Final Vinyl

Performer: Hot Tuna
Producer: Felix Pappalardi; Harry Maslin; Al Schmitt; Mallory Earl
Distributor: n/a

Notes: Personnel: Jorma Kaukonen (vocals, guitar); Jack Casady (vocals); Papa John Creach (violin); Willow Scarlett (harmonica); Nick Buck (piano, organ, keyboards); Bob Steeler, Sammy Piazza (drums). Recording information: 1969-1977. Photographer: Roger Ressmeyer. Issued in 1979, FINAL VINYL gathers ten tracks from Hot Tuna's first eight LPs. While the tune stack is packed with enthusiast favorites, there are notable omissions and even a few questionable inclusions-- most particularly "Day to Day out the Window Blues" from the PHOSPHERESCENT RAT(1973) album. That small caveat aside, this single-disc release is an apt revisitation of the first eight-year run of what initially began as a Jefferson Airplane side project by Jorma Kaukonen (lead guitar) and Jack Casady (bass). The band's first long-player consisted of acoustic traditional blues covers such as "Hesitation Blues" as well as hard-drivin' reworkings of similar material from the likes of Rev. Gary Davis ("Candy Man"). That was, of course, in addition to contributions from Kaukonen and occasionally Casady--as exemplified on "Funky #7." Hot Tuna also offered exceptional electric as well as acoustic musicianship. The duo expanded their horizons from their self-titled debut to include "Papa" John Creech (violin), Sammy Piazza (drums), and Will Scarlett (mouth harp) on their second long-player, FIRST PULL UP, THEN PULL DOWN (1971). Although both albums are somewhat meagerly represented by one track apiece, the inclusions reveal the instrumental prowess inherent in each. Although BURGERS (1972) and PHOSPHERESCENT RAT are both denoted by a pair of tunes, the selections seem a bit random and incidental. This can likewise be said of the remainder--especially DOUBLE DOSE (1978), from which "I Wish You Would" is taken.

Hot Tuna began in 1970 as a side project of Jefferson Airplane members Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, who wanted to put aside psychedelia to explore their blues roots. Their format has frequently changed over the years (shifting back and forth from acoustic to electric), as has their personnel (the version of the band featuring fiddler Papa John Creach is beloved to fans), but their blues-rock sound remains consistent.

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