Canned Heat, Instrumentals 1967-1996

This is an interesting release by ’60s boogie blues band Canned Heat. Known for classic rock staples “Let’s Work Together” and “Goin’ To The Country,” this retrospective concentrates on legendary guitarists Henry Vestine and Alan Wilson. Nine of the fifteen tracks are from the band’s glory days, and the album really showcases the bands blues roots. Now, while their hits have become background music for soda commercials, the band came into being by backing legendary but long-forgotten blues man Son House, and it’s in that spirit that these tracks live.

In true hippie-jam fashion, the first track, “Parthenoenesis,” is over nineteen minutes long. “Mi Huautla” has some great harp playing by Wilson to accommodate the fast-paced boogie blues. The band takes a turn into psuedo-jazz on the appropriately named “Skat.” Arguably, the best track on this album is “Terraplane Blues.” The song has a slow and dirty feel to it that is reminiscent of long Saturday nights at the Reddi Room. One peculiar thing worth noting, though, is that this “instrumental” CD has vocals on about a fourth of the songs. Even still, this would be a great introduction for new fans of blues or for those that are eagerly awaiting the next Hightailers gig.