Search - Hot Tuna :: Extended Version

A Bargain Bin Find

William Scalzo | Niagara Falls, NY | 04/04/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This bargain bin item actually provides a pretty nice little overview of the band. Jorma Koukonen and Jack Casady began Hot Tuna as an offshoot of Jefferson Airplane with which to explore their love of authentic acoustic blues. When the Airplane became a Starship, Hot Tuna became a full-time concern and added some more conventional rock songs and selected Airplane pieces to their sets. As time went on and lineups changed, the band increasingly became a loud blues-rock outfit, sort of Foghat with virtuoso musicianship. All these aspects of Hot Tuna manage to be represented in these live versions from ca. 1972 and 1977.



The early acoustic blues period, with Will Scarlett on harp, features deft takes on blues standards like "Know You Rider" and "Death Don't Have No Mercy." Nice versions of "Genesis" and "Watch The North Wind Rise" represent the more conventional west-coast rock sound, while tracks like "Funky #7" and a killer take on "I Wish You Would" capture the hard-blues aspect.



Kaukonen was and is a guitarist of remarkable dexterity and adaptability, at home with everything from ragtime picking to hard rock shredding, and this low-cost quickie comp is a nice way to become aquainted with his talents and some of the band's best material.



Now I'm going to make what must be my 20th attempt to teach myself to play "Embryonic Journey.""

Pulls from 2 other albums - save your money

J. greenwald | NorCal | 03/29/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Appears to be a compilation from first hot tuna album and Double Dose.

The double dose Embryonic journey sounds like it was recorded off a turntable with bad wow and flutter."