On The Road Again by Canned Heat

Album: Boogie With Canned Heat (1968)

Charted: 8 16

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Songfacts®:

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).
"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.
This song is based on a simple E/G/A chord progression, also called "guitar boogie." Canned Heat is often credited with bringing that chord progression to the awareness of the era's rock acts, who started using the pattern regularly from that point on.
"On The Road Again" is the third track on Canned Heat's second studio album, Boogie With Canned Heat, which hit stores in January 1968. DJs at countercultural FM stations enthusiastically played the song, so Liberty Records edited it down from 4:55 to 3:33 to make it more marketable for mainstream AM stations and released it as a single in April 1968.

The single was the band's third and by far their biggest hit to that point. Their first single, "Rollin' And Tumblin'," hit #115, while their second, "World In A Jug," didn't chart at all.
The original recording of the song was done as a demo for RCA Studios in April 1967 and lasted longer than 7 minutes. It had extended harmonica and guitar solos and included the band's original drummer, Frank Cook. Adolfo de la Parra plays on the version we know today, which was done on September 6, 1967, at Liberty Records Studio in Los Angeles.
Floyd Jones, who wrote the song this is based on ("Dark Road") is the credited writer on this song along with Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson of Canned Heat. Wilson played a drone instrument on the track, which gave the song a psychedelic feel. Wilson had gained a knowledge of Eastern music after studying the Veena (an Indian stringed instrument) while at UCLA.
Wilson does the falsetto-like vocals, which are among the most notable aspects of the song. Bob Hite was lead vocalist for Canned heat, but Wilson sang on several tunes. He also sings on "An Owl Song" on Boogie with Caned Heat and, in addition to singing, plays harmonica on "On The Road Again."
Kate Meluia covered this song on her 2005 album Piece by Piece.

Comments: 8

V from EnglandAlways loved Al Wilson, especially when he sang On The Road Again. He was one of my favourites, so sad he died so young. But never forgotten. Vxxx
Kkaarr from Out There!Found a nearly flawless copy of this song on an album I bought on eBay! Back in the day I purchased a "super hits" compilation album that has this song on it, I still have it, so it's great to hear the complete album after 50+ years!
Absinthe from St. PaulWilson was given a veena by guitarist John Fahey, who couldn't play it so he gave it to Al, who quickly learned how. Wilson went to Boston University, not UCLA.
The lyrics are actually:
I didn't have no faro
Not even no place to go

Faro is an obscure delta blues term for girlfriend. The word is also used in Wilson's other song on Boogie with Canned Heat, "The Owl Song."
Patricus Rexus from NoybPartially reincarnated as Blues Traveller. Play run around over this or vice versa and enjoy some Newcastle browns.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 22nd 1968, Canned Heat were one of the three acts* to play the first of two nights at the Filmore East in New York City...
Earlier in 1968 on August 4th the Los Angeles quintet's "On the Road Again" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #99; seven weeks later on September 22nd it would peak at #16 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the chart for 11 weeks...
The group had four other Top 100 records; "Going Up the Country" {#11 in 1969}, "Time Was" {#67 in 1969}, "Let's Work Together" {#26 in 1970}, and with Little Richard "Rockin' With the King" {#88 in 1972}...
Lead singer Bob 'The Bear' Hite passed away on April 6th, 1981 at the young age of 38...
May he R.I.P.
* The two other acts on the bill were Iron Butterfly and the Youngbloods.
Rod from Salina, KsYour lyrics are incorrect. The correct lyrics are:
In the rain and snow
I didn't have no farro
Not even no place to go

Farro is an Italian cereal dish made essentially out of boiled wheat. Not having any farro or no plce to go meant he was homeless
and hungry. Makes a lot more sense that "payphone". Also, if one listens to different versions recorded at different times by the Heat, the words morph from time to time.

The Correct lyrics:
Craig from San Diego, CaI was hitchhiking around the USA, Canada,
and the far north when I first this track.
I could sure relate.
Stu from New York, NyI had always thought that Alan Wilson's voice was somewhat reminiscent of Pete Townshend's. I often thought that this would be a great cover song for Pete. Well, lo and behold, he did it on a great 1999 live double CD from the House Of Blues in Chicago. It's called "A Benefit For Maryville Academy." Check it out. The excellent version of "On The Road Again" was not the only fine track on this release.

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