Cactus – ‘Temple of Blues’
(Influences and Friends)

 

 

THE BAND:
Carmine Appice – drums/vocals
Paul Warren – guitar
Jimmy Kunes – vocals
Randy Pratt – harmonica
Jimmy Caputo – bass

 

 

TRACK LISTING:
1.) “Parchman Farm” feat. Joe Bonamassa & Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big / David Lee Roth)
2.) “Bro. Bill” feat. Randy Jackson (Zebra), Randy Pratt (Cactus) & Bob Daisley (Ozzy Osbourne)
3.) “Guiltless Glider” feat. Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (Guns N' Roses) & Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne)
4.) “ Evil feat. Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) & Dug Pinnick (King's X)
5.) “ One Way...Or Another feat. Dug Pinnick (King's X) & Ted Nugent
6.) “ Alaska feat. Johnny A. & Tony Franklin (The Firm)
7.) “ No Need To Worry feat. Warren Haynes (Gov't Mule) & Jorgen Carlsson (Gov't Mule)
8.) “ Oleo feat. Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) & Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big / David Lee Roth)
9.) “ Big Mama Boogie feat. Pat Travers & James Caputo (Cactus)
10.) “ You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover
11.) “ Rock N' Roll Children feat. Britt Lightning (Vixen), Vernon Reid (Living Colour) & Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot)
12.) “ Let Me Swim feat. Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake) & Marco Mendoza (Blue Murder)
13.) “ Restrictions feat. Ty Tabor (King's X) & Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne)
14.) “ Long Tall Sally feat. Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge) & Fernando Perdomo
BONUS TRACK:
15.) “ Guiltless Glider" feat. Tim "Ripper" Owens (Judas Priest)

 

   From 1967-1969, Vanilla Fudge released five albums.  Those albums are: ‘Vanilla Fudge’ (August 1967), ‘The Beat Goes On’ (February 1968), ‘Renaissance’ (June 1968), ‘Near The Beginning’ (1969) and ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll’ (1969).  At some point during the sessions for ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll’ Carmine and Tim announced they would be leaving Vanilla Fudge after the tour. Editor’s Note: ♫♫ Vanilla Fudge is a very underrated band and deservers why more credit for the sixties Psychedelic music than they probably will ever get.♫♫  Their reason for choosing to leave Vanilla Fudge was to get the opportunity to form a band with the legendary guitarist Jeff Beck.  However, do to Jeff having a car accident; this project would be put on hold.
   While the Beck, Bogert and Appice project was on hold Carmine and Tim formed the band Cactus. Unlike Vanilla Fudge who was basically known for taking popular songs and re-arranging them to give them a psychedelic sound, Where Cactus was a full blown Blues band.  Thus allowing Tim to really show his bass talent.
     Drummer and co-founding member of Cactus, Carmine Appice, presents a groundbreaking tribute album honoring the legacy of his legendary rock band Cactus.  And what better way to pay tribute to this short lived yet amazing band that has influenced thousands of musicians than to have one of its two co-founders, personally pick and play drums on every song.  Because too me, no one plays a double-bass shuffle pattern like Appice can.
   ‘Temple of Blues’ is literally a who’s who of Blues & Hard Rock musicians, co-founding member and drummer Carmine Appice is joined by the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Ted Nugent, Billy Sheehan, Bumblefoot, Dee Snider, Pat Travers plus members of Vanilla Fudge, Living Colour, Vixen and many more!  Just talent alone makes this worth every penny that was put in it.
   The album contains fourteen songs along with one bonus track.  The songs are taken from the four Cactus albums released from 1968-1972.  The bonus track “Gutless Glider” which is on here twice.  Each version features two different sets of musicians.  In fact, the vocals are the only real difference that will mainly be audible.  Unlike many tribute songs/releases the guest musicians keep the songs very close to the originals.  So in many ways ‘Temple of Blues” is not only a great tribute album however also an amazing Greatest Hits package.  Cactus is and still are a huge part of Rock ‘N’ Roll history that all music fans or musicians (especially drummers) need in their collection.