Take 5 With Canned Heat

This latest of my weekly playlists is devoted to the blues-rock pioneers, Canned Heat. Led by vocalist Bob Hite, guitarist and sometimes vocalist Alan Wilson and guitarist Henry Vestine, their recordings drew inspiration from classic blues recordings that they adapted as well as originals in this tradition. I have little interest in the music made after Wilson's passing, and especially after Hite died. The recent versions are to me, essentially a tribute band. On this playlist, I will include some of the original recordings as well.

To start this playlist, I present their updating of a Tommy McClennan recording, "Whiskey Headed Woman," even adapting McClennan's intro from McLennan's follow-up, Whiskey Headed Man."

Here is McClennan's "Whiskey Headed Man," although it lacks the spoken intro.

Henry Vestine was obviously a fan of the great Guitar Slim, as heard on a remake of Slim's "Story of My Life."

Here is Guitar Slim's original.

Canned Heat's most famous recording was a reworking of a Henry Thomas number. Here is "Going Up the Country," from their performance at Woodstock.

Here is Henry Thomas' "Bull Doze Blues."

There are covers of songs from so many artists. Here is a tune based on Tommy Johnson's "Big Road Blues," here heard in live performance.

Here is Tommy Johnson's original.

Another rendition of this number that may have shaped Canned Heat's adaptation is Willie Lofton's "Dark Road Blues."

We close this playlist with a selection from the classic "Hooker & Heat" album, doing a remake of "Burnin' Hell," which features Alan Wilson on harp.

I hope you enjoyed this.