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Four studio albums from the legendary Cactus recorded from 1970 to 1972. Plus a host of bonus tracks. A real treat for fans of blues rock, proto-stoner rock and proto-metal.Featuring their bluesy, gritty rock which became a big influence on future generations of hard rock and heavy metal bands, including Montrose, AC/DC and Van Halen.With four CDs of live recordings from the period recorded at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis, at the 1970 Isle Of Wight Festival, the 1972 Mar y Sol Pop Festival in Puerto Rico and at the more intimate settings of Gilligan's Club in Buffalo, New York. The latter recorded by legendary producer Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin) with The Electric Ladyland Mobile Unit. Formed in 1969 by former members of Vanilla Fudge, Tim Bogert on bass and Carmine Appice on drums, Cactus released their self-titled debut on the Atco label in 1970. Although originally slated to feature Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck, the line-up would be cemented by Jim McCarty (from Mitch RyderÆs Detroit Wheels and The Buddy Miles Express) on guitar and Rusty Day (from Ted NugentÆs original band, The Amboy Dukes) on vocals and harmonica. This line-up would record the bandÆs first three LPs, æCactusÆ, æOne Wayà Or AnotherÆ and æRestrictionsÆ.Included among the originals æMy Lady From South Of DetroitÆ, æNo Need To WorryÆ and æFeel So GoodÆ on their first album are covers of Mose Allison's blues standard æParchman FarmÆ (a major inspiration for the song æHot For TeacherÆ, and the intro to æLet Me SwimÆ prefiguring Eddie Van HalenÆs æEruptionÆ), plus Willie Dixon's æYou Can't Judge A Book By The CoverÆ .æOne Way... Or AnotherÆ (1971) was recorded at Jimi HendrixÆs Electric Lady Studios in New York, and as well as æRock 'N' Roll ChildrenÆ and live favourite, æBig Mama Boogie, Pt 1 & 2Æ, the album also includes two classic covers; Little Richard's æLong Tall SallyÆ and Chuck Willis' æI Feel So BadÆ. As well as æToken Chokin'Æ and æMean Night In ClevelandÆ, æRestrictionsÆ - the third and last LP to feature McCarty and Day features their cover of HowlinÆ WolfÆs æEvil (Is Going On)Æ, the inspiration for Monster MagnetÆs cover of the same song some 20 years later. Cactus were joined for 1972Æs æOt æNÆ Sweaty by Atomic Rooster and Leaf HoundÆs Pete French on vocals, Werner Fritzschings on guitar and Duane Hitchings on keyboards, the first side of the original LP recorded live in April 1972, the second side featuring studio recordings which end with a somewhat incongruous cover of æUnderneath The ArchesÆ, apparently inspired by touring with Rod Stewart and The Faces.