CACTUS the birth of cactus -1970 CLO3155

The Debut of ‘The American Led Zeppelin’: Cactus ‘The Birth Of Cactus – 1970’ (CLO3155)

Today’s entry documents a historic moment in hard rock history. We are looking at the 2022 archival release The Birth Of Cactus – 1970, released on Purple Pyramid (a sub-label of Cleopatra Records) with the catalog number CLO3155.

History in the Making

Recorded on May 16, 1970, at Temple Stadium in Philadelphia, this recording captures the very first public performance of Cactus. Dubbed “The American Led Zeppelin,” the supergroup featured the legendary rhythm section of Tim Bogert (bass) and Carmine Appice (drums) fresh from Vanilla Fudge, joined by guitarist Jim McCarty and vocalist Rusty Day. They took the stage that day as an unknown opening act for a bill that included Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, and Steve Miller, and proceeded to blow the audience away with their high-energy boogie rock.

The Music

The setlist features raw, blistering versions of songs that would soon become classics on their self-titled debut album. Side A rips through One Way… Or Another and the bluesy No Need To Worry. Side B showcases the band’s improvisational power with a medley of Let Me Swim / Big Mama Boogie / Oleo and closes with their signature high-speed cover of Parchman Farm. The chemistry between the members is palpable even at this embryonic stage.

Collector’s Details

This release was produced with the collector in mind, though it has some eccentricities regarding identification.

Format:
The album is pressed on stunning Purple Haze Vinyl and housed in a gatefold sleeve.

Identification:
Unusually, the catalog number (CLO3155) is not printed anywhere on the actual album jacket, labels, or spine. It can only be found on the hype sticker attached to the shrink wrap.

Matrix:
The runout grooves contain the matrix numbers `CLO2589LP/CLO2590LP` and the signature `CU@LELAB`, indicating the lacquer was cut by engineer Cristobal Urbina.

Extras:
The gatefold packaging features liner notes written by Carmine Appice himself, offering a firsthand account of this momentous gig.