Hot Tuna Albums Ranked

Hot Tuna is an American blues-rock band formed in 1969 by former Jefferson Airplane members Jorma Kaukonen (guitarist/vocals) and Jack Casady (bassist). Although it has always been a fluid aggregation, with musicians coming and going over the years, the band’s center has always been Kaukonen and Casady’s ongoing collaboration. Hot Tuna began as a side project to Jefferson Airplane, intended to mark time while Grace Slick recovered from Vocal cord nodule surgery that had left her unable to perform. The band’s name came from someone Jorma Kaukonen referred to as a “witty wag” who called out “hot tuna” after hearing the line ‘What’s that smell like fish, oh baby,’ from the song “Keep On Truckin’.” Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Paul Kantner and new drummer Joey Covington played several shows around San Francisco, including the Airplane’s original club, The Matrix, before Jefferson Airplane resumed performing to support Volunteers. Here are all of Hot Tuna albums ranked.

Don’t miss out on the TIMELESS Blues from Hot Tuna below! Click to experience the real classic!

10. First Pull Up, Then Pull Down 

“The Trio becomes a quintet and the results are excellent. Papa John Creach departs from his duty with Jefferson Airplane to join the band, and Will Scarlet adds some red hot harmonica into the mix. My favorite tunes on the album are the electric ones. In particular, “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning” is outstanding. The playing is intense and Jorma is simply on fire! Same with “Come Back Baby” this is great electric blues, of a type totally different from the British electric blues.”

9. Live At The Fillmore West 3rd July 1971 

“The show itself is phenomenal with everyone on fire, I’ve had it since its release a couple of years ago and it’s still a regular play. A word about the sound quality. Keyhole has put out some let’s be truthful garbage but this thankfully is not one of them. While not a big boy multi track professional release it is as good as grey market/bootleg gets.”

8. Final Vinyl 

“This is a basic reprise of the Bands History starting with Hesitation Blues from the First LP and then moving on until they reach the Third disc when there they pull the WATER SONG…and so it goes the band stopping every so often to sing and play tracks from various discs from their past. Thus earning the title of the disc itself FINAL VINYL.”

7. The Phosphorescent Rat 

“Using the word elegant and the name Jorma Kaukonen in the same sentence may not occur very often, but admittedly this album defines the combination in many ways. “Corners without Exits” and “Sololquy for 2” have string arrangements and another “Living Just for You” adds steel drums. Does it work? Well it does because Jorma with his over dubbed leads and surely his best vocals ever pulls this off with ease.”

6. Yellow Fever 

“They handled this electric powertrio style real good on 4 albums, starting with The Phosphorescent Rat and ended with Hoppkorv. All more or less equally good. Jormas solos has a tendency to repeat themselves a little, like the solo on Funky #7 comes again here in with a little twist but very similar on “Sunrise Dance with the Devil”. Still I think Burgers is their finest album musically.”

5. America’s Choice 

“Hot Tuna have often played as a trio but for the next few years they turned into a straight up hard rock, psych, blues rock jamband power trio. Not really my favorite era (see: the two previous releases) but this is still a solid album with only a few duds. Not so surprising it was also one of their best sellers. Personal favorite: “Serpent of Dreams””

4. Double Dose 

“For a number of years anyways this was the swansong of Hot Tuna and thankfully they play a little bit of everything they have been known for since the debut. Not as jammed out as the rumors have been of shows from this era but that’s probably for the best.”

3. Steady As She Goes 

“I’ve been looking forward to getting this album ever since I first heard the guys were going back to the studio. This isn’t like the “old” Tuna, but it is a must have for your collection. Jorma’s lyrics have gotten increasingly introspective over the years, with heartfelt feelings that make you pause and think where your own life has gone. The music of course is top notch as Jorma, Jack, and Barry are still at the top of there respective instruments. Skoota is a great addition on drums and the rest of the players are integrated very nicely.”

2. Burgers 

“The side project of Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, providing an more roots and blues orientated rock, than the psychedelic approach by Jefferson Airplane. Their debut studio album, with mainly original song material by Kaukonen, has it’s highlights thru the lyrical nice ‘Sea Child’, the hard and heavy performed ‘Ode for Billy Dean’ and the great instrumenal ‘Water Song’, interpreted in the same vein as ‘Embryonic Journey’. Interesting is the solid violin presentation of bluesman Papa John Creach serving well to the progressive approach of Hot Tuna.”

1. Hot Tuna 

“What a beautiful piece of work this is! While Jourma Kaukonen and Jack Cassidy were truly the guts behind the great sound of The Jefferson Airplane, if you were not aware of all that, you would never think they were ever members when you hear this. In other words, this sounds NOTHING like The Airplane. Kaukonen’s guitar playing is flawless and absolutely flows like honey.”