Cactus SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN("Cactus" 1970 Album *Bonus Track/Studio Outtake*)(JimMcCarty GTRImprov2)

Founding members of "Cactus" and ex-members from "Vanilla Fudge" drummer Carmine Appice(from Brooklyn NY), and bassist Tim Bogert(from Ridgefield NJ)decided to take a break from the "psychedelic Fudge" seen and put together a "Cream"/"Led Zeppelin" oriented but AMERICAN HEAVY ROCK'N ROLL BLUES band.Their dream was to play with Jeff Beck(after hearing Jeff's 2nd album "Beck-Ola" released in June 1969)and in 1969 Carmine's friend from "Zeppelin" John Bonham said Jeff was interested in the collaboration but after a car crash Jeff would not reunite with the 2 until December 1972 to record the 1 and only album "Beck, Bogert & Appice" released in 1973.Carmine remembers touring with "Vanilla Fudge" in 1969 in either Phoenix Arizona or Tucson and seeing a drive in movie theater called "CACTUS" which inspired him for a band name after seeing the name up in lights.Carmine, Tim, & lead vocalist/harmonica/DRUMMER LOL Rusty Day(born Garden City Detroit Michigan)from Ted Nugent's "The Amboy Dukes" and guitarist/DRUMMER LOL Jim McCarty(born Detroit Michigan)from "Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels" where Tim meet him in 1966 @ "Whisky a go-go" on Sunset Strip in California.Jim also played on Jimi Hendrix's "Band Of Gypsy" drummer Buddy Miles's albums "Expressway To Your Skull" debut released in 1968, "Electric Church" released 1969, and "Them Changes" released in 1970(All Co-produced/written by Jimi Hendrix).According to Carmine "Vanilla Fudge" played their last gig@the "Action House" owned by their manager Phil Basile in March 1970.Tim remembers playing with both "Fudge" and "Cactus" at the same time, and by October-December 1969 "Cactus" was born and were in the studio to record their debut album which was rehearsed/recorded@"Break-Out Studio and Ultra-Sonic Recording Studios completed sometime by February 1970 and released on July 1, 1970 mixed by Les Paul's son Gene Paul."Atlantic" hated the album cover, but stickers(seen on Carmine's bass drum)were already distributed to the groupies!"Cactus" playing their 1st gig on May 16, 1970 with "The Steve Miller Band", "The Grateful Dead" and opening for "Jimi Hendrix"@Temple Stadium/University Philadelphia PA(My home town)$6.50 tickets 200,000 fans.Tim remembers hurting his hand when playing their Mose Allison cover of "Parchman Farm" from their debut hitting the bass so hard trying to impress Jimi Hendrix.According to Carmine from the "Cactology The Cactus Collection" album credits, he remembers jamming out to "Parchman Farm" when the band began and did not realize it was a cover.Carmine's DOUBLE BASS DRUM FAST ROCK SHUFFLE on "Parchman Farm" was one of the fastest drum beats ever at the time, and the opening chords/guitar solo on "Let Me Swim"(both songs from "Cactus" 1970)inspired bands like "Van Halen"."Van Halen" even asked to borrow the opening on "Let Me Swim" for their opening track "Eruption" on their debut album "Van Halen" released on February 10, 1978.Demo/outtake song "Sweet Little Sixteen" recorded during the late '69-'70 debut album sessions for "Cactus"(can be heard on the "Barely Contained:Studio Sessions" album released on February 12, 2007), but never made the album(but played live).This version has a "Eric Clapton Vibe" to it IMO.The song was recorded later again with a different mix and feel to it on "Cactus"'s 3rd and final album with Jim McCarty "Restrictions" released October 18, 1971 and labled as "Sweet Sixteen" also released as a single.Since there are no Hal Leonard guitar tablature/manuscript books for "Cactus's" music/albums, I had to put myself in Jim's shoes and think if he had to overdub another guitar what would be his approach?So I came up with these concepts after rehearsing/experimenting without over playing or under playing the compositions.I shared solos with Jim McCarty.After analyzing the few photos we have of "Cactus" and some research from the credits inside the "Cactology The Cactus Collection" album released on April 23, 1996, looks like Jim was using a late '50's or early '60's Gibson Les Paul Standard in a Marshall(not sure what model or year)cabinet and head(stack)with an Ampeg "Scrambler" fuzz pedal which created "Hendrix" like SCREAMING overtones and a Wah-Wah.I used a combination of a couple different fuzz pedals to recreate the effect.I have seen one photo of Jim playing a Gibson Les Paul Special or Jr. with P-90's but not sure when used, some songs it sounds like single coil pickups, like a Fender Stratocaster or a Fender Telecaster(that he did own in the '70's he claimed in an interview I saw)is being used(ex. studio version of "Parchman Farm" has me thinking because there is no low/bass end on the sound, very trebly, RAW, THIN.). Cactus Rusty Day–vocals harp Jim McCarty–guitar Carmine Appice–drums Tim Bogert–bass Gear Gibson/EpiphoneLesPaulStandard RolandMicroCubeGXAmp(ClassicStack/Reverb) ErnieBallCoilCable FulltoneBC-108CFuzz JDCryBaby Boss FZ-5 Fuzz(Octavia) BossFB-2Feedback/Booster ElectroHarmonixOceans11(Plate)

Added 22 May 2026