Canned Heat

First off, let me say that while this is a good Blues album, it bears virtually no relation to the band that created ‘On The Road Again’ or ‘Going Up the Country’. There are no original members left and the most recent joiner is drummer Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra who joined in 1967.

So, that out of the way, what do we have here?
We have a fine Blues album by a band consisting of Fito de la Parra on Drums, Jimmy Vivino on Vocals, Keyboard, Guitar, Dale Spalding on Vocals, Harp & Richard Reed on Bass.
They play in a classic boogie style with some excellent slide from Vivino and equally good harp from Spalding – who was taught to blow the harp by the legendary Sonny Terry. Reed’s bass playing is subtle and melodic while Fito’s drumming has been the heart of Canned Heat for over 50 years.

The album opens with ‘One Last Boogie’ which kinda suggests that this might be the last release under the Canned Heat monicker, especially twinned with the album title. However, they’re planning gigs to the end of the year so not dead yet.
As to the track, it is sprightly enough. A solid choogling boogie riff and the whole band cooking with chile.

Standout track for me is their ode to Al ‘Blind Owl’ Wilson, who founded the band and was sorely lost too young in 1970, shortly before the deaths of Hendrix, Joplin & Morrison and another member of the ‘27’ club.
Written by Dave Alvin and also featuring him on guitar and vocals, the track is steamy and proclaims Wilson’s environmentalism and love of California. “The odds are stacked against it, but that Sequoia somehow survives, standing strong, standing proud and that’s where the “Blind Owl” still flies!”

There is a remake of ‘So Sad (The World’s In A Tangle) – originally recorded in 1970 – which features lead guitar from Joe Bonamassa. The band describes it as a “psychedelic, environmental boogie!” and it certainly fits at least two of those characteristics.

Overall, it’s a pretty good Blues album, and well worth checking out.