Customer Reviews

Classic Hot Tuna Acoustic

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This compilation is so vital to any Tuna fan's collection, it is understood why this disc is entitled "Classic". Amazing early acoustic material that would have never seen the light of day it wasn't for the amazing Relix label. There is a "Classic Electric" companion disc to this release and it is also essential for true fans. If you love the sound of a guitar - you MUST turned on to Jorma sometime soon. These albums will do it.

The set list is familiar to fans, with most of the songs having appeared on the first two Tuna releases (except "Search My Heart" and uncredited number (no writer listed) that feels like Jorma's distilation of the Rev Gary Davis' fingerpicking style that colors ALL of Hot Tuna's blues numbers). Recorded in studio at KSAN in 1971, this set gives a good feel for where Tuna was at the time. The addition of Papa John Creech's funky violin of the numbers that appeared on the first Tuna adds a sense of fun to the numbers. My problem with Creech on "First Pull Up, Then Pull Down" is that he overplays and forces himself on the listener, but on this set, he appears content to lay back in the pocket a little more, making his accents more meaningful. The uncredited percussionist also adds to the devolopment of the songs by giving a solid rythymic base for the always tasty Jack Cassidy to play off of. Especially good are the closers "True Religion" and "Death Don't Have No Mercy."

For someone just approaching Hot Tuna, I'd recommend the first or Burgers to start, but if you're familiar with the basics of Tuna, this is a good set to explore their acoustic side, along with the first side of "Double Dose," their 1978 double live album.

This album is beautiful in all aspects: the line-up is inusual as beautiful, the music is outstanding, all band formers are in perfect fit: they play hotter than ever.

If you are a Tuna fan this is a "MUST"!!!


Line-up: Jorma Kaukonen -acoustic guitar, vocals.
Jack Cassady -acoustic bass.
Papa John Creach -fiddle (electric violin).
Sammy Piazza -drums.

The best track on it is "Been so long", with the beautiful violin by Papa John Creach, that makes (with absurd Jorma's finger picking and Jack's powerful bass playing) the Tuna sound psychedelic, unique, original.
All supported well by the jazz-blues drumming of Sammy Piazza, this is a great "bootleg" HOt TUna album.
IMPORTANT: NOTICE THAT THE CD HAS NO BACK INSERT

This is Jorma/Hot Tuna at their best. Besides the 8th track, everything is coherent and fantastic musically. It is really acoustic guitar at its best.

Recorded April 30, 1971 at the KSAN studio (a Bay Area radio station), this is an excellent performance by Hot Tuna, featuring Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Papa John, and Sammy Piazza. The sound quality is notably imperfect (the reason it gets four stars rather than five) but the performance really makes up for that. It's one of the most fun Tuna performances I've heard. Fans should seek out this release, as opposed to "Classic Electric," which boasts better sound, but a lousy performance.