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Cactus may have never amounted to anything more than a half-hearted, last-minute improvised supergroup, but that doesn't mean their eponymous 1970 debut didn't rock like a mofo. The already quasi-legendary Vanilla Fudge rhythm section of Bogert and Appice may have provided the backbone of the band's business cards, and soulful, ex-Amboy Duke Rusty Day brought the voice, but it was arguably former Detroit Wheels guitarist Jim McCarty who was the true star in the Cactus galaxy, spraying notes and shredding solos all over album highlights such as "You Can't Judge a Book By the Cover," "Let Me Swim," and, most notably, a manic, turbocharged version of "Parchman Farm." The fact that Cactus chose to tackle this classic blues song just a year after it'd been blasted into the fuzz-distortion stratosphere by Blue Cheer betrays a healthy competitive spirit within the early-'70s hard rock milieu. And we digress -- for the blistering closing duo of "Oleo" and "Feel So Good" (complete with bass and drum solo slots) easily certifies the Cactus LP as one of the best hard rock albums of the then brand-new decade, bar none. Too bad the illustrious members of Cactus would quickly lose interest in this band project and deliver increasingly mediocre efforts in the years that followed.
(Year of Release: 1970)
Track List:
1. Parchman Farm
2. My Lady from South of Detroit
3. Bro. Bill
4. You Can't Judge a Book By the Cover
5. Let Me Swim
6. No Need to Worry
7. Oleo
8. Feel So Good
Download: Cactus - Cactus (51.6MB)
5 comments:
hey, just stumbled upon yr blog a few days ago, really like it, downed plenty from it. keep up the quality work!
p.s. any chance you could upload, or point me in the direction of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's 'now i got worry'? it'd be much appreciated
Would like to know what you think about the Long Tall Texans. Check out Twilightzone!
Jeronyme.
@declan: Glad you like the blog. I'll see what I can do about putting that album up within the next week.
@Jeronyme: I'm familiar with Twighlightzone! but not the Long Tall Texans. I'll check them out and let you know what I think. Thanks for the recommendation.
thank you zer0_ii, that would be great!
Nice one.I've been trying to get hold of this album for quite a while.Looking forward to hearing it.Will be coming to work with me tomorrow.
Cheers,John.
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