Canned Heat - Boogie With Canned Heat

Limited edition red vinyl

The second studio album, and probably the most iconic by American blues and rock band Canned Heat. Released in 1968, it features the complete original formation of the band, with Bob "The Bear" Lite on lead vocals, Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson on slide guitar, harmonica and vocals, Henry "Sunflower" Vestine on lead guitar, Larry "The Mole" Taylor on bass guitar, and Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra on drums, plus guest appearances by Dr. John and Sunnyland Slim on piano.

Unlike their debut LP, Boogie with Canned Heat contains mostly original material and was the band's most commercially successful album, reaching No. 16 in the U.S. and No. 5 on the U.K. charts. Among its many highlights is the top 10 hit "On the Road Again," one of their best-known songs. "Amphetamine Annie," a warning about the dangers of amphetamine abuse, also received considerable airplay, while "Fried Hockey Boogie" was the first example of one of Canned Heat's boogies, or loose jams.

Rolling Stone magazine wrote that "'An Owl Song' is perhaps Al Wilson's strongest vocal outing to date — his peculiarly high crooning mumble grooving along over a kicking, chugging rhythm section." AllMusic reviewer Lindsay Planer granted the album 41/2 out of 5 stars, stating that it "pretty well sums up the bona fide blend of amplified late-'60s electric rhythm and blues, with an expressed emphasis on loose and limber boogie-woogie.

The quintet follows up their debut effort with another batch of authentic interpretations, augmented by their own exceptional instrumentation. Saving the best for last, the Heat are at the height of their prowess during the lengthy audio biography on "Fried Hockey Boogie." Each member is introduced by Hite and given a chance to solo before they kick out the jams. For enthusiasts as well as listeners curious about the oft-overlooked combo, this is an essential, if not compulsory platter."