Formed in 1969 by the laidback but supremely talented violinist/vocalist Don ‘Sugarcane’ Harris (b. 18 June 1938, Pasadena, California, USA, d. 30 November 1999, Los Angeles, California, USA), Paul Lagos (drums) and Larry Taylor (bass), all three respected sessionmen who had recently worked with UK guitarist John Mayall. They were joined in Pure Food And Drug Act by Randy Resnick (b. 1947, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; guitar), but Taylor elected to leave within a few months of the band’s formation to resume his career with Mayall. He was replaced by Victor Conte and at the same time guitarist Harvey Mandel (b. 11 March 1945, Detroit, Michigan, USA) was brought in to augment the line-up.
Their sound deftly combined jazz and rock and was best experienced live, where the improvisatory nature of the band came to the fore. The band released one album, recorded live in Seattle in 1972, but Harris’ unreliablity and a series of line-up changes effectively scupppered their chances and they broke up the following year. Conte went on to play with Tower Of Power, Mandel and Harris went solo, Resnick joined Richard Greene, while Lagos, almost inevitably, began working with John Mayall.
1. Introduction: Jim's Message - 1:43
2. My Soul's on Fire (Victor Conte, Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Paul Lagos, Harvey Mandel, Randy Resnick) - 4:14
3. 'Till the Day I Die (Don "Sugarcane" Harris) - 7:09
4. Eleanor Rigby (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) - 11:50
5. A Little Soul Food (Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Shuggie Otis) - 4:04
6. Do It Yourself (Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Shuggie Otis) - 4:21
7. Where's My Sunshine? (Victor Conte, Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Paul Lagos, Harvey Mandel, Randy Resnick) - 8:55
8. What Comes Around Goes Around (Victor Conte, Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Paul Lagos, Harvey Mandel, Randy Resnick) - 4:20
Recorded live at " The Fresh Air Tavern ", Seattle, Washington
Pure Food And Drug Act
*Harvey Mandel - Lead Guitar
*Don "Sugarcane" Harris - Electric Violin, Vocals
*Victor Conte - Bass
*Paul Lagos - Drums, Steel Drums
*Randy Resnick - Rhythm Guitar
1968 Harvey Mandel - Cristo Redentor (2003 remaster and expanded)
1969-70 Harvey Mandel - Righteous / Games Guitars Play (2005 remaster)
1971 Harvey Mandel - Baby Batter (2016 remaster)
1972 Harvey Mandel - The Snake (2016 remaster)
1965-66 The Barry Goldberg Blues Band - Blowing My Mind ..Plus (2003 remaster and expanded)
1967 Charley Musselwhite - Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's Southside Band
1968 The Barry Goldberg Reunion - There's No Hole In My Soul
1969 Barry Goldberg - Two Jews Blues (vinyl edition)
1967-73 Canned Heat - The Very Best Of (2005 issue with previous unreleased track)
1970 Canned Heat - Future Blues (remastered and expanded)
1971-72 Canned Heat - Historical Figures And Ancient Heads (extra track remaster issue)
1974 Love - Reel To Reel (2015 deluxe edition)
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