Uncanned: Best of

As a Los Angeles-spawned group, Canned Heat is an especially rare bluesy gem from the tail end of rock's pioneering years. The unmistakable voice of Alan Wilson is yet another rare gem among white male rock vocalists. This compilation covers the band's worthy repertoire, and makes me wish the group had endured beyond the earlier, rockier years of rock, because they have a timeless sound that was ideal both when it was first released and that would work equally as well in today's blues-rock genres. Another talented band that emerged from the LA music scene (a few years before Canned Heat) and that fits this "timeless" description is Buffalo Springfield. Even though that original band and its stylistic sound are long-gone, rock fans in subsequent decades heard their founding members carry on in other incarnations. Alas, this level of notoriety in other formats was not the case with Canned Heat, so be glad that the few albums they released -- whether canned or Uncanned!-- are a legacy preserved in recorded sound.

If you're only looking for the hits you've heard on the radio, then perhaps one of the single-CD "best of" collections is the way to go.But...if you really like Canned Heat's style of blues, "Uncanned" is a must-own. It contains all of the hits as well as an almost-perfect collection of the band's best output; plus, the material was remastered for this release, and sounds wonderful (many "best of" CDs produced and released from 1980-1990 suffer from horrible mastering and analogue-to-digital transferring--not so for "Uncanned").Canned Heat deserved much more success and recognition than it received, and this 2-CD set will show you why. No blues band could boogie better! Plus, a nice booklet with the band's history, discography, and extensive liner notes is included, so what more could you want?

I hadn't heard this stuff in decades, and if anything, it was better than I remembered. Very cool California hippie/biker blues band. Clearly repectful of the tradition, these guys were good players (fine harp and guitar) and evolved a unique sound. I'm surprised (like another reviewer) that they left off "Fried Hockey Boogie," but I guess this disc is meant to emphasize the straighter blues stuff and downplay the 60s wierdness. Too bad, if you ask me. Still, a fine, bluesy party disc. Recommended.

This is a very good representation of the best of Canned Heat. Covers 1967-1972, Blues/Rock; nice addition to my music library.

love it

Great

One of the best old blues groups of all time. Great music and lot's of it too...

Best of the best, with the original formation playing all the very best of canned heat, you really can't ask for more!Blind Owl Wilson and the bear make this an awesome disc, with flawless quality.

I've been a Heat fan for longer that I care to remember. I have a couple of "best of" sets so didn't bother with this one when it came out. Oh boy I wish I had got hold of this a lot earlier. This CD is excellent . I'm listening to it right now and can't find a fault anywhere. The alternate take of "On The Road Again" is fantastic and worth the price alone, an equal to the released take. You can always think of tracks you would have liked to be included but then you always get that with compilations. My ONLY gripe is some of the printing in the booklet - white on black and a bit blurred, but hey that might just be my eyes. Buy this with confidence you will not be sorry - and like the Bear said "Don't forget to boogie"

Yes

just like new

En 1994 EMI publicó este doble cd que recoge lo mejor de Canned Heat entre los años 1967 y 1973. Un doble disco con criterio que recopila una muy acertada selección de temas de los años dorados de esta legendaria banda estadounidense, que ejercieron un tributo eterno a la música que amaban: el blues. Aquí está la formación clásica con Bob "El Oso" Hite, Henry Vestine, Larry Taylor, Fito de La Parra y por supuesto Alan "el Búho Ciego" Wilson.El primer cd es espectacular y se recogen grabaciones todas ellas realizadas durante el año 1967, con abundante material inédito hasta ese momento (un total de 9 temas), acompañados de varios singles y tomas incluídas en sus dos primeros discos ("Canned Heat" y "Boogie with Canned Heat"). Se incluye, por ejemplo, una excelente toma alternativa de su primer gran éxito "On The Road Again".En el segundo disco la cosa se amplía un poco más con grabaciones entre 1967 y 1973, de nuevo con algunos temas inéditos (4 en total) y otros singles y temas incluidos en sus trabajos posteriores ("Boogie with Canned Heat", "Living the Blues", "Hallelujah", "Future Blues", "Historical Figures" y "New Age"). Dos de los temas inéditos de este segundo cd incluyen colaboraciones con Dr. John y John Lee Hooker (de las sesiones para "Hooker N' Heat").Por poner un pero diría que no se incluye ningún tema del disco que grabaron con John Lee Hooker ("Hooker N' Heat") ya que es uno de mis álbumes favoritos. Desconozco el motivo aunque imagino que posiblemente asuntos legales estarán detrás de ello.Se acompaña un bonito libreto de 26 páginas con información sobre la historia de la banda, discografía detallada y algunas fotografías.La muerte del gran Alan Wilson en 1970 asestó un duro golpe a la formación del cual no se recuperarían jamás. Todavía aguantarían dos o tres años más hasta caer en una espiral de drogas y alcohol casi incontrolado. Gracias sobretodo al empeño del incansable Fito de La Parra, la banda continuó en activo durante sus años más oscuros, y en los noventa comenzaron a dar por fin destellos de cierta estabilidad (en 1981 fallecería también su otro líder, Bob Hite). Pero, como venía comentando, estos primeros años están muy bien reflejados en este fantástico recopilatorio con una cuidada selección de temas que a mi personalmente me ha encantado, a pesar de que ya conocía su discografía, ya que tengo todos los discos que publicaron durante este período.Comentar finalmente que, en cada uno de los cds, se incluyen dos pequeños temas ocultos que en realidad parecen anuncios comerciales de la época.Lo dicho, un doble cd altamente recomendado. Nunca olvidemos el boogie!1. On The Road Again (Alternate Take)*2. Nine Below Zero*3. TV Mama*4. Rollin' And Tumblin'5. Bullfrog Blues6. Evil Is Going On7. Goin' Down Slow8. Dust My Broom9. Help Me10. The Story Of My Life11. The Hunter*12. Whiskey And Wimmen*13. Shake, Rattle And Roll*14. Mean Old World*15. Fannie Mae*16. Gotta Boogie (The World Boogie)*17. My Crime18. On The Road Again19. Bonus Track20. Bonus Track1. Evil Woman2. Amphetamine Annie3. An Owl Song4. Terraplane Blues*5. Christmas Blues (Alternate Take)*6. Going Up The Country7. Time Was8. Low Down (And High Up)9. Same All Over10. Big Fat (The Fat Man)*11. It's All Right12. Poor Moon13. Sugar Bee14. Shake It And Break It15. Future Blues16. Let's Work Together (Let's Stick Together)17. Wooly Bully18. Human Condition*19. Long Way From L.A.20. Hill's Stomp21. Rockin' With The King22. Harley Davidson Blues23. Rock & Roll Music24. Bonus Track25. Bonus Track* temas inéditos

Prompt response very pleased