CANNED HEAT
Friends in the Can (Fuel 2000/Universal)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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Canned Heat has been mixing blues and boogie for more than 36 years, and their new release Friends in the Can introduces a new generation of blues fans to a boogie band par excellence.

The current line up of Canned Heat, together since 1999, includes drummer Adolfo 'Fito' de la Parra (a member since 1967), Dallas Hodge on lead vocals and guitar, Stanley "The Baron" Behrens on harmonica, flute and sax; John "JP" Paulus on guitar and bass, and Greg Kage on bass and vocals. Separately, the members of Canned Heat have played with Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, Johnny Winter, and Albert Collins. Together, they ensure that the boogie band tradition, Canned Heat style, is accessible to younger generations.

Corey Stevens and Mike Finnegan help out on "Getaway," and that's one of many tracks that feature some very special guests. Roy Rogers sits in on "Bad Trouble," and Walter Trout tears it up on "Home to You," while Taj Mahal and John Lee Hooker hope they'll "Never Get Out of These Blues Alive." If blues were a required subject in school, one of the required texts would be Hooker 'n Heat, the LP that brought John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat together in addition to Friends in the Can.

Track List:

Same Old Games * Bad Trouble * Black Coffee * Getaway * It Don't Matter * Let's Work Together * 1,2,3 Here We Go Again * That Fat Cat * Home to You * Never Get Out of These Blues Alive * Little Wheel * Bonus tracks: Let's Work Together * Getaway

© 2003 - Eric Steiner