Cactus - One Way...Or Another

Facts Limited 180gm audiophile vinyl pressing in gatefold jacket including poster. One Way... Or Another was the second studio outing to feature the supergroup Cactus. Existing of Vanilla Fudge rhythm section Carmine Appice (drums) and Tim Bogert (bass), as well as former Amboy Dukes lead vocalist Rusty Day (vocals/mouth harp), and Jim McCarty (guitar) from Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels and the Buddy Miles Express. The album offers eight tracks of which are six originals and two covers. Kicking off with one from the latter column, it's the unexpected slow and heavy take on Little Richard's 'Long Tall Sally'. The other cover, a version of Chuck Willis' 'Feel So Bad' is more than serviceable but it's really the originals that are the stars of this show. Highlights are including 'Rock N' Roll Children,', 'Big Mama Boogie Parts I & II' and the title track, which closes the album in suitably kick-ass fashion. This album is well crafted and flows dramatically from one song to the other without a dull moment. Anyone with a liking for early 70's blues oriented rock will love this album.