Hot Tuna
America's Choice

THE REVIEW

Well, let's start with the cover. The fantastic detergent box immediately carries a warning: "This album to be played at full volume for maximum effect." On the back, appropriately, the ingredients, namely 33 and 1/3% of Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Cassidy, and Bob Steeler, and the product characteristics, namely: "...pure, unadulterated sound with amplified necessary polytonal ingredients to handle heavy loads." A remarkable trend reversal for the former Jefferson who leave the old fashion of their early works for an album completely out of their usual patterns. America's choice is pure rock, of the best American tradition. It starts slowly with Sleep Song, which certainly does not betray the fans of the early Hot, completely flabbergasted by the subsequent Funky #7, a fusion scan bordering on a jam session. Only Walkin' Blues by Robert Johnson brings us back to the roots, if not for the following Invitation, which again breaks with the past and increases the muscular tone of the album. The gem of the album, in my opinion, is Hit Single#1, a fabulous rock blues with delightful Hendrixian inserts. Relentless riffs and an almost perfect bass for a sound that breaks with previous studio works. Unfortunately, America's choice will remain a unique case in Hot Tuna's production; subsequent albums will more or less resume the tradition (except Yellow Fever, although too "heavy" and neurotic). 4/5