Search - Canned Heat: Live at Montreux, 1973 on DVD

A Little Disappointing

Eliminator Man | Plymouth, MN | 07/19/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a Canned Heat fan since the 60s when I was buying their albums as they came out. After New Age, I quit buying them new but continued to listen to the old albums. In the CD age I have replaced all the old albums and bought many of the ones I missed. I've never seen them on video except for the Monterey movie. I've also read Fito's book in the last year or so.

My disappointment with the documentary is that there is almost no video of the original band with Alan and Henry: no rehearsals, no interviews, almost no concerts. The documentary consists mostly of Fito, Larry Taylor and Skip Taylor talking sequencially through the old days. That was OK, but you never hear Alan speak, you never hear and see Henry play.

I imagine most Heat fans are like me and were big fans of Henry's playing and would like to see that on video. The good news is that you see several of his solos in the Montreux video. Unfortunately that movie is dominated by Gatemouth Brown showing off for about half of it. The other half is OK though and features the New Age band running through some of that album and a few other songs.

I'd also think that most long-time Heat fans would really be intrigued by Alan Wilson, more or less the brains behind the band, the guy that taught Son House to play like Son House after he was rediscovered, the heart of the band. He is such an enigma, what made him tick. I have read the book and watched the movie and have gained almost no insights into Alan and that is a big disappointment. I know the movie and Fito's book are about the band, not about Alan, but he is still maybe the biggest story within the band. Someone needs to write his story.

All that said, I still appreciate the job Fito is doing keeping the band alive. He has a nice web site, the Boogie House tapes have some neat stuff, he has a real love for the guys and the band. Maybe he just doesn't have the resources to do the kind of thing I was hoping for. oh, well. I'll keep biting when he puts new things out. I guess I would still buy this movie again even if I knew up front exactly what I was getting."

A rich gripping insight in historys greatest boogie band

Ms. Coral M. Horton | 07/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This personal review from noted musician / DJ, Wildman Dave Diamond to Fito de la Parra, was too succinct not to post:

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This evening I sat down to watch the new "Boogie with Canned Heat" & "Live at Montreaux 1973" two DVD set. As of this writing, I have not yet watched the Montreaux concert, but I did watch the "Boogie" documentary, hosted by you, Skip and Mole.

Wow, I don't even know where to start! It was, without a doubt, the most emotionally intense musical documentary I've ever seen on any band, and I've seen dozens of them. Most documentaries on music bands end with me usually feeling "I learned something new" or "That was pretty cool."

This documentary on Canned Heat left me emotionally drained! I laughed at times, got pissed at times, dropped my jaw a lot and was quietly fascinated by the stories, the video clips, the history of the bands' lineup, but all throughout, with each member who passed away brought some tears, starting with Alan, then Michael Mann, then Bob, then Henry, each one was just harder to grasp as the evolution of the band continued. This DVD got out of me just about every emotion one can possibly have while watching a documentary!

There was just so much I didn't know about Henry & the band in general outside of Monterey Pop & Woodstock. I get the true sense that no one was the same when Alan passed away. For the first time I got to really experience a bit of Alan's loss as if it were yesterday the way you, Skip and Larry told the story. Up to now, I have only read articles and quotes about Alan.

You guys gave the bands' history a voice that no past article, book or website I've ever read could match in terms of emotion and just left me speechless!

Musically, I was amazed to finally see some of the Woodstock 10th Anniversary footage with Michael Mann, that was an awesome performance! I also very much enjoyed the Chet Helms Stomp performance with the Chambers Brothers. This was also my first time ever seeing any kind of footage of the Hooker & Heat sessions, too, that right there made me very pleased to have made this purchase!

It was also a pleasure to finally see & hear from Skip & Mole, too. I feel Skip was definitely born to manage Canned Heat! The stories about the Australia customs incident were hilarious but I found myself quite angered at Bear's conduct at the ski lodge gig. Not like him, based on everything I know of him. Guess we all have off nights!

I think Bob lost his soul when Alan died, even though Canned Heat carried on, I just noticed that smile that was very evident in the 1968 "On The Road Again" video & at the Woodstock performance was just not there in any future lineup. Bob looked good and sang great, but he just LOOKED different, in his eyes and with his vibe thereafter.......

From the heart and as a longtime fan/friend, Fito, giving this Canned Heat DVD 5 stars STILL wouldn't say enough good about it. Watching this DVD is quite the experience and by far the best Canned Heat anything that I have in my collection. Job WELL done on this project! Cheers.....

"Wildman" Dave Diamond"

***** "I was BORN to PLAY in CANNED HEAT" >>> FIT

Pat Walker | CA USA | 02/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Originally I bought the Canned Heat "Live at Montreux" DVD WITHOUT the #2 (second) DVD "The Canned Heat Story". This Was a Great Show except for the fact that their guest Clarence Gatemouth Brown took to Long and played "4" Songs out of the "10" songs ---- "2" Songs for a guest is Perfect... I will have to say there are almost always two sides to Every Story ---- And it is a Fact that Clarence Gatemouth Brown is and Always Has Been - And Always Will Be A Perfect Master of the Blues & Will Always be in That Rare Blues Category Named: "The Best of the Best"...

Sometime later I bought the "2" DVD Set which included the "Live at Montreux" Show Plus the very long and detailed Documentary: "The Canned Heat Story" which was a Priceless Combination...

Fito De La Parra (drummer) and Skip Taylor (manager) did an incredible job of telling about the Life & Times of the Canned Heat Band. It was so good because you got a True Story of the Canned Heat including the "Very Good" --- the "Very Bad" --- and "The Incredible" --- details of the the History
of the Life and Times of the Canned Heat Band...

This "2" DVD Set was done NOT to Advertise or Make Money --- but to tell you the TRUE Story of Canned Heat and gave credit to the Many Many Blues Musicians which helped Create the "Formula and Key Ingredients" of "Canned Heat" Band...

*** With this "2" DVD Set you will get "INCREDIBLE" VIDEO and CLIPS of:
> Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson
> Bob "The Bear" Hite
> Mike "Hollywood Fats" Mann
> John Lee Hooker
> The Chambers Brothers
> Larry "The Mole" Taylor
> Henry "Sunflower" Vestine
> Clarence Gatemouth Brown
> Ed Beyer
> James Shane
> Harvey Mandel
> Chet Helms
> Richard Hite

There is a LOT MORE to This "Canned Heat Story and Montreux Show" so if you are a "Canned Heat" Fan >>> GET THE "2" DVD SET "