Hallelujah – CANNED HEAT***

Same All Over/Change My Ways/Canned Heat/Sic ‘Em Pigs/I’m Her Man/Time Was/Do Not Enter/Big Fat/ Huautla/Get Off My Back/Down In The Gutter But Free

Hallelujah was a slightly uneven fourth album from the boogie blues band Canned Heat, released at a time when the group still retained their classic line up. (US:37)

“Though still a good one, recorded during their halcyon days, this one is not particularly my favourite. It's mostly fairly uptempo, boogie style blues rock, with some slower, heavier stuff, but still all semi-commercially oriented.”

“With Hallelujah the pendulum of indulgence has swung back from the extremes of the double record Living With The Blues, but while the low points are not so low, neither are the high points so high. A fun record for fans of their sound. Evocative California blues hippy nostalgia for some.”

“Though it has some great guitar work from Henry Vestine and Al Wilson the lyrics on some songs are quite dull and irrelevant, and not that well written or sung with any sort of conviction. Sic 'Em Pigs may have been a fun song but it's mainly filler, Same All Over has that same lethargic feel to it that drags it down and it could all have been so much better.”

“This is great hippie music. Psychedelic blues from one of the great late 60s underground bands. I also love the guitar, harp and vocals of Al Wilson. You can tell in the passion of his playing, the no excuses honesty of his vocals, and his ability to find great old tunes, that this was a man who loved his blues. The Heat made better albums, but this one is a lot of good fun. Especially if you long for those hippie days long past.”

“Unlike the other discs the Bear doesn't dominate here. Al Wilson (harp and guitar) wrote or co-wrote six of the songs. There is a lot more of his harp playing here than on its predecessor. This one rocks.”

“Hallelujah is a fine album with such Heat favourites as Time Was, Same All Over and the great '60s anthem Sic' Em Pigs. By this time, though, Canned Heat seemed to be obligated to do an extended boogie. Only lovers of retread will be happy with that kicked tyre.”