Hot Tuna Songs 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 songs ranked.
Don’t miss out on the TIMELESS Blues from Hot Tuna below! Click to experience the real classic!
10. Highway Song (Burgers, 1972)
“Much more of a roots / hippie / country rock sound to this album and probably their best. Really every song is worth hearing and plenty of Tuna classics. This band is growing on me.”
9. I See The Light (The Phosphorescent Rat, 1974)
“Bit more of a psych sound entering back into the music and some of the bands best songs. Papa John Creach’s violin is missed, beyond that, this album is a classic and “side one” is flawless.”
8. Angel Of Darkness (Steady as She Goes, 2011)
“Set your clock back to 1969. This tune rocks. The guitar solo alone is worth the price. This brings back so many memories – true music from the vault of perfection! I am sincerely glad there are people still out there making good music.”
See more: Hot Tuna Albums Ranked
7. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning (Hot Tuna, 1970)
“My initial reaction to Hot Tuna was one of disappointment. I guess I expected something between the Jefferson Airplane and the Dead and this duo is neither. This their live debut has a certain charm though, raw acoustic blues guitar from Jorma Kaukonen and booming bass from Jack Casady. Jorma is also one of the great Airplane singers and this is chance to hear him nicely stripped to the bone.”
6. Sunrise Dance with the Devil (Yellow Fever, 1975)
“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. Jorma was always a two headed monster on guitar. He was equally adept at finger picking an acoustic or blistering the fret board of an electric.”
5. Know You Rider (Hot Tuna, 1970)
“I remember thinking the sound of acoustic guitar and electric bass seemed novel and different back in ’69. It should have been electric guitar and bass or acoustic guitar and bass. It’s great the interplay of 2 soloists jamming and then coming together, then jamming in each song shows they’ve played together a long time.”
See more: Jefferson Airplane Albums Ranked
4. Hit Single #1 (America’s Choice, 1975)
“Another rock solid effort here as Hot Tuna goes back to being a trio and turns the amps up high! As always, Jorma’s playing is outstanding and Cassiby’s bass is one of the best in rock. New drummer Bob Steeler is also solid.”
3. True Religion (Hot Tuna, 1970)
“Exquisite mood, delicate and suddenly comes that electric guitar to give us true religion and then, time to get to heaven again under the cloudy heaven. Too beautiful and hot music.”
2. Hesitation Blues (Hot Tuna, 1970)
“Well, if ever an essential acoustic blues album, with a historically conscious and musically unerring instinct, came from an unlikely place, this one is it. With Jorma Kaukonen’s extremely mobile acoustic guitar, his serene vocal performance and Jack Casady’s warm electric bass (a harp greatly fills in some space), they put down nothing less than a small blues masterpiece – enhanced especially by its inconspicuous, modest and hommage-paying approach and sound.”
1. Death Don’t Have No Mercy (Hot Tuna, 1970)
“I love Hot Tuna. Guitars arrangements are always thoroughly crafted and give a contemporary feel to the song. A very good cover. This song was once popularized by Blind Gary Davis back to 1960.”
