Pure magic. Alan was taken from us way too soon. It doesn't get any better than this unbelievable piece of music. Alan is so very much loved and missed. Total bliss every time I hear him play.
Alan was one of the very few modern musicians who could emulate the 1st generation bluesman and do it convincingly. If you didn't know, you would think this was recorded in the 1930's by a country blues musician. And he was as good or better than Robert Johnson, Son House, Fred McDowell, Skip James and other blues legends. This is something you can't fake. You either have soul or you dont. Usually you develop soul as a result of personal or cultural suffering. It's amazing that Alan, a white guy in his 20's, could express this raw emotion through his music. Indeed, All Hail the Blind Owl!
The blues is about pain -- the kind that burrows down into your soul and grinds away at you 24/7. It's what Wilson had in common with those old black bluesmen and what made his music so damn real.
I don't think it's amazing that Alan was white or in his twenties because personal and cultural suffering doesn't have to do with race or age. But you can hear his pain in his songs and I do agree that is what sets him apart from his contemporaries and is something he does have in common with the old bluesmen.
i agree with all of that. I think Al was trying to tell stories in the blues tradition during a time when artist are trying to impress audiences with their skills and dexterity. Wilson HAD skill and dexterity but he was more concerned with storytelling. so he wasn't a Hendrix or Clapton per se but he carried on the great blues tradition in a way that Stevie Ray Vaughn never could...
It is so refreshing to hear Alan on his own--especially without Bob, no disrespect intended. Who else here thinks that Alan was contemplating leaving Canned Heat in that fateful horrible September of 1970? This song shows the innovative forward music he was capable of making on his own. A whole album of music like this would have been a home run.
Nancy H. C., my thoughts exactly. Wilson had run his race with the Heat; it was high time for him to strike out on his own. His death robbed the world of a potentially brilliant musical career.
I think he could have made solo albums but I don't think he would've left Canned Heat. Those guys were not just his bandmates. They were his friends. And he was neither socially adept or lucky in love. So there were no life changes to break him from his friends. Probably it would've been like the Rolling Stones. Keith Richard's does an album. Ron Wood does an album. Nobody's mad, jealous or leaving in a huffy and they all get back together as the Rolling Stones. Alan and Bob shared a love for the blues and were close friends because of that shared interest.
I would have loved to hear more solo work. He really captured that 20’s blue sound well. He did try to leave a few times. I think he could have sang all CH songs, because honestly I think Bob was pretty useless.
To any it may interest, this is in Spanish tuning pitched at Eb, I believe. That'd be with a capo at the 6th fret, if the guitar is pitched at A initially. Long live the memory of Alan Wilson and his music!
can anyone put together a list of Alan Wilson works? I like Canned Heat but I'm not really into anything they did after 1970 and I'm not particularly interested in anything by Bob Hite unless it prominently features Wilson on vocals, harmonica, or guitar... any help would be appreciated!
If you listen very closely on a good speaker, you can actually hear the echo of the previous takes from this song. Probably recorded on some kind of tape
Pure magic. Alan was taken from us way too soon. It doesn't get any better than this unbelievable piece of music. Alan is so very much loved and missed. Total bliss every time I hear him play.
I hope you are listening today..Alan Wilson’s real stories are incredibly emotional
Alan was one of the very few modern musicians who could emulate the 1st generation bluesman and do it convincingly. If you didn't know, you would think this was recorded in the 1930's by a country blues musician. And he was as good or better than Robert Johnson, Son House, Fred McDowell, Skip James and other blues legends. This is something you can't fake. You either have soul or you dont. Usually you develop soul as a result of personal or cultural suffering. It's amazing that Alan, a white guy in his 20's, could express this raw emotion through his music.
Indeed, All Hail the Blind Owl!
100% agree. Alan is a kind of reincarnation
The blues is about pain -- the kind that burrows down into your soul and grinds away at you 24/7. It's what Wilson had in common with those old black bluesmen and what made his music so damn real.
I don't think it's amazing that Alan was white or in his twenties because personal and cultural suffering doesn't have to do with race or age. But you can hear his pain in his songs and I do agree that is what sets him apart from his contemporaries and is something he does have in common with the old bluesmen.
i agree with all of that. I think Al was trying to tell stories in the blues tradition during a time when artist are trying to impress audiences with their skills and dexterity. Wilson HAD skill and dexterity but he was more concerned with storytelling. so he wasn't a Hendrix or Clapton per se but he carried on the great blues tradition in a way that Stevie Ray Vaughn never could...
Ease up, get a grip... Robert Johnson was on another stratosphere.. ruclips.net/video/ETELORdwmJA/видео.html
Alan at his best (as usual)! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
On this day we lost Alan Wilson, but his music lives on. Visited the canned heat house and had to play some harmonica and smoke a reefer for you Owl.
It is so refreshing to hear Alan on his own--especially without Bob, no disrespect intended. Who else here thinks that Alan was contemplating leaving Canned Heat in that fateful horrible September of 1970? This song shows the innovative forward music he was capable of making on his own. A whole album of music like this would have been a home run.
Nancy H.C. so true. R.I.P Blind owl
Nancy H. C., my thoughts exactly. Wilson had run his race with the Heat; it was high time for him to strike out on his own. His death robbed the world of a potentially brilliant musical career.
I think he could have made solo albums but I don't think he would've left Canned Heat. Those guys were not just his bandmates. They were his friends. And he was neither socially adept or lucky in love. So there were no life changes to break him from his friends. Probably it would've been like the Rolling Stones. Keith Richard's does an album. Ron Wood does an album. Nobody's mad, jealous or leaving in a huffy and they all get back together as the Rolling Stones. Alan and Bob shared a love for the blues and were close friends because of that shared interest.
I would have loved to hear more solo work. He really captured that 20’s blue sound well. He did try to leave a few times. I think he could have sang all CH songs, because honestly I think Bob was pretty useless.
Too powerful for mankind
Thank you RUclips for serving up this gem
Jamás volverán a existir grupos tan legendarios canned heat que a dejado tal legado en la música de Blues 😉
I sure wish Fahey would have recorded solo albums of this genius, the biggest musical talent of the 1960s.
I'd love an album of these songs & demos
oh wow this is heaven ...... thanks so much for posting this one - a new one to add to my fave Blind Owl songs.:-) oh so gooood.xxx
damn, he was so very good at this.
Happy 70th Birthday Mr. Wilson!
rarest talent!
One of my favorite Blind Owl songs!
“Well I’m going back to Maui, just to get my hambone boiled.
These LA ladies like to let my hambone spoil. Oh well.” 🤣😂🤣
So pure and beautiful
fantastic song, thanks.
To any it may interest, this is in Spanish tuning pitched at Eb, I believe. That'd be with a capo at the 6th fret, if the guitar is pitched at A initially. Long live the memory of Alan Wilson and his music!
thanks :) do you know the tuning of the single strings? i'm trying to play the song...
good ear
all hail blind owl
Wow, what a rarity! Thanks so much!
This is so damn good!
Genius.
Have any of these demos been released, they should be available to buy ❤ Al is amazing
✌️Isn’t it true that the great musicians/artists are first and foremost great communicators.
Alan Wilson bluesman 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Alan Wilson, blues legend.
Expression of feelings and skills
Happy birthday Alan owl Wilson your be 28 this year 😭 with love Taylor 😇 rest in peace
magnificent .... start to finish .... (home demo?)
@FuzztoneProductions
John Lee Hooker just said most HARMONICA players find it hard to keep up with his (J L Hooker's) style of playing.
wOaw ,tellment agréable à écouter..
I couldn't find my comment to edit but for anyone interested this song appears on The Blind Owl by Alan Wilson. R.I.P. Alan!
If you mean the 2-cd set issued by Severn records in 2013, it does not appear there. Do you know of anything not on Discogs etc?
Wilson was definitely a one-off.
where did you find this song
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Fantastic... when was this recorded? What album is this song on?
The reincarnation of Skip James.
💜
I think he would have done well in Savoy Brown.
can anyone put together a list of Alan Wilson works? I like Canned Heat but I'm not really into anything they did after 1970 and I'm not particularly interested in anything by Bob Hite unless it prominently features Wilson on vocals, harmonica, or guitar... any help would be appreciated!
@@George-gk5bu there would be no alan without bob man
@@coop6687 Love me some Bob but maybe that isn’t true.. Alan was teaching Son House his own material before that.
@@drunkdrywaller7840 Bob literally had to remind Alan to shower, and housed him. Read the book! But yes I do prefer Wilson's singing to The Bear.
When was this recorded? What album is this song on?
does anyone know if this recording was on a certain album? if so which one? thanks :)
2:51
This was about his girlfriend he met in Hawaii
Channeling "Skip James"
If you listen very closely on a good speaker, you can actually hear the echo of the previous takes from this song. Probably recorded on some kind of tape