It was either dance music or progressive rock schlock the record executives wanted. Rock and roll was too unclean and uncivilized for the slick and boring overproduced music and styles of the time. Human Condition was a record deal offered them by the Takoma record label and, unfortunately, it just didn't sell as there was no market for it.
The title track, "Human Condition," was the last song the late Alan Wilson had written and it's a great blues/rock number, as are all the cuts on this disc. They even brought in some special guests to help out, including the Chamber Brothers to sing background vocals on "Strut My Stuff", "Open Up Your Backdoor", and "Wrapped Up". This album proved they could still play the music they loved, even if no one wanted to listen anymore.
If you're not familiar with Canned Heat, or you were like me and really only knew them through the one song, then Canned, Labeled, and Shelved will make a great addition to your music library. Although there is still a version of the band out there, it's pretty much in name only as all that's left from the 1977 line up is drummer Adolfo "Fito" De La Parra. They are signed to Ruf Records in Germany (who seem to be "the" Blues label now) and are producing, on average, an album a year.
Canned, Labeled, and Shelved is the history of the band, and before you start buying anything new, you really ought to know where they came from and meet the originators. It would only be polite to pay your respects.
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