CANNED HEAT - HISTORICAL FIGURES AND ANCIENT HEADS 12" Vinyl LP Album

- - Gatefold Album Cover

"Historical Figures and Ancient Heads" is the sixth album by "Canned Heat", released in 1971. It was the first album not to feature original member and songwriter "Alan Wilson" who had died the previous year. Featuring new guitarman "Joel Scott Hill" and "Little Richard" on "Rockin' WIth The King". The record also includes "Tony de la Barreda" on bass, who left with Hill after this album and subsequent tour.

Large Hires Photo

"Historical Figures and Ancient Heads" Album Description:

Canned Heat's 1971 album, "Historical Figures and Ancient Heads," marked a crucial turning point in the band's blues-rock odyssey. Following the tragic loss of founding member Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson, the band soldiered on, embracing a more diverse sound while retaining their core boogie-blues roots. The album's striking gatefold cover art became inseparable from the music, adding a visual mystique that perfectly reflected the album's themes.

The Cover: A Tapestry of Time and Culture

The "Historical Figures and Ancient Heads" sleeve, designed by Norman Seeff, is a whirlwind of historical and cultural iconography. The front panel features a collage where a mustachioed Kaiser Wilhelm rubs shoulders with blues giant Robert Johnson, Abraham Lincoln, and a Native American Chief. Ancient sculptures, tribal masks, and even what appears to be a Mayan deity crowd the scene. It's a visual feast that hints at themes of history, cultural intersection, and possibly the timeless nature of the blues.

The inner gatefold reveals a large circular design – enigmatic and hypnotic. This symbol, composed of geometric shapes and faces, further cements the album's sense of reaching across time and cultures. Some have interpreted it as a mandala or perhaps a representation of the cyclical nature of history.

Music in Transition

The music within "Historical Figures and Ancient Heads" mirrored the eclecticism of the cover art. Canned Heat paid homage to their blues heroes with covers like Elmore James' "Dust My Broom" and the raw energy of "Rockin' With the King," featuring Little Richard on piano. However, the album also saw them experimenting with longer, more jam-oriented tracks and exploring new sonic textures. The inclusion of Charles Lloyd's flute on "I Don't Care What You Tell Me" added a touch of jazz-fusion to their blues-rock foundation.

Music Genre:

 Prog Blues-Rock,  

Album Production Information:

The album: "CANNED HEAT - Historical Figures and Ancient Heads" was produced by: Skip Taylor, Jim Taylor

Sound/Recording Engineer(s): Baker Bigsby, Arnie Acosta

This album was recorded at: Village Recorder, Los Angeles, California

Album cover design/photography: Norman Seeff

Record Label & Catalognr:

 United Artists Records UAG 29304

Media Format:

 12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 280 gram  

Year & Country:

 1972 Made in USA
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: CANNED HEAT - Historical Figures and Ancient Heads
    Band-members, Musicians and Performers
  • Bob Hite – vocals
  • Joe Scott Hill – Guitar, vocals
  • Henry Vestine– Lead guitar
  • Tony de la Barreda – Electric Bass
  • Fito de la Parra – drums, Piano
  • Little Richard - Piano, vocals
  • Clifford Solomon - Saxophone
  • Charles Lloyd - Flute
  • Harvey Mandel– Guitar
Complete Track-listing of the album "CANNED HEAT - Historical Figures and Ancient Heads"

The detailed tracklist of this record "CANNED HEAT - Historical Figures and Ancient Heads" is:

    Track-listing :
  1. "Sneakin' Around" (Jessie Mae Robinson) - 4:53
  2. "Hill's Stomp" (Joe Scott-Hill) - 3:03
  3. "Rockin' With the King" (Little Richard, Skip Taylor) - 3:17
  4. "I Don't Care What You Tell Me" (Charles Lloyd) - 3:58
  5. "Long Way from L.A." (Jud Baker) - 3:05
  6. "Cherokee Dance" (Robert Landers) - 4:25
  7. "That's All Right" (Jimmy Rogers) - 5:30
  8. "Utah" (Canned Heat) - 8:25
  9. "Long Way from L.A." [Single Version] (Jud Baker) - 2:53

 

Front Cover Photo Of CANNED HEAT - Historical Figures And Ancient Heads Gatefold 12" Vinyl LP Album

 

CANNED HEAT - Historical Figures And Ancient Heads Gatefold 12" Vinyl LP Album  front cover https://vinyl-records.nl

 Note: The photos on this page are taken from albums in my personal collection. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone ).

Photo Of The Back Cover CANNED HEAT - Historical Figures And Ancient Heads Gatefold 12" Vinyl LP Album

 

CANNED HEAT - Historical Figures And Ancient Heads Gatefold 12" Vinyl LP Album  back cover

Photo One Of The Inner Gatefold CANNED HEAT - Historical Figures And Ancient Heads Gatefold 12" Vinyl LP Album

 

CANNED HEAT - Historical Figures And Ancient Heads Gatefold 12" Vinyl LP Album  inner gatefold cover

Photo Two Of The Inner Gatefold CANNED HEAT - Historical Figures And Ancient Heads Gatefold 12" Vinyl LP Album

 

CANNED HEAT - Historical Figures And Ancient Heads Gatefold 12" Vinyl LP Album  inner gatefold cover

Close up of record's label CANNED HEAT - Historical Figures And Ancient Heads Gatefold 12" Vinyl LP Album Side One

"Historical Figures And Ancient Heads" Record Label Details: United Artsist Records UAG 29304 ℗ 1972 Sound Copyright

"Historical Figures And Ancient Heads" Record Label Details: United Artsist Records UAG 29304 ℗ 1972 Sound Copyright
 
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