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

[Tricone]

Forgotten? Not yet.
These three bands were only moderately successful compared to bands from the same era. When viewed alongside their contemporaries such as Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin they were second tier at best.
Good bands,just not great imho.

 

[NoTeleBob]

Yes, and Ten Years After are better known for Woodstock as well, and for their song which is more rock and roll than blues, although their other songs were just about all blues.

They kind of fit in this discussion as well.

Also want to point out that there are some acts which played at Woodstock but are less known. A lot of people won't say much about the Incredible String Band. Although different stylistically, and a bit off topic for this thread.

They were number of bands and individual performers that got a huge boost out of Woodstock. Some were moderately known before, somewhere almost unknown before, but quite a few got a major boost in visibility.

Woodstock was revolutionary. How many other musical concerts, or any kind of entertainment event, are commonly known of and are people talking still about 50 years later?

 

[screefer]

My favorite Mayall effort...

 

[Sax-son]

Back in the 60's when I was a kid in high school we could venture up into Topanga Canyon and see Canned Heat on any week end. Jefferson Airplane could be enjoyed at Griffith Park doing free concerts if you didn't mind the police harassment and the Whiskie A Go Go in Hollywood was there for anyone who could afford the price of the drinks. It was a wonderful time to be young.

Canned Heat was the house band for a venue called the "Kaleidescope" in Hollywood that was across the street on Sunset Blvd from the Hollywood Palladium. John Mayall was a frequent guest at the Whiskey a Go Go and the Doobies who were from San Jose, CA played many times around Southern California. I saw all these bands many times throughout the 1960s and 70s.

They were a staple in the California youth culture of the day which is long gone in my opinion. I saw the Jefferson Airplane at Elysian field just across from Dodger Stadium with the Moody Blues and Hot Tuna. Fun for all at no cost to the audience. Try getting that today!

 

[Dukex]

Did Mr. Green Jeans play on it? Or was it Toni Tenille?

Almost funny! But, no, it was Sulu and Captain Kirk.

 

[Papanate]

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?

This is for America TTW not Britain and in my opinion not facts.

Canned Heat never sold monstrously - and were largely an underground band most of their lives - with a very brief glimmer when 'Going to the Country' seem to hit.

Doobie Brothers are well known -well loved by their fans - and generally are doing as good today as they did in the 80s - but no real record sales - 3 of them have died so there's that - but the main purveyors - people who are recognized - are still there.

John Mayal was a stopping off point for lots a great guitarist - but he wasn't ever popular - and bubbled up when it was found out Clapton was in the band - and then gained a little bit of notoriety for having Mick Taylor in the band.

IMO No Band or Musician was Huge who didn't stay in the public eye throughout their careers - Even someone like Alvin Lee was only minimally popular in the scheme of things peaking about 1969 and sliding down from about 1973 onward.

 

[Wildeman]

Hell yes, I love Canned Heat,did my Gold top up like Alan's!

 

[Mike Eskimo]

Hell yes, I love Canned Heat,did my Gold top up like Alan's! View attachment 1073053 View attachment 1073054

Al Wilson not only played guitar behind Son House on the rediscovered blues man’s 1960’s record, but also re-taught Son his own tunes.

You see, Son hadn’t played in a while, and he liked to drink so…

 

[BrazHog]

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?

Sorry for the late response, but...

Maybe it's a case of lack of catchy songs?

I wasn't born/ wasn't paying attention to the music scene back when these acts were at the height of their powers, so I wasn't aware of their hits at the time they were being released. I did get to hear the Doobies' Listen to the Music on oldies radio back in the 2000's (before that oldies station switched to the Top 40 pop format). And maybe they played another tune by them? Something with the Twist and Shout changes? But I digress...

From what is being discussed on this thread, Canned Heat and Mayall were more blues oriented -- maybe that's why they didn't have one of those tunes where the melody bashes you over the head like a mallet -- the type of tunes you need to get played in oldies radio. Or maybe they did have some oldies radio-worthy tunes, but their management didn't push to get them played in the radio.

It's the music business after all. I wouldn't say that it's all about the payola, but I wouldn't not say it either.

 

[buster poser]

Doobies were big for me as a very young kid, ended up my first show age 10. I like em with/sans Mike. They're a divisive band, and I get why a lot of people have big feelings about them. This dropped before I was two years old, an early car singalong with mom; tough to be objective about it, but I think it's a perfect pop record.



That Rhodes intro



p.s. The kids are alright.

 

[daddyplaysbass]

I have a hard time remembering Chuck Berry and Ricky Nelson, But I keep trying !

 

[Bob Womack]

What got me really excited with the Doobie Brothers was their remake of a Byrds tune on their Toulouse Street album:



Wow, that was exciting. I saw them the next time they came to town, on April 5th, 1973. It was Jim Croce, the Doobie Brothers, and Loggins & Messina, ticket price $7.50.

Bob

 

[Wildeman]

Al Wilson not only played guitar behind Son House on the rediscovered blues man’s 1960’s record, but also re-taught Son his own tunes.

You see, Son hadn’t played in a while, and he liked to drink so…

View attachment 1073057

That's a great Album

 

[old wrench]

John Mayall was a big part of my early foundation in the blues

A very talented guy with an ear for the next up-coming great guitar player

I've been lucky enough to see him play live a few times over the years, mostly in small venues

He plays multiple instruments (keyboard, guitar, horn) really well in addition to vocals

Mayall never let his voice hold him back from his love of the music - he's not much of a vocalist, but he is a better singer than I am


Canned Heat has had its share of good guitar players over the years too


The Doobie Brothers were a better band than most folks gave them credit for - a very tight band with three very good guitarists playing at the same time

.

 

[MarkieMark]

Man, I dunno...

One day I'm goin' up the country, then the next thing I know, I can't find my way home.
And I still havent found what I'm looking for.

Forgotten? Not yet.
These three bands were only moderately successful compared to bands from the same era. When viewed alongside their contemporaries such as Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin they were second tier at best.
Good bands,just not great imho.

IMO-
Good doesnt necessarily mean popular.

Or do I have that backwards...

 

[Digital Larry]

A lot of people won't say much about the Incredible String Band.

I have not listened to much of their stuff, and somehow what I did listen to didn't grab me, even though my favorite book of Celtic tunes was written by Robin Williamson.

Back to the OP -

Canned Heat, I only know "Going Up the Country" and "On the Road Again". Was not all that hot on the vocals, so if there was more there I didn't get to it. Also none of my friends had their LPs. Unlike, for example Blood Sweat and Tears, which I heard a lot at other people's houses.

Mayall, we had "Bluesbreakers Crusade" (most Mick Taylor IIRC) and "Turning Point". I saw JM with Rocky Athas some years ago in Santa Cruz and I found myself on "Sawmill Gulch Road" in Pacific Grove once without even trying.

Doobie Brothers, my friend one street over had all the LPs and I listened to them there as well as nearly constantly on the radio for many years.

 

[burntfrijoles]

The Doobie Brothers were another mega-hit machine.

I was a fan until they added Michael McDonald.

As for Mayal, if you’re a guitarist and done own at least the early albums with Clapton and Green, your passport to play guitar should be revoked.

I never got into Canned Heat. Maybe I should revisit.

 

[DekeDog]

When I picked up my first bass five or six years ago, a MIM J-bass that I put Fralin pickups in, I jammed to Mayall's The Turning Point for around 6 months. Couldn't get enough of that album.

 

[Digital Larry]

When I picked up my first bass five or six years ago, a MIM J-bass that I put Fralin pickups in, I jammed to Mayall's The Turning Point for around 6 months. Couldn't get enough of that album.

That album has some hypnotic bass lines (e.g. "California"). Try to find out anything about Stephen Thompson other than he played on a couple Mayall LPs and was 17 (?) at the time. That's all I found out.

 

[BuckNekkid]

Mayall's The Turning Point was not only a departure for him, his band and the high-power lead guitar-driven sonic assault pieces previous albums exhibited, but also proved to the world that you could sing and play the blues without a drummer. He was still germinating new bands, as the inclusion of Johnny Almond and Jon Mark gave birth to the Mark Almond Band.