Let’s Work Together

Opening Act

Canned Heat is a band steeped in the blues. They secured their niche in rock ‘n roll history with their performances at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and a headlining slot at the First Woodstock Festival in 1969.

Founded by blues historians and record collectors Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson and Bob “The Bear” Hite, the group decided to take their name from “Canned Heat Blues,” an obscure 1928 track by bluesman Tommy Johnson that described the drug high achieved through drinking the household product Sterno.

Bob Hite was born into a musical family in Torrance, California. His mother was a singer and his father had played in a dance band in Pennsylvania.

Alan Wilson grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, where he became a music major at Boston University and a frequent player at the Cambridge coffeehouse folk-blues circuit.

Canned Heat’s first year was marked by infrequent gigs and public indifference. “We’d get a gig, play three days and get fired… because we refused to be a human jukebox.” After a particularly disastrous engagement at what became the {Whiskey A Go Go} the group disbanded in August, 1966 for the next three months

Act 2

In 1968 they gave us “On The Road Again” followed by “Going Up The Country” in 1969 and “Let’s Work Together” in 1970. All three became worldwide hits.

Albert Collins had heard of them, commenting “Damn… You guys cook!” In October, 1969, Liberty released a compilation album, Canned Heat Cookbook, which found its way into the Top 100 in the U.S. and all the way to #8 in the U.K.

Disaster hit hard on their first National tour when they were arrested for marijuana possession in Denver CO. Wilson missed out on the arrest as he was out collecting leaves. {a passion of his}

After going back to Los Angeles the band held a press conference that alleged that their bust was a set-up and the Denver Police planted evidence as part of an ongoing harassment against the owners and promoter’s of the “Family Dog” {a hippie ballroom they had played.}

In order to pay for a top shelf Denver attorney they were forced to sell half of their publishing rights to Liberty Records for $10k, the loss of revenues continues to cost them thousands and thousands of dollars yearly. The end result was probation for the band members.

On The Road

Canned Heat left for their first European tour in September, 1968. This consisted of promotions through media engagements along with concerts and TV appearances, including Top of the Pops in the U.K. and the German show Beat Club. “On The Road Again” hit number one in both countries and most of Europe.

In the House

Human Condition came out in 1978 and is one of my favorite pieces of vinyl in my collection. It has some very good tunes on it and here is one of them-enjoy.

On September 3rd, 1970, the band was shattered by the suicide of Alan Wilson.

On April 5th, 1981, at the Palamino in Los Angeles, gargantuan vocalist, Bob Hite, collapsed and died of a heart attack.

On October 20th, 1997, Henry Vestine died in Paris, France following the final gig of a European tour.

Last year, original bass player, Larry “The Mole” Taylor passed away following many years of battling cancer.

Canned Heat’s unique blend of modern electric blues, rock and boogie has earned them a loyal following and influenced many aspiring guitarists and bands during the past four decades. I know damned sure they make me feel good.

REF* – https://cannedheatmusic.com/