the singer Alan Wilson died 9-3-70, Jimi Hendrix died 15 days later (9-18-70), Janice Joplin died 2 weeks later (10-4-70), and finally Jim Morrison of the Doors died just 9 months later (7-3-71). All of them at 27 years old.
That sad period of tragic deaths reminded me in some ways of the mood after RFK and MLK, Jr. were slaughtered two years earlier. There is so much great music that came from the angst and turbulence of the Civil Rights Movement and the Viet Nam War era. Sadly, these were all significant artists whose contributions to music and culture can only be imagined. Now my music heroes are aged and we get a sad obituary every week.
That you both 'fell' for this odd tune is amazing to an old fart that loved it from the beginning. Indeed a timeless gem. They performed at Woodstock. senior from Canada
I saw a guy wearing a Canned Heat t shirt at work and struck up a conversation with him. Turns out he was Skip Taylor, the band’s long time manager. 🖖🏼
You mean having played and/or recorded with Son House and John Lee Hooker (only to name two) wasn't a close enough connection to blues for you???? They met collecting the actual 78s, then went on meeting as many of those artists as they could.
@@djhrecordhound4391 I deleted my comment. They did give full credit on their album( unlike Zep & others) which I was not aware of. I Also now recall thr John Lee Hooker recording I have a pet peeve with the general public not having a clue of the original versions much less care.
Seeing "Hellhound On My Trail" on the track listing for Fleetwood Mac's first album while in a record store in 1968 prompted me to take a chance and buy the album, even though I had no idea who they were. What a wonderful surprise when I brought that album home and put it on the turntable!
Have always loved this group. Canned Heat is a great blues & rock band that was formed in 1965. Their two biggest hits were "On The Road Again" in 1967 & "Going Up The Country" in 1968. Also love their song from 1970 "Let's Work Together".
Many of their songs were covers of old blues songs, especially their most popular ones. That's not a bad thing, they were great covers, like "Going Up Country", a cover of the 1928 "Bull Doze Blues" by Henry Thomas that stays very close to the original.
The name Canned Heat is a reference to "Canned Heat Blues," a recording from 1928 by blues musician Tommy Johnson about an alcoholic who drinks Sterno when he can't get his hands on booze. I'll add my name to the chorus of people asking for "Going Up the Country." That is, if you haven't already listened to it during a livestream.
Was coming here to post this. Canned Heat, taking a Sterno can and placing a cotton ball over the lid and straining out the alcohol to drink. Great band name :)
To have 3 older brothers, one into Canned Heat, Clapton, Rare Earth etc, and the others into Yes, Moody Blues, Deep Purple and Tull, I got exposed to the greatest music of that age!
Oh too funny, same with me, hanging out with friends older brothers and sisters, going to their parties, I got introduced to a lot of stuff as a young teen. What awesome times and so happy to have been able to experience all that!
He was the antithesis of a typical rock singer of the time in looks and vocals: which IS the essence of rock and roll.. He is pure gold. Love me some Canned Heat.
@@jgsrhythm100 I don't know if they paid royalties, but the original artists are credited and the idea was to pay homage to their influences. Let's Work Together by Wilbert Harrison, Going Up the Country, (Bulldoze Blues by Henry Thomas) and Rollin' and Tumblin' by Muddy Waters. And they did a whole album with John Lee Hooker, called Hooker n Heat. Unlike Zeppelin, Canned Heat gave credit where credit was due.
@@cs-7 OK that's a very good point. Don't mind me, for whatever reason It urks me that the majorty have no clue of the original black artists and wouldn't give them the time of day. Just a Pet Peave. 😆 Your right about credit. Respect to the Stones for actually promoting and recording with their influences and come to think of it I do recall Canned Heat .backing up John Lee Hooker.
Canned Heat is without a doubt the greatest white blues band of the 1960s. Utterly authentic and innovative and unique. And the most genuine, classic blues story around for a band.
@@biggriz2211 That's part of the classic blues story. Framed by the Denver police they have to sell off their future publishing rights just to make bail. Few months later they have a worldwide top-10 hit and crush in 1968 and 1969 and get only their gate receipts, essentially, meaning they have to constantly tour even as their singles and album make millions for others. Two founders and key early addition all die pretty young of drug overdoses, most notably Wilson, the resident genius. House band of Hell's Angles in the 70s. Ultimate boogie band. Pony Blues. Parthenogensis. My Crime. Amphetamine Annie. The various Fried Hockey/Hookie Boogie. Vestine and Wilson are in contention, seriously, for the most powerful double bill on guitar, with Vestine's raging solos, the solos that attracted Zappa before he kicked Henry out for smoking pot, and the impeccable rhythm and slide work of Wilson - impeccable - and then his harmonica work. Hooker called him the best harmonica player ever and I don't disagree. Three band members - Al, Bob, and Henry - were all world class collectors of blues singles, with thousands each, perhaps collectively the largest collection of blues 45s and 78s the world has ever seen. And, apparently, Al had them to memory and could slice and dice on command. Likely autistic, Al was a blues savant, truly. Al wrote scholarly treatises about the blues. Played nearly every 60s festival and headlined many times over other name bands in the era. Unique and beautiful.
First live concert I ever saw ! Dallas 1969. Saw Led Zeppelin in Ft. Worth about a month later ! 73 Now, and thanking God I lived. Thru the best days ever! Lynrd Skynrd, six months before they crashed.!
"Canned Heat Blues" is a song by the great bluesman Tommy Johnson referring having to drinking Sterno (canned heat) when you get alcohol withdrawal. It would sometimes make the person go blind or dead! The band Canned Heat were huge blues devotees! "Going Up the Country" is derived from "Bull Doze Blues" by Texas bluesman Henry Thomas. All great stuff!
... and just to connect the dots, Tommy Johnson is the guy who told Robert Johnson (no relations) about dealings with "Old Scratch" (the devil) and what crossroad to be at midnight for a parle.
On The Road Again honors all the Jim Crow era roadhouse Blues players with its stripped down instrumentation and up front use of harmonica. If only those dudes could have had access to such good recording production. ❤️👍👍
They did, but it was mastered really badly. There's an awesome 2CD set from 1994 called "Uncanned! The Best Of Canned Heat". The whole thing was remixed off the session tapes, and it'll blow your mind how great it sounds. It kicks off with a 7-minute version of "On The Road Again" that they recorded for their first LP. I think it has the only true stereo mix of "Let's Work Together" too. Sorry long-winded, but unless it's streamable, you might need to find a physical copy of that set online somewhere.
A timeless classic. It's very much late '60s, but it could have come out last week, and it feels like it's been around for centuries. Eternal, and one of the greatest blues grooves going.
I went through this groups catalog two years ago and came out with 24 songs that were a must have on my playlist. My personal favorites are "That's Alright, Mama" and "Marie Laveau".
This singer departed our earthly existence not too long after this song came out, but in their brief time the Heat was the hippiest of hippie bands. They kicked ass at Woodstock as much as any other act there. Very cool.
Good call on the drone, it is a played on the tambura which is a traditional Indian instrument used to create the drone for much of the Indian classical music you might hear. It is used to create that stunning drone that you hear throughout the song and is quite unique for any western music let alone a blues based pop band.
This is a classic!!!!!!!! I saw them do this in Monterey. They were blues masters!!!!!! And I love that they didn’t look anything like typical rock stars.
Must reinforce that "Let's Work Together'' and "Going Up the Country'' complete a wonderful Canned Heat trifecta. His vocal on "Let's Work Together" has much more hair on it, a banger.
What?! Thank you! I’m super happy you guys did this one. My dad loved Blues and he really dug this group. We even included this on the playlist at his memorial. ❤ You’ll like their “Going Up The Country.”
Being the old bastard that I am, I figured I'd add some context to the band name. "Canned heat" was what we know of today by the brand name "Sterno". It's the now gel alcohol based fuel in disposable cans that are often used in chafing dishes to keep catered food hot in their steam trays or an easy to use camping fuel for "hobo stoves". The liquid form used to come in bulk cans that you'd refill the chafing dishes with. It was either denatured ethanol or methanol(methylated spririt) which are poisonous if consumed. But it was notoriously consumed by alcoholics and down and out folks during prohibition and decades after. It was common for it to cause permanent blindness and even death. I remember as a child in the early 1970s, finding the empty cans along the railroad tracks behind our property in Kansas that had both a state and federal prison as well as a VA hospital nearby. The colloquial term for these poor souls during that time was "Sterno bums". My aunt worked at the VA hospital and told us that since some of the patients couldn't leave, they would get after shave and mouthwash at the hospital store(canteen) in the hospital and drink that as well due to the high alcohol content. Sad stuff.
"Going Up The Country" is another Canned Heat song that's a great road trip song. One of my favorites of theirs is "Let's Work Together" which is an old Wilbert Harrison song, and theirs is my favorite version of it. I think that's about it for their charted songs, but there are a ton of great album cuts to explore after that.
They could also really boogie. Great live band. This is one of those songs that encouraged me to work on my blues harmonica playing. I'm now 72 and still a gigging harp player. Alan Blind Owl Wilson was just great.
My point is 95% have no idea these are covers. They were great but can't stand thiose that are down with the artsts thst covered black blues but don't give the actual black blues artists the time of day. Just a pet peave. Especially not down if no royalties were given to the originsl artsts. Even Zeppelin is guilty of this. I respect those that went out of their way to honor their influences like the Stones, ZZ Top. Canned Heat might very well have done the same, just not sure.
Going Up The Country, Let's Work Together, Bullfrog Blues and Amphetamine Annie are my favourites ...alone with On The Road Again of course. I wore my Best Of Canned Heat cassette out during the 80's.
Although Bob "Bear" Hite was the group's primary vocalist, "On the Road" features Alan Wilson as the singer, "utilizing his best Skip James-inspired falsetto vocal". Wilson also provides the harmonica parts.
Such an amazing time for music. Canned Heat got their fame through Woodstock. Once they did their set, records flew off the shelves. Harmonica is blazing good! Vocal like no other band. They were the essence of the “hippie” rock culture. Great reaction song to do! 🌻
Always loved this song, but it's just not long enough. They performed this in 1969 at Woodstock. It's definitely a vibe and still such a cool song today! Thanks guys, for a great reaction choice! Took me back years to better times (for me, anyway). ✌💙✌
Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson was a true blues scholar. He immersed himself in 30s and 40s Southern blues masters. He really became a blues savant. Passed way too early at 27. RIP Mr. Wilson. Hopefully you're jammin' at that great gig in the sky! Peace out. Give our best to Jimi and Stevie.
This is the lp version....vastly different from the live versions. Check out the Woodstock clip of this song. Hellishly great guitar jam on this tune. I saw them live once back in 1979 in Monterrey and .....dayummm.... guitar boogie godz time! so great.
Canned Heat was an amazing live event. Like being at a backyard kegger. They used to smoke weed and drink on stage. John Lee Hooker said Canned Heat understood the blues better than any band from the 1960's/70's. They did collaborate. "Going up the Country", "Rollin' and Tumblin'", "It's the Same all Over", "Fried Hockey Boogie", are all incredible. But my personal favorite is "Let's Work Together", it embodies the feel and sentiment we felt as part of the hippie movement. The lyrics are timeless, and needed now more than ever. Canned Heat is one of my top bands of all time. When the leader is a large, bearded, hippie named "Bear" how can you go wrong?!?!
The members of Canned Heat were massive blues connoisseurs and helped revive several acts in the blues revival scene of the 1960s, namely Delta legend Son House, whom Alan Wilson (the guy singing on this track) had to teach how to play his old songs again. Canned Heat also recorded a killer album with John Lee Hooker called Hooker ‘n Heat.
Canned heat took their name from Tommy Johnson’s song “Canned Heat Blues” -1928. As some have mentioned, canned heat is a nickname for stereo that was consumed by some during prohibition and that stuff will eff you up bad before it kills you. Nice reaction, do more CH.
You HAVE to check out by them Let’s Work Together. The vibe is soulful as fuck. It’s my chosen karaoke song,AND,I’ve been applauded 😲 Canned Heat are a great American band and very underrated. Clapton mentioned them as one of his favourite American bands.
It's an amplified Harmonica. The audio chain was Harp>bullet mic>small valve amp (cranked)>recording mic>desk>tape. Plenty of places to add grunge & limit frequencies - the Shure bullet mic's were cheap P.A. mics, intended for spoken announcements in shops, schools, etc, and had a very limited audio range, rolling off below 1000Hz @3dB/octave, and cutting off hard at 4KHz. Send the resulting signal through something like a small Supro or Silvertone amp running a single 8" speaker, and you end up with the classic "honky", mid-rich "Amplified Harmonica" sound used so often on Chicago blues, as well as on "OTRA".
Whenever Robert Plant was Interviewed and the talk got around to how ironic it was that (white) Americans had to be introduced to black blues by the Brits, he invariably countered by mentioning Canned Heat as an American group that was bringing The real deal. This song has the psychedelic stoner vibe, but they were mainly a blues band.
I was 10 yrs old when this song came out. I have always loved it and always taken crap for loving it. So glad you appreciate it as much as I do. It always gives me a summer vibe. Love it and love your reaction.
Perfect review, you guys nailed it! I could listen to this song every day, love it! Try Hooker & Heat. John Lee Hooker teamed with this band is to be appreciated.
Blind Owl Wilson singing this classic....they found his body in his sleeping bag on his property (he liked to sleep out in the open)...I think it was an accidental overdose. And if I remember correctly the band were supposed to be flying somewhere that day to start another tour and he didnt show up at the airport.....such a shame....but it was 1970...the 60s had hit their peak for experimentation with ....ahem....substances.....
Lead singer and harmonica player Alan Wilson was nicknamed Blind Owl since he could only see 2 feet without hs glasses. He is credited with reaching out to pre WWII African American blues artists from the Livestream you did and exposing them to a young white audience....was unfortunately a member of 27 club...a great loss
That was Allen Wilson aka Blind Al, singing. I met members of Canned Heat in 1978 when I ran the restaurant food concessions at the Topanga Corral Nightclub located Topanga Canyon (Los Angeles area) and Bob Hite aka The Bear was my friend, he really liked my food, especially specialty Orange Custard Pie, and he always took whole pie home after they played every other weekend as one of the regular House Bands of the Topanga Corral. Many musicians like Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt, other celebrities including Patti Davis daughter of then Governor CA Ronald Reagan would come to watch them play live. I helped Bob Hite clean up their property in Topanga Canyon where Allen Wilson passed away from drug overdose. Bob Hite took over the lead vocals of song On The Road Again after Allen died. Sad that Bob overdosed years later, he was a really cool dude.
The first time i heard Canned Heat was on the Woodstock soundtrack I 'borrowed' from my mom back in '85. Unique sound, wonderful memories...thanks mom.
a history lesson... this great song was a redoing of a song from 1928..by a guy named Henry Thomas and called Going Up The Country....yep almost 100 years old....and the sound is crisp and clean...on You Tube..give a listen
It's funny that we recently had Willie Nelson but not singing "On The Road Again" (probably his most well known song), that we have Canned Heat with their "On The Road Again" (their best known song), and they are Nothing Alike! Most people now who know this version most likely first heard it in car commercials.
Canned Heat was a special mellow Rock band. The best part of seeing them was another band usually played with Canned Hat. Pacific, Gas and Electric band was a Funky Rock band, great show too.
Phew Bigged these up in the Friday debate as much as poss. Canned Heat r a great late 60’s Blues Band as others r saying. Let’s Work Together is a banger. They were great at Woodstock! 🔥🔥
Going Up the Country is the Canned Heat song you need to do.
I think they did it on a livestream.
Yes Going Up the Country next! 🌷💙
And time was!
It has to be the obvious next choice.
@@loosilu It's hard to keep track of everything they've done on livestreams. There's no way to look things up.
the singer Alan Wilson died 9-3-70, Jimi Hendrix died 15 days later (9-18-70), Janice Joplin died 2 weeks later (10-4-70), and finally Jim Morrison of the Doors died just 9 months later (7-3-71). All of them at 27 years old.
That sad period of tragic deaths reminded me in some ways of the mood after RFK and MLK, Jr. were slaughtered two years earlier. There is so much great music that came from the angst and turbulence of the Civil Rights Movement and the Viet Nam War era. Sadly, these were all significant artists whose contributions to music and culture can only be imagined. Now my music heroes are aged and we get a sad obituary every week.
I blame Nixon.
27 Club...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/27_Club
@@theactualbajmahal833 I blame Obama. 🤣🤣🤣
Such a waste.
This is the kind of diversity that hit our charts in the 60’s and 70’s.
This is the kind of stuff we heard all the time on the radio back in the 60s and 70s. We were lucky.
Folks my age, when we hear this song - and a hundred others from the era - we time travel back to exquisite experiences. Every time.
That you both 'fell' for this odd tune is amazing to an old fart that loved it from the beginning. Indeed a timeless gem. They performed at Woodstock. senior from Canada
I saw a guy wearing a Canned Heat t shirt at work and struck up a conversation with him. Turns out he was Skip Taylor, the band’s long time manager. 🖖🏼
🖖
How Kool is that
Wearing a Canned Heat t shirt at this very moment...no lie. What a song. I could listen to it for hours.
This is one of those rare songs that doesn't change, doesn't surprise, but still never gets old or boring. It's mystical.
You’re ripping yourself off if you’re not listening to the 5 minute version, trust me any Canned Heat lover will back me up on that 😎🎵🎶🎶🎶🎶
Truth
I was just glad they played it. But I agree- they need the non radio version.
You mean having played and/or recorded with Son House and John Lee Hooker (only to name two) wasn't a close enough connection to blues for you???? They met collecting the actual 78s, then went on meeting as many of those artists as they could.
@@djhrecordhound4391 I deleted my comment. They did give full credit on their album( unlike Zep & others) which I was not aware of. I Also now recall thr John Lee Hooker recording
I have a pet peeve with the general public not having a clue of the original versions much less care.
No doubt about it. Much like "Celebrate" by Rare Earth.....the radio version is doesn't cut it after you hear the full length version.
The melody was lifted whole from Robert Johnson's "Hellhound on My Trail" - one of the most hair-raising early blues songs that cemented his legend.
Sent me to listen to RJ. Thanks for that!
Seeing "Hellhound On My Trail" on the track listing for Fleetwood Mac's first album while in a record store in 1968 prompted me to take a chance and buy the album, even though I had no idea who they were. What a wonderful surprise when I brought that album home and put it on the turntable!
@@ptournas Peter Green!!
Owl's voice is reminiscent of Skip James and Tommy Johnson.
Have always loved this group. Canned Heat is a great blues & rock band that was formed in 1965. Their two biggest hits were "On The Road Again" in 1967 & "Going Up The Country" in 1968. Also love their song from 1970 "Let's Work Together".
I prefer the original Wilbert Harrison version of "Let's Work Together."
Many of their songs were covers of old blues songs, especially their most popular ones. That's not a bad thing, they were great covers, like "Going Up Country", a cover of the 1928 "Bull Doze Blues" by Henry Thomas that stays very close to the original.
The name Canned Heat is a reference to "Canned Heat Blues," a recording from 1928 by blues musician Tommy Johnson about an alcoholic who drinks Sterno when he can't get his hands on booze.
I'll add my name to the chorus of people asking for "Going Up the Country." That is, if you haven't already listened to it during a livestream.
Sterno (also called "canned heat") is a semi-solid flammable gel inside a small metal case. Placed under chafing dishes.
Was coming here to post this. Canned Heat, taking a Sterno can and placing a cotton ball over the lid and straining out the alcohol to drink.
Great band name :)
To have 3 older brothers, one into Canned Heat, Clapton, Rare Earth etc, and the others into Yes, Moody Blues, Deep Purple and Tull, I got exposed to the greatest music of that age!
Oh too funny, same with me, hanging out with friends older brothers and sisters, going to their parties, I got introduced to a lot of stuff as a young teen. What awesome times and so happy to have been able to experience all that!
He was the antithesis of a typical rock singer of the time in looks and vocals: which IS the essence of rock and roll.. He is pure gold. Love me some Canned Heat.
Think I'd have to be very hard up for alcohol to do that.
Canned Heat at Woodstock was insanely good. Great reaction guys. They are so unique!
YES! It was my first time hearing them on the soundtrack...so unique it became a favorite
@@kimmycook2698 5 min after watching this I ended up listening to their set at Woodstock again. What can ya do?
At Woodstock they were on LSD trip - the guys were wasted
@@AlexSilva-zu3te Might have been required to get on the stage 😉
@Mark G. Like a dress code or something?
Ahhh, more 60's take me on that trip again ❤️❤️❤️
yes!!!!
Canned Heat's "Let's Work Together" needs to be heard. Probably my favorite song of that year (1970).
This version was abbreviated, guys. There is a full version you need to hear!
I am a huge Canned Heat fan and have all of their original albums with the great Alan Wilson. Great review!
Back in the day I would be transfixed when it came on the radio. "Going Up The Country" is a fun song. Canned Heat is some great Electric Blues.
You guys absolutely need to listen to Let's Work Together by Canned Heat!!!!
with the black and white video of the hot 1970s girls dancing to that song 😊😊
@@dadmateryn8092 That video was reuploaded by someone and it's in color if you're interested 😂😂😂😂
Just FYI It's a cover.
All their hits are covers but major props for crediting all the original artsts and recording with John Lee Hooker.
@@jgsrhythm100 I don't know if they paid royalties, but the original artists are credited and the idea was to pay homage to their influences. Let's Work Together by Wilbert Harrison, Going Up the Country, (Bulldoze Blues by Henry Thomas) and Rollin' and Tumblin' by Muddy Waters. And they did a whole album with John Lee Hooker, called Hooker n Heat. Unlike Zeppelin, Canned Heat gave credit where credit was due.
@@cs-7 OK that's a very good point.
Don't mind me, for whatever reason It urks me that the majorty have no clue of the original black artists and wouldn't give them the time of day. Just a Pet Peave. 😆
Your right about credit.
Respect to the Stones for actually promoting and recording with their influences and come to think of it I do recall Canned Heat .backing up John Lee Hooker.
Definitely a freak out hippie song back in my day. Always high when listening to this one.
Still am.
Still smokin' after all these years...🤘✌️
@Terrie Martinez Just picked it back up after a 40 year hiatus...for medicinal purposes only...😉
@@emilyflotilla931 Welcome Back.
Puff Puff Pass..
✌️☺️🤘♥️
@@emilyflotilla931 my use has always been been *medicinal*
🤫
I've only had cancer 4 times..
👏☺️🤘
Canned Heat is without a doubt the greatest white blues band of the 1960s. Utterly authentic and innovative and unique. And the most genuine, classic blues story around for a band.
Too bad that both lead singers died young.
@@biggriz2211 That's part of the classic blues story. Framed by the Denver police they have to sell off their future publishing rights just to make bail. Few months later they have a worldwide top-10 hit and crush in 1968 and 1969 and get only their gate receipts, essentially, meaning they have to constantly tour even as their singles and album make millions for others. Two founders and key early addition all die pretty young of drug overdoses, most notably Wilson, the resident genius. House band of Hell's Angles in the 70s. Ultimate boogie band. Pony Blues. Parthenogensis. My Crime. Amphetamine Annie. The various Fried Hockey/Hookie Boogie. Vestine and Wilson are in contention, seriously, for the most powerful double bill on guitar, with Vestine's raging solos, the solos that attracted Zappa before he kicked Henry out for smoking pot, and the impeccable rhythm and slide work of Wilson - impeccable - and then his harmonica work. Hooker called him the best harmonica player ever and I don't disagree. Three band members - Al, Bob, and Henry - were all world class collectors of blues singles, with thousands each, perhaps collectively the largest collection of blues 45s and 78s the world has ever seen. And, apparently, Al had them to memory and could slice and dice on command. Likely autistic, Al was a blues savant, truly. Al wrote scholarly treatises about the blues. Played nearly every 60s festival and headlined many times over other name bands in the era. Unique and beautiful.
I have to add Taste - with Rory Gallagher - to that statement. Both were the best of the best "white" blues of the time.
First live concert I ever saw ! Dallas 1969.
Saw Led Zeppelin in Ft. Worth about a month later ! 73 Now, and thanking God I lived. Thru the best days ever! Lynrd
Skynrd, six months before they crashed.!
"Canned Heat Blues" is a song by the great bluesman Tommy Johnson referring having to drinking Sterno (canned heat) when you get alcohol withdrawal. It would sometimes make the person go blind or dead! The band Canned Heat were huge blues devotees! "Going Up the Country" is derived from "Bull Doze Blues" by Texas bluesman Henry Thomas. All great stuff!
Maxwell Street Moonshine!
... and just to connect the dots, Tommy Johnson is the guy who told Robert Johnson (no relations) about dealings with "Old Scratch" (the devil) and what crossroad to be at midnight for a parle.
The Woodstock version is incredible, RIP Blind Owl Wilson.
On The Road Again honors all the Jim Crow era roadhouse Blues players with its stripped down instrumentation and up front use of harmonica. If only those dudes could have had access to such good recording production. ❤️👍👍
They did, but it was mastered really badly. There's an awesome 2CD set from 1994 called "Uncanned! The Best Of Canned Heat". The whole thing was remixed off the session tapes, and it'll blow your mind how great it sounds. It kicks off with a 7-minute version of "On The Road Again" that they recorded for their first LP. I think it has the only true stereo mix of "Let's Work Together" too.
Sorry long-winded, but unless it's streamable, you might need to find a physical copy of that set online somewhere.
@@djhrecordhound4391 Agreed, the production sucked, but it was miles above what the old blues men had access to. I’ll look for the box set!
Canned Heat "Going Up The Country" & "Let's Work Together"...Nuff Said.
Canned Heat is part of the genesis of hippy music. Ten Years After is great too.
A timeless classic. It's very much late '60s, but it could have come out last week, and it feels like it's been around for centuries. Eternal, and one of the greatest blues grooves going.
I went through this groups catalog two years ago and came out with 24 songs that were a must have on my playlist. My personal favorites are "That's Alright, Mama" and "Marie Laveau".
A&A, their other top 20 hit was "Going Up the Country" !!
yes!!!
Still heard in commercials today.
In the uk together we stand was a big hit .
@@raymondbonington9355 yes, reached #2 in the UK. I should have specified in the US.
This singer departed our earthly existence not too long after this song came out, but in their brief time the Heat was the hippiest of hippie bands. They kicked ass at Woodstock as much as any other act there. Very cool.
I might quibble about “hippiest “….. thinking Country Joe and the Fish, Grateful Dead….. it for sure they were a huge part of that time and vibe
I’m
Well I wouldn't say they weren't very hippie bands too!
@@peterstilla8733 😁✌️
This was the Spirit in the Sky of the 1960’s. The boogie tune of all boogie tunes. Long live the Heat !
Good call on the drone, it is a played on the tambura which is a traditional Indian instrument used to create the drone for much of the Indian classical music you might hear. It is used to create that stunning drone that you hear throughout the song and is quite unique for any western music let alone a blues based pop band.
This is a classic!!!!!!!! I saw them do this in Monterey. They were blues masters!!!!!! And I love that they didn’t look anything like typical rock stars.
Love Canned Heat! Going up the Country is my favorite, On the Road Again is my second! Yes Andy, grow your hair! Love a long haired man!
For another psychedelic rock banger, go to Chambers Brothers, "Time Has Come Today."
Psychedelic is an understatement
Pearl jam played this at Wrigley Field.
This was my drive around the back roads after a few puffs😂 until the song ended, sometimes seemed like hours😮😅❤
I have been singing this song when I hit the road for a long trip for maybe 40 years now
Must reinforce that "Let's Work Together'' and "Going Up the Country'' complete a wonderful Canned Heat trifecta. His vocal on "Let's Work Together" has much more hair on it, a banger.
It's a different vocalist, Bob Hite.
Hooker n Heat was such a good album
What?! Thank you!
I’m super happy you guys did this one. My dad loved Blues and he really dug this group. We even included this on the playlist at his memorial.
❤
You’ll like their “Going Up The Country.”
Being the old bastard that I am, I figured I'd add some context to the band name. "Canned heat" was what we know of today by the brand name "Sterno". It's the now gel alcohol based fuel in disposable cans that are often used in chafing dishes to keep catered food hot in their steam trays or an easy to use camping fuel for "hobo stoves". The liquid form used to come in bulk cans that you'd refill the chafing dishes with. It was either denatured ethanol or methanol(methylated spririt) which are poisonous if consumed. But it was notoriously consumed by alcoholics and down and out folks during prohibition and decades after. It was common for it to cause permanent blindness and even death. I remember as a child in the early 1970s, finding the empty cans along the railroad tracks behind our property in Kansas that had both a state and federal prison as well as a VA hospital nearby. The colloquial term for these poor souls during that time was "Sterno bums". My aunt worked at the VA hospital and told us that since some of the patients couldn't leave, they would get after shave and mouthwash at the hospital store(canteen) in the hospital and drink that as well due to the high alcohol content. Sad stuff.
"Going Up The Country" is another Canned Heat song that's a great road trip song. One of my favorites of theirs is "Let's Work Together" which is an old Wilbert Harrison song, and theirs is my favorite version of it. I think that's about it for their charted songs, but there are a ton of great album cuts to explore after that.
Their "Going Up The Country" song was used by Flo at Progressive to sell motorcycle insurance. You've definitely heard it. It's their best song, IMO.
Did they pay Royaties to the original black bluesman that wrote it?
This is one of the coolest f’ n songs ever
This is a band worth a deep dive. They can lay down some serious blues.
Some of the best early rock- really good stuff. Thank God you're swerving back into rock.
They could also really boogie. Great live band. This is one of those songs that encouraged me to work on my blues harmonica playing. I'm now 72 and still a gigging harp player. Alan Blind Owl Wilson was just great.
This was definitely a song of the times. Let's Work Together has a different vibe but great.
Both covers originals black blues artsts. They are basically a blues cover band
@@jgsrhythm100 Your point? They were a great white blues band.
My point is 95% have no idea these are covers. They were great but can't stand thiose that are down with the artsts thst covered black blues but don't give the actual black blues artists the time of day.
Just a pet peave.
Especially not down if no royalties were given to the originsl artsts.
Even Zeppelin is guilty of this.
I respect those that went out of their way to honor their influences like the Stones, ZZ Top. Canned Heat might very well have done the same, just not sure.
The vocal for this song was the inspiration for the Get Back vocal.
Going Up The Country, Let's Work Together, Bullfrog Blues and Amphetamine Annie are my favourites ...alone with On The Road Again of course. I wore my Best Of Canned Heat cassette out during the 80's.
Although Bob "Bear" Hite was the group's primary vocalist, "On the Road" features Alan Wilson as the singer, "utilizing his best Skip James-inspired falsetto vocal". Wilson also provides the harmonica parts.
Such an amazing time for music. Canned Heat got their fame through Woodstock. Once they did their set, records flew off the shelves.
Harmonica is blazing good! Vocal like no other band. They were the essence of the “hippie” rock culture.
Great reaction song to do!
🌻
I saw them open up Saturday afternoon at the Monterey Pop Festival two years before Woodstock. They were pretty well known then.
I was 12 years old when this record came out. I already liked it from the start. 🎶🎶👍❤️❤️
Always loved this song, but it's just not long enough. They performed this in 1969 at Woodstock. It's definitely a vibe and still such a cool song today! Thanks guys, for a great reaction choice! Took me back years to better times (for me, anyway). ✌💙✌
Now you have to hear "Going Up the Country." Played in the movie "Woodstock" over all the clips of people arriving for the concert.
Their other big hits were "Rollin' and Tumblin'" and "Going Up the Country", but you won't go wrong with much from them.
Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson was a true blues scholar. He immersed himself in 30s and 40s Southern blues masters. He really became a blues savant. Passed way too early at 27. RIP Mr. Wilson. Hopefully you're jammin' at that great gig in the sky! Peace out. Give our best to Jimi and Stevie.
This is the lp version....vastly different from the live versions. Check out the Woodstock clip of this song. Hellishly great guitar jam on this tune. I saw them live once back in 1979 in Monterrey and .....dayummm.... guitar boogie godz time! so great.
Canned Heat was an amazing live event. Like being at a backyard kegger. They used to smoke weed and drink on stage. John Lee Hooker said Canned Heat understood the blues better than any band from the 1960's/70's. They did collaborate. "Going up the Country", "Rollin' and Tumblin'", "It's the Same all Over", "Fried Hockey Boogie", are all incredible. But my personal favorite is "Let's Work Together", it embodies the feel and sentiment we felt as part of the hippie movement. The lyrics are timeless, and needed now more than ever. Canned Heat is one of my top bands of all time. When the leader is a large, bearded, hippie named "Bear" how can you go wrong?!?!
The drone is an instrument called a tambura...
The members of Canned Heat were massive blues connoisseurs and helped revive several acts in the blues revival scene of the 1960s, namely Delta legend Son House, whom Alan Wilson (the guy singing on this track) had to teach how to play his old songs again. Canned Heat also recorded a killer album with John Lee Hooker called Hooker ‘n Heat.
Canned heat took their name from Tommy Johnson’s song “Canned Heat Blues” -1928. As some have mentioned, canned heat is a nickname for stereo that was consumed by some during prohibition and that stuff will eff you up bad before it kills you. Nice reaction, do more CH.
The great Alan Wilson!
Revisit with the longer version of this classic!
You can't go wrong with *any* Canned Heat Tune.
☺️♥️☺️♥️☺️
🕊️🎶♥️🎼🥁
Any road trip worth taking has to include Radar Love by Golden Earring.
Would certainly agree and Highway Star by Deep Purple as well. I would also add Driver's Seat by Sniff n' the Tears.
You HAVE to check out by them Let’s Work Together.
The vibe is soulful as fuck.
It’s my chosen karaoke song,AND,I’ve been applauded 😲
Canned Heat are a great American band and very underrated.
Clapton mentioned them as one of his favourite American bands.
It's an amplified Harmonica. The audio chain was Harp>bullet mic>small valve amp (cranked)>recording mic>desk>tape. Plenty of places to add grunge & limit frequencies - the Shure bullet mic's were cheap P.A. mics, intended for spoken announcements in shops, schools, etc, and had a very limited audio range, rolling off below 1000Hz @3dB/octave, and cutting off hard at 4KHz. Send the resulting signal through something like a small Supro or Silvertone amp running a single 8" speaker, and you end up with the classic "honky", mid-rich "Amplified Harmonica" sound used so often on Chicago blues, as well as on "OTRA".
Alan also used to file his reeds to attain certain pitches.
Whenever Robert Plant was Interviewed and the talk got around to how ironic it was that (white) Americans had to be introduced to black blues by the Brits, he invariably countered by mentioning Canned Heat as an American group that was bringing The real deal. This song has the psychedelic stoner vibe, but they were mainly a blues band.
I’m stoked y’all like this band that means Going up the Country is next.🔥👍🏼
I was 10 yrs old when this song came out. I have always loved it and always taken crap for loving it. So glad you appreciate it as much as I do. It always gives me a summer vibe. Love it and love your reaction.
Perfect review, you guys nailed it! I could listen to this song every day, love it! Try Hooker & Heat. John Lee Hooker teamed with this band is to be appreciated.
Blind Owl Wilson singing this classic....they found his body in his sleeping bag on his property (he liked to sleep out in the open)...I think it was an accidental overdose. And if I remember correctly the band were supposed to be flying somewhere that day to start another tour and he didnt show up at the airport.....such a shame....but it was 1970...the 60s had hit their peak for experimentation with ....ahem....substances.....
Going up the Country is both awesome Canned Heat and a great road trip song!
Awesome that you finally found the Heat!
Love this song on one of my fav movies! Roadhouse! Great movie! I love Patrick Swayze! Perfect music for this movie! Love you guys!
Lead singer and harmonica player Alan Wilson was nicknamed Blind Owl since he could only see 2 feet without hs glasses. He is credited with reaching out to pre WWII African American blues artists from the Livestream you did and exposing them to a young white audience....was unfortunately a member of 27 club...a great loss
A group of happy stoners playing boogie blues. Loved these guys.
That was Allen Wilson aka Blind Al, singing. I met members of Canned Heat in 1978 when I ran the restaurant food concessions at the Topanga Corral Nightclub located Topanga Canyon (Los Angeles area) and Bob Hite aka The Bear was my friend, he really liked my food, especially specialty Orange Custard Pie, and he always took whole pie home after they played every other weekend as one of the regular House Bands of the Topanga Corral. Many musicians like Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt, other celebrities including Patti Davis daughter of then Governor CA Ronald Reagan would come to watch them play live. I helped Bob Hite clean up their property in Topanga Canyon where Allen Wilson passed away from drug overdose. Bob Hite took over the lead vocals of song On The Road Again after Allen died. Sad that Bob overdosed years later, he was a really cool dude.
The first time i heard Canned Heat was on the Woodstock soundtrack I 'borrowed' from my mom back in '85. Unique sound, wonderful memories...thanks mom.
Hands down, 1 of my favorite blues albums is "Hooker and the Heat". A colab with John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat.
Canned Heats best song is "Going up the country" in 1970...Original in 1928 by Henry Thomas
What a haunting vocal and incredible harmonica!
Another soul lost too young at 27
Loved to hear this one thank you both! I feel so lucky to have seen them in Chicago at old Kinetic playground back in the 70's
another radio hit I am familiar with that you'd like is: Canned Heat - Let's Work Together
a history lesson... this great song was a redoing of a song from 1928..by a guy named Henry Thomas and called Going Up The Country....yep almost 100 years old....and the sound is crisp and clean...on You Tube..give a listen
I see billowing smoke coming out of V.W. vans with paisley curtains on the windows. ✌🌻
It's funny that we recently had Willie Nelson but not singing "On The Road Again" (probably his most well known song), that we have Canned Heat with their "On The Road Again" (their best known song), and they are Nothing Alike! Most people now who know this version most likely first heard it in car commercials.
This is just a great song ❤
Song is dripping with sauce!!
Canned Heat was a special mellow Rock band. The best part of seeing them was another band usually played with Canned Hat. Pacific, Gas and Electric band was a Funky Rock band, great show too.
Love Canned Heat. My band back in the day in FL used to cover "Refried Boogie". Great stuff.
Saw them in 1968 at The Shrine in Los Angeles. What a great concert.
Phew Bigged these up in the Friday debate as much as poss. Canned Heat r a great late 60’s Blues Band as others r saying. Let’s Work Together is a banger. They were great at Woodstock! 🔥🔥
Absolutely hypnotic. I leave my body on this one. Awesome.
Check out their Woodstock performance.
Transcendental blues... an out of the blue sound and feel.
Blind Owl Wilson sang this song; other vocalist was Bob The Bear Hite; both sadly long gone.