Human Condition

Perhaps due to Harvey Mandel being featured on this recording along with (sadly,not as much heard from them here)the Chambers Brothers this album recovers some of the feel of the old Canned Heat ( post Alan Wilson the Blind Owl). Unfortunately Bob Hite 's vocals are sparse on this LP but the other vocalists do "The Heat" justice anyway.If you recall Mr.Mandel was also featured on their "Future Blues" LP - a must have.Anyone who hasn't heard Harvey Mandel in awhile should check out " Twist City ". I own most of his recordings and love them all. He does as fine job here as well but much more subdued than is customary on his guitar. Rock and Boogie On!

I love this cd especially because the chambers brothers sing on it

Great group!

An enjoyable end of an ear record by Bob Hite, returning to a more Rhyme & Blues/Rock n’ Roll sound (even after Al Wilson died, Canned Heats album were quite diverse).As always great musicianship, inspite of Canned Heat having a revolving door policy when it came to band members.The only slight negative is the polished production that was prevalent on rock music records in the latter half of the 1970’s.The sound quality of the actual CD is good, the version of the album that I have is released by akarmare records (it has a photo of the band on the cover).So as you can probably expect, not the greatest album to bare the name Canned Heat, but still a real effort to make the record as strong as possible, & certainly no going through the motions, & as Bob sings on his final track “wrapped up, tangled up & boogied”.

Human Condition was originally released in 1978 on Takoma Records. The label was founded by Piedmont/existential guitarist John Fahey, who originally was responsible for bringing Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson to the west coast from Boston, MA in 1965. The session was named after an Alan Wilson tune, and features the Chambers Brothers on vocals and back-up. The subsequent effects kindled in a triple-headlining tour with John Lee Hooker in 1980-81. "Hot Money" features the mellow guitar overtones of Mark Skyer, while drummer Fito de la Parra drives the boogie like an 18-speed Peterbuilt. De la Parra's foresight would help direct the band in future years, as this was one of Bob "The Bear" Hite's last studio records. Hite's influence on the band (though never his mountainous spirit) was starting to wane due to deteriorating health. This recording has resurfaced with a forgotten nova of boogie-blues power that was overshadowed by the last days of disco, and never truly gained the massive attention deserved. "Human Condition" shines with a rejuvinating light as Alan Wilson's influence permeates the session with an oddly overshadowing effect, as the band pays humble reverance to their friend. In the dark days before the massive blues revival of the 1980's, the Kings of the Boogie carried their art like a crutch, but never gave up on their single-minded principle of bringing the Blues to folks of all ages and walks of life. Buy the album direct at [...] all content copyright [...]

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An enjoyable end of an ear record by Bob Hite, returning to a more Rhyme & Blues/Rock n' Roll sound (even after Al Wilson died, Canned Heats album were quite diverse).As always great musicianship, inspite of Canned Heat having a revolving door policy when it came to band members.The only slight negative is the polished production that was prevalent on rock music records in the latter half of the 1970's.The sound quality of the actual CD is good, the version of the album that I have is released by akarmare records (it has a photo of the band on the cover).So as you can probably expect, not the greatest album to bare the name Canned Heat, but still a real effort to make the record as strong as possible, & certainly no going through the motions, & as Bob sings on his final track "wrapped up, tangled up & boogied”.