Search - New Cactus Band :: Son of Cactus

A grossly UNDERRATED CLASSIC!!!

Scott Cokeley | Hoquiam, WA | 12/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own thousands of LPs, but this has always been a favorite. This LP was bashed by the critics, probably since it is NOT the original Cactus, ok, maybe they should have used a different name, (they evolved into Thee Image and cut 2 LPs under that name). This album DOES have Duane Hitchings (keyboards) who was on the last Cactus LP from 1972, "Ot & Sweaty", and the excellent work of guitarist Mike Pinera (of Blues Image and Iron Butterfly, Ramatam, Classic Rock All Stars), bassist Roland Robinson and Jerry Norris. Musically, it is a VERY STRONG and EXCELLENT LP. Not exactly like the original Cactus, but it certainly, without any doubt, stands on it's own, equally as great as any great LPs from the 70s. It shines throughout, and is one of Pinera's best LPs. Another lost LP, the self titled Steel, which is excellent, (if you can find a copy), from 2 years earlier, (Epic-1971), also has Hitchings, Robinson and Norris. Robinson was an overlooked bassist who passed on recently, who worked on these and LPs with Hendrix, Buddy Miles, Mar-keys, etc. Hitchings has worked with countless artists, Rod Stewart, Steve Perry, Buddy Miles, etc, and both him and Pinera worked and recorded w/ Alice Cooper. If you love 70s rock, you'll enjoy this. Thanks to the people who made this possible. A grossly under-rated classic!!!"

Watered down cross between Cactus and Blues Image...

Mark Gatzke | Plant City, FL USA | 02/16/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It's hard to write this because I'm a big fan of Cactus and Blues Image, not to mention Mike Pinera's superb work on Iron Butterfly's Metamorphosis. There's a reason Son of Cactus II never appeared, and you'll find it right here. To the point, Son of Cactus reeks of a rush job from the very first track and it doesn't let up. The song lyrics wander in and out of triteness, and the music lacks the fire and originality that made the aforementioned bands legendary. Although it doesn't qualify as a disaster, don't expect a lot based on their credentials. This is boilerplate rock 'n' roll; okay for what it is, but it falls woefully short of the potential."