Artist: Canned Heat Album: Internal Combustion

Year: 1996
Duration: 0:0-1

Canned Heat's Internal Combustion: A Deep Dive into the Blues-Rock Classic

If you're a fan of blues-rock, chances are you've heard of Canned Heat. This California-based band had a string of hits in the late '60s and early '70s, including the iconic Going Up the Country. But one album that sometimes gets overlooked in the Canned Heat catalog is their 1971 release, Internal Combustion. In this blog post, we're going to take a closer look at this album, giving you a brief history of the band, an overview of the music on Internal Combustion, and a critical review of the album as a whole. Let's dive in!

First, a bit of history. Canned Heat formed in Los Angeles in 1965, and quickly made a name for themselves with their energetic live shows and their melding of blues, rock, and psychedelic influences. One of their most notable performances was at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, where they shared the bill with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who. The band went through numerous lineup changes over the years, but the core group consisted of singer/harmonica player Alan Blind Owl Wilson, guitarist Henry Sunflower Vestine, bassist Larry The Mole Taylor, drummer Fito de la Parra, and pianist/harmonica player Bob The Bear Hite.

Internal Combustion was released in 1971, and marked a departure from the band's earlier, more psychedelic sound. This album is firmly rooted in blues-rock, with Wilson's harmonica and vocals taking center stage on many of the tracks. The album kicks off with the rollicking Long Way from L.A., which has a catchy chorus and some killer guitar work from Vestine. Hill's Stomp is a short instrumental that showcases the band's tight interplay and Wilson's harmonica skills. Rockin' with the King is a cover of a Little Richard song, and features some great piano work from Hite.

One of the standout tracks on the album is I Don't Care What You Tell Me. This song has a slower tempo than some of the others on the album, but it's no less powerful. Wilson's vocals are particularly soulful here, and the lyrics are a biting commentary on the state of politics and society at the time. Another highlight is So Sad (The World's in a Tangle), which is a slow blues that showcases Wilson's harp playing and Taylor's bass.

Overall, Internal Combustion is an enjoyable album for fans of blues-rock. However, there are a few missteps that prevent it from being a true classic. Firstly, some of the songs lack the hooks and memorable riffs that are present on the band's best material. Secondly, some of the production choices (such as the use of a horn section on London Blues) feel somewhat out of place. Finally, the album's sequencing could be improved, as some of the tracks don't flow together as well as they could.

Ultimately, Internal Combustion is a solid effort from Canned Heat, but it falls short of their best work. That being said, there are definitely some standout tracks here that are worth checking out. If you're a fan of blues-rock, give this album a listen and see what you think. And if you're new to Canned Heat, this album is a good starting point to explore their catalog.