Going Up the Country
Encyclopedia
"Going Up the Country" is a song performed by the American blues-rock group Canned Heat
. It appeared on their album Living the Blues
and was also released as a single, reaching #11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
singles chart, #19 on UK Singles Chart
and number one in 25 other countries. It was sung by Alan Wilson
, who was credited with writing the song. The song is an incarnation of Henry Thomas
’s "Bull-doze Blues."
The song features a prominent flute part played by multi-instrumentalist Jim Horn
that is an exact replica of the quills flute played by Thomas in his original version.
The group performed the song during their set at the Woodstock
music festival in August 1969, and it has been described as the "unofficial anthem" of the festival and is featured during the opening credits of the film. In the full-length motion picture, 'Woodstock,' Canned Heat's spoken intro to their performance of the song is heard, but the movie then cuts to the studio recording played over a montage of festival attendees. Conversely, the record album 'Woodstock' features the festival performance of the song, but without the spoken intro. There are two versions of Canned Heat's studio recording, which differ by only one note in the flute phrase. In most versions, the third note of the opening flute phrase is cut short. This difference is repeated when the flute phrase is repeated at the end of the song. In some versions, the note is sustained for an extra second.
Canned Heat
Canned Heat is a blues-rock/boogie rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The group has been noted for its own interpretations of blues material as well as for efforts to promote the interest in this type of music and its original artists...
. It appeared on their album Living the Blues
Living the Blues
Living the Blues is the third album by Canned Heat, a double album released in 1968. It was one of the first double albums to place well on album charts. It features Canned Heat's signature song, "Going Up the Country," which would later be used in the Woodstock film. John Mayall appears on...
and was also released as a single, reaching #11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles chart, #19 on UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and number one in 25 other countries. It was sung by Alan Wilson
Alan Wilson (musician)
Alan "Blind Owl" Christie Wilson was the leader, singer, and primary composer in the American blues band Canned Heat. He played guitar and harmonica, and wrote most of the songs for the band.-Early years:...
, who was credited with writing the song. The song is an incarnation of Henry Thomas
Henry Thomas (blues musician)
Henry Thomas was an American pre-World War II country blues singer, songster and musician. He was often billed as "Ragtime Texas".-Life and career:Thomas was born in Big Sandy, Texas, United States....
’s "Bull-doze Blues."
The song features a prominent flute part played by multi-instrumentalist Jim Horn
Jim Horn
Jim Horn is an American saxophonist and woodwind player. He was born in Los Angeles, and after replacing saxophonist Steve Douglas in 1959, he toured with member Duane Eddy for five years, playing sax and flute on the road, and in the recording studio...
that is an exact replica of the quills flute played by Thomas in his original version.
The group performed the song during their set at the Woodstock
Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...
music festival in August 1969, and it has been described as the "unofficial anthem" of the festival and is featured during the opening credits of the film. In the full-length motion picture, 'Woodstock,' Canned Heat's spoken intro to their performance of the song is heard, but the movie then cuts to the studio recording played over a montage of festival attendees. Conversely, the record album 'Woodstock' features the festival performance of the song, but without the spoken intro. There are two versions of Canned Heat's studio recording, which differ by only one note in the flute phrase. In most versions, the third note of the opening flute phrase is cut short. This difference is repeated when the flute phrase is repeated at the end of the song. In some versions, the note is sustained for an extra second.