Customer Reviews

Instrumentals 1967-1996

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

 

 

This beautifully packaged 15 track CD is mostly instrumental as the title implies. Track 1, Parthenogenesis is a visionary 20 minute blues suite opening with a modal jews harp and then moving through various sections. The sections of Parthenogenesis could all be separate songs in their own write, in this case though the way they seamlessly blend together makes for a solid continuous composition. When Bob Hite's voice appears it is mixed way down and somehow seems more tasteful that way. It is similar (somehwhat) with Mayall's Bare Wires and Blues from Laurel Canyon, not so much in style, (although there are similarities and Mayall does plays piano on one of the sections) -- but in the concept of a blues suite.

The blues journey Parthenogenesis is followed by Down in the Gutter but Free which opens with a delightful tongue-in-cheek blues shout by Hite accompanied by sizzling guitar, harp, bass and hammond B3. The call and responses between the various instruments nicely intensify during the long instrumental outro.

Fito de la Parra's 2 drum solo workouts on this CD are anything but cliche boogie band stuff, he brings a definate central Mexican influence into a R&B timbral blues drum sound.

Sometimes refered to as L.A.'s Coltrane, Charles Lloyd appears here on his blues outing 'Don't Care What You Tell Me', Lloyd's potent early 70s rock crossover work is often passed over, with his Wave and Geeta LPs/CDs still out of circulation, its a special treat to hear Lloyd's blues rock collaboration with the Heat appear here.

The remainder of the CD is mostly upbeat Jump Blues, Boogie style stuff, track 12 Gorgo Boogie stands out with a rustic and potent duo of Fito de la Parra on Drums and Robert Luca on a toneful guitar that sings delta ghosts on and between the strings and notes.

Although the Canned Heat and their fans were often having some good fun with all the lyrics of their original lineup's hits, this CD shows the serious and ongoing instrumental prowess of the band. There is no shortage of fun in this music too, but done by Canned Heat instrumentalists, who on these tracks again prove themselves to be blues-rock heavyweights.

This CD is a nice find, especially for the "true" Canned Heat fan which I am one. The first album ever given to me was the very first Canned Heat album, and that was the day I became addicted to boogie and blues. The music on this CD is not what you would expect to find on your typical Canned Heat CD. This one takes you through the years, giving you a taste of all the best players through the history of Canned Heat. This is a collection of some of Canned Heats best instrumentals. I enjoyed this one.

This covers 7 different versions of the band over 30 years so I guess you would expect a variety of styles. For my money, tracks 2,3 and 4 were very good. In fact, track 4 was so good it was worth the cost of the CD with some nasty, distorted guitar licks from Henry Vestine. Overall, a few tracks stood out, some were good and some were quite average and didn't get my attention much. A mixed bag but it does show the instrumental skills of the bands many different lineups. Recommended for fans of the band and worth adding to the collection. Incidently, there are some vocals that show up on this CD in a few places.

Ruf Records and Fito de la Parra have done a great job in assembling these Canned Heat instrumentals (yes, there are some occasional vocals but the overwhelming focus is on the instrumentality). This cd charts the band over almost thirty years and it's a great journey. If you aren't jumping around the room with the joy of all this by the time it's done you must be cloth-eared or clinically dead. Recommended, especially to those who's knowledge of Canned Heat stops at 'Goin' Up The Country'.

this is a great cd-get it for track 4 alone (ive not seen this song on any other cd)-plus all the other songs are good-a lot of people have the songs already,but some of my records are hacked up-and these cuts are nice and clean.

As a huge Cannned Heat fan, there are SO many re-releases and later incarnations of the band that just aren't very good. "Instrumentals 1967-1996" is Canned Heat at their jam band, blues, expermental BEST!!!
Now, if i could only get my hands on "Future Blues" and "Hallelujah" at a reasonable price.

Q: What did the DeadHead say when he ran out of pot?
A: Wow, this band sucks.

You know that old joke. Whether you believe the principle it expresses fits the Grateful Dead or not is immaterial here. It expresses this reviewer's impression of this collection of Canned Heat instrumentals.