The Definitive 1000 Songs Of All Time 1955 to 2005: Number 937

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Number 937 - Canned Heat

Number 937

Canned Heat

"Going Up To The Country".

(1968)
.
.

Genre:Blues

Ah yes, can we really skip the "Woodstock" genre? No way

Why?

Because it gave music [back then] definition to a generation desperately seeking Susan. If you don't believe me, ask a hippy sometime, they thrive and rejoice Woodstock. One thing is for sure you will never see the likes of the original Woodstock again, and that is a shame.

Canned Heat came up with this wee ditty (Going Up To The Country) back in '68, if you have never heard of it, just get/listen to it. It is infectious, lackadaisical and halcyon (big words yes, but that's why i put a dictionary on the right hand side for you) If your toes don't start tapping and you doing bad falsetto singing .... then, you can eat your brothers hat.

"One of the primary factors in the package's commercial success was their update of Henry Thomas' "Going Down South," which they turned into the breezy "Goin' Up the Country." The song not only became one of their biggest hits, it was also used in the Woodstock (1970) documentary and a live version -- from the actual concert -- was presented on the soundtrack"

What does Rolling Stone think about Canned Heat?
How did we love Canned Heat? Let's count the ways. We loved 'em because they scooped out a whole new wrinkle in the monotone mazurka; it wasn't their fault that a whole generation of ten zillion bands took it and ran it into the ground sans finesse after Canned Heat had run it into the ground so damned good themselves. We loved 'em because they've always held the record for Longest Single Boogie Preserved on Wax: "Refried Boogie" from Livin' The Blues was 40-plus minutes of real raunch froth perfect for parties or car stereos, especially if they got ripped off—and a lot of it was even actually listenable. We loved 'em because Henry Vestine was an incredible, scorching motherfucker of a guitarist, knocking you through the wall. And we loved 'em because Bobby Bear was so damned weird you could abide his every excess. ~ [source: Rolling Stone - 1973]
Can't argue with that - in fact, i quite enjoyed the commentary.

Rolling Stone Top 500 Songs ranked this song at Number (Nope, They hated it) and the Album ranked at Number (Sigh)

This song has a crowbarred rating of 54.1 out of 108

Canned Heat Going up Country Woodstock
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