Canned Heat had a hit with "Goin' Up the Country" in 1968, which later became known as a "hippie rural anthem." The vocal was by Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson, rather than the group's usual vocalist Bob "The Bear" Hite. In fact, the song was an adaptation of Henry Thomas's "Bull Doze Blues," released in 1928. Thomas played a unique, home-made wind instrument call the quills, fashioned from hollow reeds, which the Canned Heat cover imitated on flute, played on the recording by non-band member Jim Horn. Hite pretended to play the flute on a lip-synced video. Other covers have played the quills parts on fiddle, mandolin, trumpet, blues harp, or not at all.
Music begins at :33
And another thing:
This brief footage might or might not be Henry Thomas:
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In case you didn't know, Canned Heat vocalist/guitarist/harmonicist Allan Wilson was among those rock and blues artists who died at age 27, around the same time that Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison passed. Others (well known) are Robert Johnson, Amy Winehouse, and Kurt Cobain also passed at 27.
Canned Heat still exists, the only original member being drummer Fito de la Parra.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for bringing light to this blog.
These posts are so carefully curated, and beautifully written. You educate the reader about the important details, supply context, and provide valuable and useful information about the late 1960s-early 1970s music scene.
So wonderful and unique!
Thank you thank you thank you.
I saw Canned Heat. They played at my high school, as odd as that seems. It would have been in 1976 or 77.
I saw Canned Heat at Woodstock, mid-August 1969.
Brian Jones was also a member of the 27 Club.
You blew my mind with the revelation that Goin’ Up the Country was a crib of a Delta blues song. I’ll never be able to listen to that song in the same way ever again.
Some more Canned Heat tunes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlKvjTL38J0
Let’s Work Together with the Top of the Pops Dancers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QexOuH8GS-Y
On the Road Again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwWCwaDUj7A
Dust My Blues: Heat’s rendition of the Elmore James classic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwWCwaDUj7A
Time Was Low Down: One of my favs
Thanks for the Canned Heat links. Speaking of Delta Blues covers, "Dust My Broom" was originally recorded by Robert Johnson. Elmore James added the slide guitar, which has been the classic version ever since.