Canned Heat – On the Road Again – Live at Woodstock 1969

Video is a live recording from Saturday the 16th of August 1969. Canned Heat played “On The Road Again” as the encore.

“On The Road Again” shares a lineage with “Big Road Blues” (1928) by Tommy Johnson (originator of the legend of great bluesmen selling their souls to the Devil at crossroads) and “Dark Road” (1951) by Floyd Jones. Jones built upon Johnson’s original with “Dark Road” and then took that another step further when he tweaked and renamed it “On The Road Again.” Canned Heat took the baton with their own version in 1968.

“On the Road Again” was among the first songs Canned Heat recorded as demos in April 1967 at the RCA Studios in Chicago with original drummer Frank Cook. At over seven minutes in length, it has the basic elements of the later album version, but is two minutes longer with more harmonica and guitar soloing.

During the recording for their second album, Canned Heat recorded “On the Road Again” with new drummer Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra. The session took place September 6, 1967, at the Liberty Records studio in Los Angeles. Alan Wilson used verses from Floyd Jones’ “On the Road Again” and “Dark Road” and added some lines of his own:

Well I’m so tired of cryin’ but I’m out on the road again, I’m on the road again (2×)
I ain’t got no woman just to call my special friend

Predating Willie Nelson’s song with the same title by 12 years, Canned Heat’s “On The Road Again” is a forlorn bluesy tune about a lonely traveler. One of the group’s most popular songs, it actually outcharted Nelson’s song, climbing to #16 in the US (Nelson’s went to #20).

During this era, the Heat was inhabited by Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson (guitar/vocals), Larry “The Mole” Taylor (bass), Henry “Sunflower” Vestine (guitar), and Bob “The Bear” Hite (vocals). Frank Cook (drums) contributed to the band’s self-titled debut prior to being replaced by Aldolfo “Fito” de la Parra (drums).

“On the Road Again” – Single by Canned Heat from the album Boogie with Canned Heat
B-side – “Boogie Music”
Released – April 24, 1968
Recorded – September 6, 1967
Studio Liberty, Los Angeles
Songwriters – Floyd Jones and Alan Wilson
Producer – Cal Carter
Charted No.16 in US; No.6 in UK; No.9 in Australia; No.13 in West Germany; No.8 in Canada