Cactus released their eponymous debut album today in 1970. A supergroup of sorts, the original lineup included former Vanilla Fudge bandmates Carmine Appice on drums and bassist Tim Bogert, singer Rusty Day from the Amboy Dukes, and guitarist Jim McCarty from Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. 

The original lineup released three albums before going their separate ways, and one more with Bogert and Appice onboard before disbanding. Bogert and Appice continued to work together in Beck, Bogert, Appice. Rusty Day hooked up with future Lynyrd Skynyrd ace guitarist Steve Gaines in The Band Detroit.

Cactus was a solid, if fairly unknown, blues-based hard rocking band. I don't think they are remarkable in any way, other than being a collection of great talent, but they are a good band if you're into old school blues rock. Carmine Appice should be familiar to old metalheads from his work with Ozzy Osbourne, Paul Stanley, Marty Friedman, and The Nuge.

Willie Dixon cover: