Canned Heat is an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles in 1965. The group has been noted for its interpretations of blues material and for its efforts to promote interest in this type of music and its original artists. It was launched by two blues enthusiasts Alan Wilson and Bob Hite, who took the name from Tommy Johnson’s 1928 “Canned Heat Blues”, a song about an alcoholic who had desperately turned to drinking Sterno, generically called “canned heat”, from the original 1914 product name Sterno Canned Heat, After appearances at the Monterey and Woodstock festivals at the end of the 1960s, the band acquired worldwide fame with a lineup consisting of Hite (vocals), Wilson (guitar, harmonica and vocals), Henry Vestine and later Harvey Mandel (lead guitar), Larry Taylor (bass), and Adolfo de la Parra (drums).
The music and attitude of Canned Heat attracted a large following and established the band as one of the popular acts of the hippie era. Canned Heat appeared at most major musical events at the end of the 1960s, performing blues standards along with their own material and occasionally indulging in lengthy ‘psychedelic’ solos. Two of their songs — “Going Up the Country” and “On the Road Again” — became international hits. “Going Up the Country” 
was a remake of the Henry Thomas song “Bull Doze Blues”, recorded in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1927. “On the Road Again” was a remake of the 1953 Floyd Jones song of the same name, which is reportedly based on the Tommy Johnson song “Big Road Blues”, recorded in 1928.
Since the early 1970s, numerous personnel changes have occurred. For much of the 1990s and 2000s and following Larry Taylor’s death in 2019, de la Parra has been the only member from the band’s 1960s lineup. He wrote a book about the band’s career, titled Living the Blues. Mandel, Walter Trout and Junior Watson are among the guitarists who gained fame for playing in later editions of the band.
Historical Figures and Ancient Heads is the eighth album by Canned Heat, released in 1971. It was the first album not to feature original member and songwriter Alan Wilson who had died the previous year, and their bassist Larry Taylor, who had left to join John Mayall’s band. Featuring new guitarman Joel Scott Hill and Little Richard on “Rockin’ WIth The King”. The record also includes Tony de la Barreda on bass, who left with Hill after this album and subsequent tour. (wikipedia)
Adding Joel Scott Hill to the band, Canned Heat was infused with a bit of much-needed new blood. While nothing here found favor with AM radio, FM saw fit to include such cuts as “Cherokee Dance,” “Utah,” and the Heat’s collaboration with Little Richard, “Rockin’ with the King.” Full of the usual boogie, Historical Figures and Ancient Heads still comes off as a rather pale reminder of just how bluesy this band once was. New blood or not, this disc didn’t do much in the way of revitalizing Canned Heat’s faltering career — they appear to have become old before their time. (by James Chrispell)
Surprising Energy and Enthusiasm:
Henry Vestine returned to lead guitar on Canned Heat’s sixth album “Historical Figures and Ancient Heads,” released in December 1971. This album was a fairly routine blues workout played with surprising energy and enthusiasm by a band that must have been devastated from the tremendous loss of their co-founder, the irreplaceable Alan Wilson. Joel Scott Hill (later of the Flying Burrito Brothers) filled in for Wilson on rhythm guitar, and handled the vocals on several tracks, including the opener, “Sneakin’ Around;” and the Jimmy Roger’s classic, “That’s All Right,” which featured Harvey Mandel on lead guitar. Hill takes the guitar lead on his instrumental, “Hill’s Stomp.” Another instrumental, “I Don’t Care What You Tell Me,” written by Adolfo de la Parra, features Charles Lloyd on flute. Other highlights include a collaboration with Little Richard on “Rockin’ with the King;” and the single, “Long Way From L.A.” The album closes with a ferocious jam on the extended track, “Utah.” (This lineup of the group is also captured on the “Live at the Turku Rock Festival” album.) (by Stephen M. Rose)
Personnel:
Antonio de la Barreda (bass)
Joel Scott Hill (guitar, vocals on 01. + 07.)
Bob Hite (vocals)
Adolfo de la Parra (drums, piano on 05.)
Henry Vestine (lead guitar)
+
Kevin Burton (organ on 04.)
Ray Bushbaum (piano on 07.)
Ernest Lane (piano on 01.)
Charles Lloyd (flute on 04.)
Harvey Mandel (guitar on 07.)
Little Richard (piano, vocals on 03.)
Clifford Solomon (saxophone on 03.)
Tracklist:
01. Sneakin’ Around (Robinson) 4.55
02. Hill’s Stomp (Hill) 3.04
03. Rockin’ With The King (Taylor/Wayne/Penniman) 3.17
04. I Don’t Care What You Tell Me (Lloyd) 3.56
05. Long Way From L.A. (Baker) 3.07
06. Cherokee Dance (Landers) 4.29
07. That’s All Right (Rogers) 5.30
08. Utah (de la Barreda/Hill/Hite/de la Parra/Vestine) 8.23
More from Canned Heat:
ManyFantasticColors 