Anyone Remember Canned Heat? John Mayall? The Doobie Brothers?

[trev333]

There was so many good bands/lp's coming right at us back then that many listeners moved on through the decades/times and didn't hold on to last years bands/songs...

who's next?.. what's next?...go forward, move ahead..

 

[Ed Driscoll]

I remember them all.

A little bit of perspective (my wife hates it when I mention this). Those groups were big back in the mid 60's, 70's and for the Doobies into the 80's. So that's 40 to over 50 years ago that they were popular. If you were to go back in time to the 70's and look at groups from 50 to 40 years earlier that would be music from the 20's and 30's.

I must admit, as much as I loved music back then, I did not know many of the musical groups from the 20's and 30's. I was familiar with some of them Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, and some of the early big bands but not many of them.

I can't tell you how much I feel like my dad these days. He had an enormous record collection and multiple turntables, cassette players, and reel-to-reel recorders to play them on, but chronologically, it pretty much ended when the Beatles touched down in America. On a semi-regular basis in the 1970s and '80s he'd have a sad few hours when he read about his idols checking out for the proverbial "great gig in the sky:" Louis Armstrong in 1971. Gene Krupa in 1973. Duke Ellington in 1974. Ozzie Nelson in 1975. And Bing Crosby in 1977 (the big one, as my dad worshiped Crosby).

My music is on hard drives with the original CDs stored in the attic. But most of those titles drop off pretty quickly after the early 1990s, aside from the reissues and remixes.

 

[Tonetele]

Remember all three bands. Doobies visited our little city a couple of years ago and had a b-b-q with a vintage dealer/friend I know. I didn't get an invite.

 

[Mjark]

Forgotten? Seems not.

 

[Bob Womack]

The Doobies are still hard at it. They are currently on a world tour on the Eastern leg. They shut down in 1982 at their commercial peak with the Michael McDonald phase but had a successful reunion in 1987. Then it was "now what?" They reformed around the original core again in 1988 and, other than deaths, have been touring and recording in that form ever since. I've seen them four times. The second time was the first official date with the lady who became my wife! Doobie Brothers with special guests UFO, Knoxville, TN, 1978.

They had to take a touring break during the plague that offset their 50th anniversary tour but it started in 2022 and has continued ever since with special guest Michael McDonald. They put out "Live at the Beacon Theater" with a set consisting of back-to-back playing of their albums, Toulouse Street and The Captain and Me. That's a fun set. The biggest negative concerning their latest album was that there was too much influence by their producer, but the songs are mostly catchy.

Bob

 

[notmyusualuserid]

Though I admire the man's tenacity I've never heard of John Mayall. 88years old?

He had a band. The Bluesbreakers. You may have heard of some of them.

Members of the Bluesbreakers.

 

[Brent Hutto]

I was aware that Canned Heat and John Mayall were the names of a band and a musician, respectively, but can't recall any particular song associated with them. Just name recognition.

When I was young the Doobie Brothers were on the radio constantly, generally inducing me to switch to a different station when one of their overplayed songs came on.

 

[notmyusualuserid]

I saw 'Canned Heat' on a UK tour back in the 90s. They were complete and utter rubbish. I don't think they'd practised together, ever. Or had a soundcheck at the venue. It really was embarrassingly bad.

Maybe there's a reason they're forgotten...

 

[Jared Purdy]

On this forum and others, I rarely read posts mentioning these artists (and others, but this is the opening salvo). I got curious as to why? All the bands/musicians listed in the subject lines were monstrously popular in their day, selling tons of records and appearing a festivals and concerts. But now they've fallen almost into obscurity? Why?

Canned Heat, in various incarnations (only Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra, the drummer, is an original member) had a talented lineup, wrote a number of original songs, and was considered one of the most genuine blues bands of their time.

Who doesn't know the name John Mayall? The British-born bluesman has not only stayed active for decades (he released his latest album in 2022 - at 88 years of age!), but like contemporary Frank Zappa, was the discoverer of many talented musicians who went on to great fame (Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, Peter Green and most of the original Fleetwood Mac members, Jack Bruce, and a seemingly endless list). Often regarded as the King of (British) Blues, and awarded an OBE in 2005, perhaps the Brits have a higher regard for him than do others.

The Doobie Brothers were another mega-hit machine. At one time, the airways were filled with their clean, creative and churning guitars and vocals. I think nearly everyone here can name at least one Doobie hit song ("Listen to the Music," "Long Train Running," "China Grove," to name just three). Where are they now? Like Mayall, the Doobies released an album in 2021. Forty years after their first. Yawn.

Maybe you can think of others. But I'm curious as to why some groups have "staying power" even after they've disbanded, died or simply retired, while others who were kings of the mountain once are now all but forgotten? I have albums by all the ones listed (and more, but I won't go on now).

I'm delighted there's good music. And even one-off (e.g., Blind Faith) can be a treasure. So why are some hit-makers of the past no longer mentioned?

I'm quite familiar with all three of those groups. I first heard Canned Heat on the Woodstock LP somewhere around 71' and became transfixed immediately. As for Mayall, I started listening to him probably around 77', and I use to have quite a few of his albums. The last album of his that I bought was a record he put out some time in the 80's. I remember really liking it and thought how much his music had "matured", and developed from his earlier albums. Same for the Doobie Brothers. That being said, I currently don't have any Mayall albums, in either CD or vinyl. For more or less the last 45 years, I've had a copy of "Hooker N' Heat", that double LP with John Lee Hooker. It is the only album of Canned Heat's I've ever had. And the Doobies? I have two or three of their albums on CD, but I honestly can't remember the last time I played them.

 

[suthol]

We covered this one back in the day

 

[Chester P Squier]

I saw Canned Heat at the Louisiana Pop Festival in 1969. They didn't change chords the entire set. Just boogied along on the same chord, as if the set was just one long song.

 

[old school fender]

I remember all three and even after all these years I can still recall the first time I heard "Long Train Running". The opening rhythm guitar to that song was indelibly stuck in my head forever! As a young aspiring guitarist I had to learn that intro! Also Tyrone Porter was no "slacker" when it came to his approach to playing bass!

 

[57joonya]

I remember them all.

A little bit of perspective (my wife hates it when I mention this). Those groups were big back in the mid 60's, 70's and for the Doobies into the 80's. So that's 40 to over 50 years ago that they were popular. If you were to go back in time to the 70's and look at groups from 50 to 40 years earlier that would be music from the 20's and 30's.

I must admit, as much as I loved music back then, I did not know many of the musical groups from the 20's and 30's. I was familiar with some of them Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, and some of the early big bands but not many of them.

True , but our grandparents at the time sure remembered those bands , as they grew up with that music . It just wasn’t our time

 

[57joonya]

I saw Canned Heat at the Louisiana Pop Festival in 1969. They didn't change chords the entire set. Just boogied along on the same chord, as if the set was just one long song.

They made a record or two with John lee hooker and consequently got into that type of deep blues

 

[57joonya]

Personally I love some songs by all three of em! Recently discovered some old canned heat that I never heard . Really digging some of that now . The doobs, I’ve always had respect for them , so I think I knew most of them . And John mayall has always had great taste

 

[Chester P Squier]

I remember all three and even after all these years I can still recall the first time I heard "Long Train Running". The opening rhythm guitar to that song was indelibly stuck in my head forever! As a young aspiring guitarist I had to learn that intro! Also Tyrone Porter was no "slacker" when it came to his approach to playing bass!

A few years ago, Christian singer Danny Gokey performed at our church (it has a nice-sized sanctuary with seats instead of pews). Between all his Christian praise songs, he slipped in a cover version of "Long Train Running." At the sound of the opening chords, everyone got up out of their seats and started dancing around like they couldn't help themselves.

 

[radiocaster]

I think many people aren't aware that the best known Canned Heat song is actually a cover.

Song is also known as "Bull Doze Blues".

 

[PCollen]

On this forum and others, I rarely read posts mentioning these artists (and others, but this is the opening salvo). I got curious as to why? All the bands/musicians listed in the subject lines were monstrously popular in their day, selling tons of records and appearing a festivals and concerts. But now they've fallen almost into obscurity? Why?

Canned Heat, in various incarnations (only Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra, the drummer, is an original member) had a talented lineup, wrote a number of original songs, and was considered one of the most genuine blues bands of their time.

Who doesn't know the name John Mayall? The British-born bluesman has not only stayed active for decades (he released his latest album in 2022 - at 88 years of age!), but like contemporary Frank Zappa, was the discoverer of many talented musicians who went on to great fame (Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, Peter Green and most of the original Fleetwood Mac members, Jack Bruce, and a seemingly endless list). Often regarded as the King of (British) Blues, and awarded an OBE in 2005, perhaps the Brits have a higher regard for him than do others.

The Doobie Brothers were another mega-hit machine. At one time, the airways were filled with their clean, creative and churning guitars and vocals. I think nearly everyone here can name at least one Doobie hit song ("Listen to the Music," "Long Train Running," "China Grove," to name just three). Where are they now? Like Mayall, the Doobies released an album in 2021. Forty years after their first. Yawn.

Maybe you can think of others. But I'm curious as to why some groups have "staying power" even after they've disbanded, died or simply retired, while others who were kings of the mountain once are now all but forgotten? I have albums by all the ones listed (and more, but I won't go on now).

I'm delighted there's good music. And even one-off (e.g., Blind Faith) can be a treasure. So why are some hit-makers of the past no longer mentioned?

Mayall has boosted the visibility and careers of some good musicians..particularly guitarists. Buddy Whittington is one of my favorites..I used to go to his open jam sessions at Jubilations in Bedford (AIR..been years) suburb of Ft. Worth.

 

[NoTeleBob]

So was Jeff Beck. Didn’t seem to help him in the end.

Cheers,
Geoff

And that guy who was famous for writing "The Complete Runner", Jim Fixx, died in his 50's, while running.

As someone brilliant once said: "No one knows how long we have here Don't become healthy to live longer; become healthy to live better while you are here".

 

[jumpnblues]

[...And the all-important question that vexes us to the present day: "Which Doobie you be?"...]

Wasn't that a Roy Orbison song?