[.ca] Best Of Hot Tuna

Reveals the limitations of 'Best of' albums.:
Realising they can be sensational but also not being an enormous Hot Tuna fan I was none the less disappointed with my small and aging vinyl selection of their work and felt the need for CD quality. I was not in a position to buy new CDs of all my collection and I was interested in hearing more Hot Tuna so I figured I'd get this 'Best of'. Some of it is satisfying, some it's disappointing. Satisfying because it contains plenty of material I was not aware of and most of it stands up well. Disappointing because it covers such a wide range of styles that it lacks cohesion at times. It's disappointing because I know some albums well and I'm aware of what tunes I'm missing out on by listening to this CD. There's just a few tracks from 'Burgers' for instance and the whole Burgers album is terrific. Same with 'Yellow Fever'. 'Genesis' on this CD is a pretty ordinary live Hot Tuna take from 'Double Dose' and not the acoustic solo piece Jorma originally recorded. Bummer but I guess it's a Hot Tuna best of not a Jorma best of. Grace Slick did the album cover art and the whole packaging looks cheap and by-the-numbers. All in all however this CD served it's marketing purpose by introducing me to new material and reminding me that I simply must have the more! Suckered by the marketing gurus.

Good introduction to Tuna:
This is a pretty good representation of what Hot Tuna has to offer. Really generous track selection. And I thought the packaging was good. There's the studio single version of "Been So Long" here, as well as a previously unreleased performance of "Rock Me Baby". Nice. A good place to start with the band. However, the problem is you might want to get all the original albums later...

Excellent Overview of Jefferson Airplane Spin Off Band!:
Hot Tuna was formed as a spin off from Jefferson Airplane. Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady wanted to explore their acoustic and blues roots which were originally featured as sets within Jefferson Airplane concerts. Originally Airplane drummer Joey Covington and vocalist Marty Balin performed with the band but subsequently left before the recording of Hot Tuna's first self titled lp. The first lp featured acoustic songs performed by Kaukonen and Casady aided by Chicago blues harpist Will Scarlett. The album recorded live features a number of blues covers like "Hestitation Blues", "Know You Rider" and "Winin' Boy Blues" along with the Kaukonen original "Mann's Fate". With the second album also recorded live the band featured some electric music aided by another Airplane member violinist Papa John Creach along with drummer Sammy Piazza. Eventully the group evolved into a power trio that featured mostly electric music on lp but still played some "wooden music" in concert. Later a keybordist was added to flesh out the sound a bit more. This 2 cd set contains most but not all of the essential Hot Tuna tracks from 1970-1978. The band have since reformed a number of times. Among the rarities included here are a non-lp single b-side version of "Been So Long" which had previously appeared in a live version on their second album. An unreleased live version of the blues classic "Rock Me Baby" (an outtake from the "Double Dose" live album) which was often performed with the Airplane is included on the second disk. Highlights include "Hit Single #1", the slinky "Funky #7", and covers like Buddy Holly's "It's So Easy" and Billy Boy Arnold's "I Wish You Would". Kaukonen shows he is equally excellent at a fingerpicking acoustic style or a more piercing acid rock electric style. He is one of the more underrated guitarists from this time period. Casady of course is one the best rock bass players ever. He was reportedly Jimi Hendrix's favorite bass player and his style is similar to the lead bass style of Jack Bruce and John Entwistle. While the set provides and excellent compilation for the uninitiated a number of my favorites are missed. Three of my favorite songs from the first acoustic album "U.S. Blues", "Death Don't Have No Mercy" and "Oh Lord, Search My Heart" are omitted. In addition two great jams from the second album which also feature violinist Papa John Creach "John's Other" and Lightnin' Hopkins' "Come Back Baby" are nowhere to be found. A number of electric blues covers like "Walkin' Blues", "Baby, What You Want Me To Do" and "Bowlegged Woman Knock Kneed Man" are omitted. "Day To Day Out The Window Blues", "Invitation", and "Song For The Fire Maiden" some of their better original tunes are not included. However, if you can not afford to pick up all of their albums this is a beneficial compilation of a great band. I hope RCA will eventually release some more live vault material from the band!

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