His was the voice of the woodstock generation who asked "honey, do you want to go" in the classic Canned Heat anthem "Goin' Up the Country". Now Severn Records releases The Blind Owl, a two-CD set featuring Alan Wilson's greatest works with the legendary band he helped form in 1965. Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson was the preeminent statesman of '60's blues/rock; a master harmonica player and guitarist in the Delta tradition who would forge unlikely relationships with heavyweights like Son House and John Lee Hooker ("Alan plays my music better than I knows it myself") on his way toward becoming, according to Downbeat Magazine, "the finest white blues harmonica man" of the hippie era. Nearsighted to the point of almost complete blindness, Wilson picked up the name "the Blind Owl" from good friend and fellow blues picker John Fahey. As bandmate Fito de la Parra writes: "Without the glasses, Alan literally could not recognize the people he played with at two feet, that's how blind the 'Blind Owl' was". The Blind Owl features 20 songs that clock in at over 60 minutes of satisfying electric blues boogie. In addition to the iconic "Goin' Up the Country" are the reflective "My Time Ain't Long", Little Walter's "Mean Old World", and the band's breakout recording "On the Road Again" from their critically acclaimed release Boogie with Canned Heat. Painfully awkward, the eccentric Wilson battled anxiety and bouts of depression as heard in "My Mistake" and "Change My Ways". He was keenly attuned to environmental issues and in almost prophetic foretelling wrote about man's negative impact on the planet in his lamenting "Poor Moon", a theme found in many of his works. Fan favorite "Time Was" (still being performed by Canned Heat today) sheds light on tensions within the band, as the upbeat "Shake It and Break It" adapts lyrics from a song penned by Charley Patton, another of Wilson's musical heroes. Dr. John serves as guest keyboardist on "An Owl Song" and the set concludes with "Childhood's End", the last installment of a nine part psychedelic symphony Wilson termed "Parthenogenesis." In September of 1970 Wilson's body was found on a hillside behind bandmate Bob Hite's California home. An overdose of barbiturates cut his life short making him the tenth member of the infamous 27 Club. Who knows what might have been for the Blind Owl. All that is certain is that his legacy remains strong despite his early demise as proven in this collection of remarkable recordings. Alan Wilson: The Blind Owl is a must for any serious blues collector.
G**3
Missed opportunity
i thought long and hard before buying this because i had most of the tracks on canned heat albums. i decided it would be a good idea to have the tracks in one place. its a 2cd set although the contents would have fitted on one cd. the booklet is interesting but overall the packaging has a cheap feel to it. the music of course is excellent but the album contains nothing previously unreleased. the sound at first sounds louder and clearer although extended listening suggests it is merely louder and distortion is more evident than on my old canned heat cds. if you dont already own these tracks it is well worth buying but i feel this is a missed opportunity to put out a collectors collection of this great mans music.
N**R
Heard a it of it before but still great to hear the owl's blues
A real taste of who the owl was and his feelings in his voice expressed the way only the owl can do it
R**.
Legend
Such a great album by such fantastic musician!
C**H
Five Stars
Well pleased
J**Y
"A Make-Your-Own Blueprint For Collectors Of CANNED HEAT......"
If you don't already own ALL the CANNED HEAT albums, what are you waiting for? BUY THEM NOW! I've posted handy links to all at the bottom. If you're a fan like me, and have all the CDs already, here's a guide to make your own "THE BLIND OWL"......Disc 1.1. On the Road Again >from "BOOGIE WITH CANNED HEAT" -Track 32. Help Me >from "CANNED HEAT (aka ROLLIN' & TUMBLIN' in foreign markets) -Track 73. An Owl Song >from "BOOGIE WITH CANNED HEAT" -Track 84. Going Up the Country >from "LIVING THE BLUES" -Track 45. My Mistake >from "LIVING THE BLUES" -Track 46. Change My Ways >from "HALLELUJAH" -Track 27. Get Off My Back >from "HALLELUJAH" -Track 108. Time Was >from "HALLELUJAH" -Track 69. Do Not Enter >from "HALLELUJAH" -Track 710. Shake It and Break It >from "FUTURE BLUES" -Track 211. Nebulosity/Rollin' & Tumblin'/Five Owls >from "LIVING THE BLUES" -Track 8*Disc 2.1. Alan's Intro2. My Time Ain't Long >from "FUTURE BLUES" -Track 43. Skat >from "FUTURE BLUES" -Track 54. London Blues >from "FUTURE BLUES" -Track 7 and "'70 CONCERT-Recorded Live In Europe" -Track 55. Poor Moon >from "UNCANNED: The Best Of" -Track 126. Pulling Hair Blues >from "'70 CONCERT-Recorded Live In Europe" -Track 37. Mean Old World >from "BOOGIE WITH CANNED HEAT" (Iconoclassic version) -Track 148. Human Condition >from "UNCANNED: The Best Of" -Track 189. Childhood's End >from "LIVING THE BLUES" -Track 8**these short pieces are from the longer "Parthenogenesis" suiteHere are links to purchase the CDs: Canned Heat , Boogie With Canned Heat (Deluxe Version) , Living the Blues , Hallelujah / Cook Book , Future Blues , '70 Concert-Live In Europe , Uncanned: The Best Of Further "Blind Owl" scholarship: The Boogie House Tapes: 1967-1976 , The Boogie House Tapes, Volume Two: 1969-1999 (has Wilson's final recordings made in his hospital room!)
J**Y
"A Make-Your-Own Blueprint For Collectors Of CANNED HEAT......"
If you don't already own ALL the CANNED HEAT albums, what are you waiting for? BUY THEM NOW! I've posted handy links to all at the bottom. If you're a fan like me, and have all the CDs already, here's a guide to make your own "THE BLIND OWL"......Disc 1.1. On the Road Again >from "BOOGIE WITH CANNED HEAT" -Track 32. Help Me >from "CANNED HEAT (aka ROLLIN' & TUMBLIN' in foreign markets) -Track 73. An Owl Song >from "BOOGIE WITH CANNED HEAT" -Track 84. Going Up the Country >from "LIVING THE BLUES" -Track 45. My Mistake >from "LIVING THE BLUES" -Track 46. Change My Ways >from "HALLELUJAH" -Track 27. Get Off My Back >from "HALLELUJAH" -Track 108. Time Was >from "HALLELUJAH" -Track 69. Do Not Enter >from "HALLELUJAH" -Track 710. Shake It and Break It >from "FUTURE BLUES" -Track 211. Nebulosity/Rollin' & Tumblin'/Five Owls >from "LIVING THE BLUES" -Track 8*Disc 2.1. Alan's Intro2. My Time Ain't Long >from "FUTURE BLUES" -Track 43. Skat >from "FUTURE BLUES" -Track 54. London Blues >from "FUTURE BLUES" -Track 7 and "'70 CONCERT-Recorded Live In Europe" -Track 55. Poor Moon >from "UNCANNED: The Best Of" -Track 126. Pulling Hair Blues >from "'70 CONCERT-Recorded Live In Europe" -Track 37. Mean Old World >from "BOOGIE WITH CANNED HEAT" (Iconoclassic version) -Track 148. Human Condition >from "UNCANNED: The Best Of" -Track 189. Childhood's End >from "LIVING THE BLUES" -Track 8**these short pieces are from the longer "Parthenogenesis" suiteHere are links to purchase the CDs: Canned Heat , Boogie With Canned Heat (Deluxe Version) , Living the Blues , Hallelujah / Cook Book , Future Blues , '70 Concert-Live In Europe , Uncanned: The Best Of Further "Blind Owl" scholarship: The Boogie House Tapes: 1967-1976 , The Boogie House Tapes, Volume Two: 1969-1999 (has Wilson's final recordings made in his hospital room!)
Trustpilot
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