio bassist, (joining full time through 1970), along with drummer Frank Cook for their first album. Guitarist Harvey Mandel toured with the band extensively through the late 1960's. Canned Heat took their name from Tommy Johnson's 1928 "Canned Heat Blues", a song about an alcoholic who has desperately turned to drinking Sterno, which is generically called canned heat.

Contents

History

The Band

Touring

The Present

Discography

Covers

Reference

External links

History

Canned Heat was started as a jug band in November 1965, in Northridge, California by a group of "musicologists" who loved blues music. Soon the band evolved into an electrified blues/rock band with the uncanny ability to interpret and create a modern version of the blues. While they never reached the popular acclaim of some of the other bands of the psychedelic era, none the less, they were a talented group of musicians who created some of the most unique music of that or any rock and roll era. Musical trends come and go. Canned Heat's "boogie music" has been at the forefront of popularizing blues music, as exemplified by such hits as "On The Road Again", "Goin' Up The Country", "Let's Work Together", "Amphetamine Annie" and "Refried Boogie."
Wilson helped rediscover Son House and accompanied him on his 1965 comeback album. The group also strong-armed their record company (Liberty Records) into getting a contract for overlooked Texas bluesman Albert Collins.
Their debut album ''Canned Heat'' was released not long after their appearance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. Fito De La Parra (born Adolfo De La Parra, 8 February 1946, in Mexico City) replaced Frank Cook as drummer for their second album, ''Boogie with Canned Heat'' (1968). It was more successful, spawning the hit single "On the Road Again". In 1969 they released the inconsistent double album, ''Livin' the Blues'' but it did bring them their biggest hit, "Goin' Up the Country", a song built around Henry "Ragtime Texas" Thomas' reed fife riff from the late 1920s recording "Bull Doze Blues" (often mis-cited as 'Bulldozer Blues'). Guitarist Harvey Mandel replaced Vestine for part of 1969–70. The band appeared at the August 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Festival with their performance appearing in both the album and film release.
The next year was the musical high point for the original lineup. They brought in John Lee Hooker to record the double album, ''Hooker 'N' Heat'', in May of 1970. This was to be the first album of Hooker's career to make the charts, topping out at number 73 in February of 1971. Unfortunately, Wilson died of a drug overdose in an apparent suicide, in September 1970 prior to the album's release. Autopsy results were inconclusive and as he left no suicide note, controversy remains over this matter.
The group had one additional hit with a cover of Wilbert Harrison's "Let's Work Together".
In the 1970s, the band would be joined by lead singer Bob Hite's younger brother Richard, who sang, played bass, and helped with arrangements. During this period, they recorded "One More River to Cross" on Atlantic Records, featuring the Memphis Horns.
The last studio recording with Bob Hite was 1978's ''Human Condition'', with Hite singing the title track, an old Alan Wilson tune that had been recorded solo by Wilson but hadn't been released. The 1981 album ''Kings of The Boogie'' also featured Hite on a couple of tracks, with Richard Kellogg and Mike Halby doing vocals on the rest of the album. A decade later came 1987's ''Hooker 'N Heat, (Live at the Fox Venice Theater) '', (recorded and originally released in 1978, with Hite), with John Lee Hooker guesting again. Both recordings feature the guitar and vocals of Chicago's Mark Skyer, the live performance augmented by Larry Taylor on bass, (one of many short reunions), Ronnie Barron on piano, and group vocals by the Chambers Brothers.
Bob Hite died in April, 1981 (Vestine passed away in 1997, followed by Richard Hite in 2001). Bob was replaced by Richard Kellogg as lead vocalist. By 1989 the trajectories of Hooker and Canned Heat crossed once again. This time they guested on ''his'' album, ''The Healer'', which was a big hit. De La Parra leads the current band and Larry Taylor returned in 1994 after leaving in 1970. Taylor continues to be "first chair" bass with many top acts, including Kim Wilson and Tom Waits, "returning" numerous times to do special events and recordings with Canned Heat.
Ex-Heat guitarist Harvey Mandel was one of the guitarists considered to replace the departed Mick Taylor in the Rolling Stones, with his efforts appearing on the 1976 Stones album ''Black and Blue''. His extensive soloing is featured on "Hot Stuff". Mandel continued to record, self releasing albums, and in 2004, oddly enough, recorded a song written by MP3.com co-founder Rod Underhill, a musician and lawyer who served as the founding music director for the original MP3.com. Mandel is currently recording and touring with the "Chicago Blues Reunion", along with Nick Gravenites, Barry Goldberg, Tracy Nelson, Sam Lay, and Corky Siegel.

The Band

The primary members of Canned Heat include such legendary musicians as singer and 300-pound, former record-store manager Bob "The Bear" Hite who grew up in Denver. The Bear once said that "to sing the blues, you have to be an outlaw. Blacks are born outlaws, but we white people have to work for that distinction." The Bear died on April 6th, 1981 of a drug-related heart seizure behind the Palomino Club in North Hollywood, California.
Rhythm/slide guitarist and harmonica player Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson, born in 1943, grew up in Arlington, Ma. When the band formed he was a musicology student. He was an avid record collector and a firm believer in true roots music. Wilson died from a drug overdose in September 1970 at 27. Joel Scott Hill was brought in to sing for Wilson. On Hooker 'n Heat, a framed photograph of the "Blind Owl" is on the wall above the band in memoriam.
Born Christmas Day, 1944, lead guitar player Henry "The Sunflower" Vestine was a former member Frank Zappa's Mother's of Invention. Vestine eventually left Canned Heat to form a new band and was replaced by Detroit's Harvey Mandel. Vestine died on Oct. 20, 1997 from heart and respiratory failure in a hotel outside Paris. His ashes, now buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, will eventually be transported to a crater on the dark side of the Moon named after his father, a noted astrophysicist.
Original drummer Frank Cook was replaced by Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra, when the band felt that it needed a more R&B type rhythm for their second album. Original bassist Stuart Brotman was replaced by Larry "The Mole" Taylor who eventually left for Mayall and subsequently was replaced by Mark Andes of Spirit. Other members through the years include Harvey "The Snake" Mandel, Junior Watson and Robert Lucas. They can boast of collaborations with Little Richard, John Mayall, and John Lee Hooker.

Touring

Their debut album was released on the Liberty label in 1967 just in time to make a major appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival. After being arrested in Denver on drug charges the band's image as the bad boys of rock eventually led to their becoming a favorite of the Hells Angels and other biker clubs. For their second album, Wilson wrote "On The Road Again," which featured Wilson's high-pitched vocals. In 1968, the band released their next effort, a two record set "Living the Blues", that featured "Going Up The Country" which was to many a highpoint of the legendary Woodstock festival. Wilbert "Kansas City" Harrison's "Let's Work Together," pumped up the charts about the same time Canned Heat was gigging at the Isle of Wight festival.
Canned Heat has toured extensively throughout the world and performed at numerous festivals including the original Woodstock, Monterey Pop, Newport Pop, the Isle of Wight Festival in England, the Sturgis Motorcycle Run U.S.A. to mention just a few. They have performed at world-renowned venues such as the Olympia in Paris, both Fillmore Auditoriums, The Avalon Ballroom, The Family Dog in Denver, The Kaleidoscope, Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and the Royal Albert Hall. Their music has been featured on television and in films like "Woodstock", "1969", "Flashback", and "Forrest Gump". Their music is currently being heard in various television commercials." On The Road Again" for Miller Beer, "Goin' Up The Country" for Pepsi, Chevrolet and McDonald's, "Let's Work Together" for Lloyd's Bank, England's Electric Company and Target Stores, "Christmas Blues" for Heineken with other songs for 7-Up and Levi's.

The Present

Canned Heat continues today with long time members Fito de la Parra and Larry "the Mole" Taylor leading the way. Vocal duties have been handled over the years by Walter Trout, James Thornberry and Robert Lucas. Recently, Fito de la Parra has written a book, "Living the Blues," which chronicles the history of Canned Heat.
"don't forget to boogie".

Discography

★ 1967 – ''Canned Heat'', Liberty Records, USA

★ 1968 – ''Boogie with Canned Heat'', Liberty

★ 1969 – ''Living the Blues [Akarma]'', Liberty

★ 1968 – ''Hallelujah'', Liberty

★ 1969 – ''Canned Heat Cookbook'', Liberty

★ 1970 – ''Future Blues'', Liberty

★ 1970 – ''Live in Europe'', Liberty

★ 1970 – ''Hooker 'N' Heat'', Liberty LP, CD EMI

★ 1971 – ''Live at Topanga Corral'' (1966-67), Scepter Records, France

★ 1972 – ''The Best of Canned Heat'', 1990 CD, EMI/Capitol

★ 1973 – ''The New Age'', United Artists

★ 1973 – ''Memphis Heat'', w/ Memphis Slim, Sunnyside Records (recorded in Sept. 1970 (Soon after Wilson's Death), and finished in 1973)

★ 1978 – ''Human Condition'', Takoma/Sonet

★ 1978 – ''Hooker 'n' Heat, (Live at the Fox Venice Theatre)'' w/ John Lee Hooker, Tomato, 1987 CD, WEA/Atlantic/Rhino

★ 1981 - ''Kings of The Boogie'', a.k.a. ''Dog House Blues'', Destiny Records

★ 1988 – ''Reheated''

★ 1989 – '', EMI

★ 1994 – ''Uncanned! The Best of Canned Heat'', EMI/Capitol

★ 1995 – "King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Canned Heat In Concert", Rec.Live Sept.7, 1979, Parr Meadows, Long Island , Only Live Canned Heat Recording In Existence To Feature Mike "Hollywood Fats" Mann On lead Guitar, King Biscuit Flower Hour

★ 1996 – ''Best of Hooker 'n' Heat'', EMI E2-38207 (selected cuts from the 1970 double album)

★ 1999 – ''Boogie 2000'', Ruf Records

★ 1999 – ''Blues Band'', Ruf Records

★ 2000 – ''The Boogie House Tapes'', Ruf Records

★ 2003 – ''Friends in the Can'', Ruf Records

★ 2004 – ''The Boogie House Tapes, Volume 2'', Ruf Records

Covers

An electro-rock cover version of the song ''On the Road Again'' was released by the French band Rockets on their 1978 album, ''On the Road Again''. It was also covered by Katie Melua on her 2005 album Piece by Piece. A similar version has been released in a 2006 single by the Belgian trio Telex.
San Francisco band Deerhoof perform a faithful rendition of "Goin' Up The Country" on their 2006 Internet-only EP ''Covers and Live Songs''.
Pete Townshend performed ''On The Road Again'' and ''Going Up The Country'' in his 1998 concerts, particularly at Woodstock (August 15) and in the House Of Blues, Chicago (August 16). The latter concert was partially released as A Benefit For Maryville Academy CD and features ''On The Road Again''.

Reference

★ Charles Shaar Murray, ''Blues on CD: The Essential Guide'' (1993) ISBN 1-85626-084-4

★ Fito De La Parra, ''Living The Blues. Canned Heat's story of Music, Drugs, Death, Sex and Survival'' (2000) ISBN 0-9676449-0-9

External links

★ The band's official website

★ Harvey Mandel discography

★ A lyrical and structural analysis of an Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson song

★ Alan Wilson site

★ / hamburger starclub

★ A studio and concert chronology

★ Joel Scott Hill's official website

★ James Thornbury interview