Legendary Blues / Rock Band Canned Heat Brings It on New Album “Finyl Vinyl”

Canned Heat’s first new studio album in 15 years, nearly 60 years after the band was founded, Ruf Records releases a new studio album on CD & LP, presented to you by Ruf Records.

Canned Heat, the infamous artists that have burned their way through the “dry brush” in the history of music, they are an inspiration to many, they stood the stage in Woodstock with songs like “Going Up the Country”, “Let’s Work Together”, “You Can Run, But You Sure Can’t Hide” and a multitude of hits.

Canned Heat Today – Photos by Kala K.

Their legacy is etched in stone as some of the founding fathers of upbeat blues that have stood the test of time. Now Canned Heat has released “Finyl Vinyl”, which contrary to the title may not be and probably won’t be the last we hear from them, speculatively speaking.

Recorded in Burbank, California, long-serving drummer Fito de la Parra was joined in the studio by the members of the band’s current line-up, i.e. guitarist, keyboard player and singer Jimmy Vivino, harper and singer Dale Spalding and Richard “Rick” Reed who succeeded long-time bass player Larry “The Mole” Taylor after his death in 2019.

Another musician that can be heard on the album is blues rocker Joe Bonamassa who makes a guest appearance as lead guitarist on “So Sad (The World’s in A Tangle)”; Canned Heat first recorded this song for their 1970 album “Future Blues” with founding members Alan Wilson and Bob Hite still around and a live version can be found on their 2015 CD/DVD set from Ruf’s “Songs from The Road” series.

The track order from first track to last is “One Last Boogie”, “Blind Owl”, “Going To Heaven ( In A Pontiac)”, “So Sad (The Worlds In A Tangle)”, “East / West Boogie”, “Tease Me”,”A Hot Ole Time”, “You’re The One”, “When You’re 69″, Independence Day”, and “There Goes That Train”.

Looking at the new album, “Finyl Vinyl” – my first track to talk about is “One Last Boogie”, this song sets the tempo for the moment, jumpin and jivin in the moonlight is how I picture it, like the band is beggin you to live to the top of every moment you can.

When you hear the track “Blind Owl”, it is an homage to their humble beginnings and the early days of the band’s beginnings and to Alan Wilson, referring to his nickname owing to an extreme nearsightedness. The song was written by Californian singer-songwriter Dave Alvin who is featured as a guest guitarist and singer here.

“Goin’ to Heaven (In A Pontiac)” is a fun track on this album, not “one last goodbye” nor is it a swan song…. More of a see you on the other side or until we meet again feeling.

“So Sad (The World’s In A Tangle)” is the sound of the 60’s revolutionary feelings the band has shared with us since they first hit the stage, Canned Heat brings that feeling back to light.

Among these amazing tracks, there are compositions that are rich with the talents of Jimmy Vivino and Dale Spalding. one is the righteous instrumental “East West Boogie”, presenting an unusual musical mix with the oriental sounds of the “Theme from Tehran”, a US TV show, combined with a typical Canned Heat boogie groove. a heavier sound with “East West Boogie” which has a nostalgic sound of the late 60’s which to me has a Zappa flair, which speaks to the vibrancy of the band’s creativity.

“Tease Me” is , in my mind is a hot little love song number, letting that woman know she is all he desires, but also lets her know if she takes him for granted, he may find another dance partner, not too kind if you follow the modern “sensitivity”, but to an old cat like me, he’s just setting boundaries…Right? no political correctness here, just plain fun!

“Hot Ole Time” is another high energy track that bubbles the blood good and hot, which has that kind of blues beat that gets the dance floor hopping while “You’re The One” is a great lil’ love song , this man has got it bad. “When You’re 69” is a you just wait and see, as we get older we start to realize our youth is either remembered fondly, or wasted time, either way its like a soundtrack to the “well, I’m out” philosophy of a man’s broken heart, but has a devil may care sarcastic moment.

“Independence Day”, is an audibly flirty track about a man’s decision to end his own suffering when the one he’s invested so much love into turn out to have been a frivolous waste. “There Goes That Train”, is the last track and ends the album with the same powerful energy that started it. its a song of a broken heart, another man got wronged by the one he loved, watching his love walk away, only to watch her get left the same way, revenge is sweet.

Canned Heat has never faded away, they’ve been rocking this whole time, and will do so without reservation.  The album, feels like it’s a trip down memory lane for the people involved, but each track has a strong emotion to it and are not randomly set but compiled as an anthology of life’s precious moments… Canned Heat makes every moment special in their own way with no limits.

So, is this the grand finale of a long-lasting recording career with which Canned Heat say their goodbye to showbiz? Some may say so, but I personally don’t think so, they have had a long rough road, but the strong survive and I am sure these legends have so much more to offer their fans, new and not so new, but as long as the sun keeps shining, the music will play on!

Buy Today on Ruf Records

http://www.cannedheatmusic.com

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Canned Heat photos by Kala K.