Customer Reviews

Future Blues

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here is an overlooked album by an overlooked band. This was recorded in the late sixties and still sounds vital today. Despite the absence of ace guitar player Henry Vestine this record still demonstrates all the strengths of Canned Heat. Harvey Mandel,no slouch himself, steps in for Vestine and carries the day. In fact,I could not imagine anyone else on " lets stick together " In addition to that, this contains some of Alan Wilsons' last recordings,including the prophetic " my time ain't long ". For anyone interested in the blues and 60,s American blues this and any early Canned Heat album should be in their collection.
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This is Canned Heat's final album with Alan Wilson in the band. Harvey Mandel substitutes on lead guitar for Henry Vestine who was fired from the band following an on stage argument at Winterland in San Francisco, but later rejoined. Future Blues shows Canned Heat at the peak of its creativity. Dr. John also guests on piano. Wilson's chromatic harp playing sounds like a saxophone on Sugar Bee. John Lee Hooker called him "the best harmonica player ever". Fito de la parra, one of the best drummers around, drives the band with the same power as Ginger Baker and Keith Moon. Vestine, Hite and Wilson had an extensive knowledge of blues history and they played with a mastery not often seen in rock bands.

I own this cherished album on LP as well as several more from the time when Alan Wilson reigned .
This is probably my favorite Canned Heat album - as one reviewer said , despite the absence of Vestine , this album is still awesome. I beg to differ - in my opinion, it is BECAUSE of the presence of Harvey Mandel , who replaced Henry Vestine in this album , that this album is so special .

Harvey 's guitar is amazing and distinctive and , I think , superior to Vestine's playing . He brings something extra to this album with his amazing guitar . He is especially good on London Blues( great guitar solo here if you are a Harvey fan ) , So Sad and Future Blues .

This album also has some of Alan Wilson's final recordings, including the prophetic, " My Time Ain't long" - Alan died at age 27 . Wilson also shines on "SKAT" which is a boogie skat tune with a unique flavor , reminiscent of music several decades earlier , with a horn and piano arrangement by Dr. John.
"London Blues" again features Dr. John and the vocals are hautingly performed by Alan Wilson.

Bob Hite shouts with the best of them with his anthem song " Let's Work Together" .

In short, this is a must for collectors of Canned Heat , especially those who like myself prefer the Woodstock lineup, i.e., Bob Hite, Alan Wilson, Harvey Mandel , Larry Taylor and DelaParra.

Here is another terrific record by a much overlooked band. Despite the absence of ace guitar player Henry Vestine, Harvey Mandel,no slouch himself, steps in and does a wonderful job. Though his guitar sound is very different from Vestines,he fits in seamlessly with the band. In fact, I could not imagine anyone else on " Lets stick together." The rest of the band is in fine form and this record contains some of Alan Wilsons' last recordings, including the prophetic " My time ain't long ". If you are the least bit interested in blues and late 60,s American blues, than this and most any early Canned Heat album should be in your collection.

An alien space ship lands in your back yard. Their planet has never heard music.You invite them in to jam on your collection. They love it! You give them a portable CD player with new batteries, but because of weight constrictions they can only take 1 CD with them. This is the one you give them. It changes the history of the universe. You think it's cool. Yes, it's only a fantasy but it came to me while listening to this CD with a good buzz. Sure I'd be torn between dozens of great CD's, but this one has it all...blues, jazz, rock, pop, and at the peak of CH's carreer. In my opinion this is a must have for CH fans, as well as the yet to be released "Historical Figures and Ancient Heads". On this CD is Alan Wilson's prophetic "My Time Ain't Long".

Sugar Bee, London Blues, Skat and others - mostly those written or featuring Alan Wilson - are still in my head, and on my tongue, so many years after I first heard them. Wilson was an original: his piano, rhythm guitar and, of course, his harmonica playing create a fabulous juxtaposition of an artist with sound evocative of the past, almost forced against its will into this "future." I believe - with no evidence to back me up - that this was the reason for the title of this album. It certainly wasn't - apart from the instruments - a blues style that was ahead of its time. Rather it was an old, classic, wistful blues and an old soul who, even as he played it, knew his time was both wrong, and "not long." My only quibble is that I wouldn't want most of those "extras." The original recordings - except for Lets Work Together (a Bachmann Turner-esque anthem for the simple minded), should be in your collection.

I purchased this soon after it was released and found it disappointing at first compared to the previous Hallelujah! It grew on me some after many listens but I still prefer the grittier tone of Vestine compared to that of Mandel. Mandel has a smooth approach on this release with some effects as opposed to Vestine's hornet nest buzz tone and attack. Contrary to the previous reviewer, I much prefer this approach to the guitar. The rhythm section is lumbering as usual but quite together. This lacks the emotion of Hallelujah!, from Wilson's soulful harp fills to the rattlesnake guitar tone but it's still a good listen if you are a fan of late 60s psychedelic blues.

A long time ago, for sure, but this still remains a truly enjoyable record on the brink of rock ?, blues maybe ?, psychedelic so-and-so ? Once you heard it, you'll enjoy it !

I own the LP of Future Blues and it is a truly amazing album - it has it all : great harp playing, incredible guitar of one of the most underrated blues guitarists of all time , Harvey Mandel who replaced Henry Vestine for this album. It has boogie, skatting , rock , blues psychedelia - like I said , this album has it all .

The trio of Bob " the Bear' Hite , Alan" Blind Owl" Wilson and Harvey "the Snake" Mandel are an unbeatable mix - buy it , you will not regret it .

desde el rural SUGAR BEE pasando por arriba a charlie patton, jimmy rodgers y demas, no podes parar de escuchar....obra estupenda que quizas marca el punto mas alto de canned heat...despues vendran esfuerzos loables aunque no tan inolvidables como este..ademas todavia se escucha el gorjeo nostalgico de alan wilson....