Cactus – Restrictions / 'Ot 'N' Sweaty (2 CD – Import) – Cleopatra

Cactus were formed in 1969 by founder members of Vanilla Fudge; Tim Bogert on bass and Carmine Appice on drums. Although originally planned to feature Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck, Cactus’s line-up was eventually completed by Jim McCarty (from Mitch Ryder’s Detroit Wheels and The Buddy Miles Express) on guitar and Rusty Day (from The Amboy Dukes) on vocals and harmonica. Their bluesy, gritty rock became a big influence on future generations of hard rock and heavy metal bands, including Montrose, AC/DC, Van Halen and Monster Magnet. Following “Restrictions”, the third and last LP to feature Jim McCarty and Rusty Day, they were joined for “’Ot ‘N’ Sweaty” by Leaf Hound and Atomic Rooster vocalist Pete French, Werner Fritzschings (guitar) and Duane Hitchings (keyboards). The first side of the original LP was recorded live in Puerto Rico at the Mar y Sol pop festival, and the second featuring studio recordings – the album ends with a somewhat incongruous cover of ‘Underneath The Arches’, inspired by touring with Rod Stewart & The Faces. With remastered audio and one bonus track, this set features liner notes from Classic Rock’s Malcolm Dome based on recent interviews with Carmine Appice. Cactus are currently touring with a line-up featuring McCarty and Appice.