Description

Detroit-born blues-rock guitarist and future Rolling Stone Harvey Mandel had an innovative approach, being among the first to utilize two-handed fretboard tapping. Mandel joined Charley Musselwhite’s band in 1965, which brought him to San Francisco, where disc jockey Abe Kesh scored him a contract with Philips. Mandel joined Canned Heat in time to play Woodstock and then joined John Mayall’s band. Baby Batter has a stellar cast including Canned Heat bassist Larry Taylor, Jerry Garcia sidekick Howard Wales on keyboards and renowned jazz percussionist Big Black. “Midnight Sun” and the title track are fully orchestrated, the rest of the disc comprised of hard rockin’ blues instrumentals.