America's Choice
Encyclopedia
America's Choice was the fifth album by the American blues rock band Hot Tuna
, recorded in 1974 and released the following year. The first of the "Rampage" trilogy albums (the others being Yellow Fever and Hoppkorv) recorded by the now power trio
, it marked a major shift in musical direction by the group. With new drummer Bob Steeler, Tuna now performed in a predominantly hard rock style rather than their previous more acoustic flavored manner.
Seven of the eight songs are Kaukonen
originals, the cover being Robert Johnson's "Walkin' Blues". The album is characterized by Kaukonen's multi-layered and hard edged guitar solos and Bob Steeler's frantic drumming, which give a somewhat schizoid feel to the entire proceedings. Songs resonate between the somber and the frenetic, which adds to the moody atmospherics, especially on "Serpent of Dreams" and "I Don't Wanna Go". Three of tracks, "Funky #7", "Invitation" and "Walkin' Blues", often evolved into extended jams when performed live at this time. The album rose to #75 on the Billboard
charts.
The album was originally released in Quadraphonic
.
The album cover art depicts a box of laundry detergent, complete with dripping suds, labeled "America's Choice: Hot Tuna". The lettering and color scheme are loosely based on the style of Tide. On one side of the detergent box, a contents label lists the musicians as the "active ingredients", and also says, "Pure, unadulterated sounds with amplified additives and the necessary polytonal ingredients to handle heavy loads." On another side of the box is a "warning" stating, "This album to be played at full volume for maximum effect."
Unedited extended live versions of "Invitation" recorded at the New York York Palladium November 26, 1976 and Santa Clara University May 28, 1977 are available.
In 1996, RCA released the CD box set Hot Tuna in a Can which included a remastered version of this album, along with remasters of the albums Hot Tuna
, First Pull Up, Then Pull Down
, Burgers
, and Hoppkorv
.
, except where noted.
Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna is an American blues-rock band formed by bassist Jack Casady and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen as a spin-off of Jefferson Airplane. It plays acoustic and electric versions of original and traditional blues songs.- Jefferson Airplane side project :...
, recorded in 1974 and released the following year. The first of the "Rampage" trilogy albums (the others being Yellow Fever and Hoppkorv) recorded by the now power trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
, it marked a major shift in musical direction by the group. With new drummer Bob Steeler, Tuna now performed in a predominantly hard rock style rather than their previous more acoustic flavored manner.
Seven of the eight songs are Kaukonen
Jorma Kaukonen
Jorma Ludwik Kaukonen Jr. is an American blues, folk, and rock guitarist, best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.-Biography:...
originals, the cover being Robert Johnson's "Walkin' Blues". The album is characterized by Kaukonen's multi-layered and hard edged guitar solos and Bob Steeler's frantic drumming, which give a somewhat schizoid feel to the entire proceedings. Songs resonate between the somber and the frenetic, which adds to the moody atmospherics, especially on "Serpent of Dreams" and "I Don't Wanna Go". Three of tracks, "Funky #7", "Invitation" and "Walkin' Blues", often evolved into extended jams when performed live at this time. The album rose to #75 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
charts.
The album was originally released in Quadraphonic
Quadraphonic
Quadraphonic sound – the most widely used early term for what is now called 4.0 surround sound – uses four channels in which speakers are positioned at the four corners of the listening space, reproducing signals that are independent of one another...
.
The album cover art depicts a box of laundry detergent, complete with dripping suds, labeled "America's Choice: Hot Tuna". The lettering and color scheme are loosely based on the style of Tide. On one side of the detergent box, a contents label lists the musicians as the "active ingredients", and also says, "Pure, unadulterated sounds with amplified additives and the necessary polytonal ingredients to handle heavy loads." On another side of the box is a "warning" stating, "This album to be played at full volume for maximum effect."
Unedited extended live versions of "Invitation" recorded at the New York York Palladium November 26, 1976 and Santa Clara University May 28, 1977 are available.
In 1996, RCA released the CD box set Hot Tuna in a Can which included a remastered version of this album, along with remasters of the albums Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna (album)
Hot Tuna is the self-titled debut album by the blues-rock band Hot Tuna, released in 1970 on RCA Records, catalogue LSP 4550. It was recorded live at the New Orleans House in Berkeley, California in September of 1969. It peaked at #30 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
, First Pull Up, Then Pull Down
First Pull Up, Then Pull Down
First Pull Up, Then Pull Down was the second album by Hot Tuna. The album was recorded live with electric instruments, instead of the acoustic instruments used on the previous album, Hot Tuna. The album rose to #43 on the Billboard charts...
, Burgers
Burgers (album)
-Personnel:*Jorma Kaukonen – guitars, lead vocals*Jack Casady – bass, vocals, eyebrow*Papa John Creach – violin, vocals*Sammy Piazza – drums, tympani, other percussion, vocals-Additional personnel:...
, and Hoppkorv
Hoppkorv
-Personnel:*Jorma Kaukonen – vocals, guitar*Jack Casady – bass*Bob Steeler – drums, percussion-Additional Personnel:*Nick Buck – keyboards*John Sherman – 2nd guitar on "Bowlegged Woman, Knock-Kneed Man"*Karen Tobin – background vocals-Production:...
.
Track listing
All songs written by Jorma KaukonenJorma Kaukonen
Jorma Ludwik Kaukonen Jr. is an American blues, folk, and rock guitarist, best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.-Biography:...
, except where noted.
Personnel
- Jorma KaukonenJorma KaukonenJorma Ludwik Kaukonen Jr. is an American blues, folk, and rock guitarist, best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.-Biography:...
– guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
s, vocals - Jack CasadyJack CasadyJack Casady , is an American musician considered one of the foremost bass guitarists of the rock music era and best known as a member of Jefferson Airplane. First playing as a lead guitarist with the Washington D.C...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Bob Steeler – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Production
- Hot Tuna, Fishobaby – producer
- Mallory Earl – producer, engineer
- Bill Thompson – overseer
- Pat Ieraci (Maurice) – production coordinator
- Steve Mantoani – recordist
- Jeffrey Husband – recordist
- Michael Casady – equipment
- Frank Mulvey – cover concept
- Recorded and Mixed at Wally Heider's Studios, San Francisco
- Mastered by Rick Collins, Kendun Recorders, Burbank