Harvey Mandel relocated to the Bay Area, performing often at a
club called The Matrix, where local favorites like Jerry Garcia and Elvin Bishop would sit in and jam. He then met up with renowned producer Abe `Voco` Kesh, releasing
his first solo album for Phillips/Mercury Records titled, Cristo Redentor in 1968, which included his extra-terrestrial version of `Wade in the Water,` still a classic to
this day. Then the news arrived that Harvey Mandel had replaced Henry Vestine as lead guitarist of the legendary Californian R & B band Canned Heat, and it was clear that
his talents had been noticed by more than just a few musicians. Harvey was in their dressing room at the Fillmore on the night that Henry Vestine quit the band. They asked
guitarist Mike Bloomfield to join them for the first set, and Harvey to join them for the second set. Harvey`s third gig with the band was the Woodstock Festival in 1969!
Harvey remained with Canned Heat for over a year in their heyday with slide guitarist/vocalist Alan `Blind Owl` Wilson, and singer Bob `The Bear` Hite. Harvey`s nickname,
`The Snake,` given to him years before by keyboardist Barry Goldberg in Chicago (attributed to his cracked leather jacket and snake-like guitar licks), fit perfectly in the
Canned Heat line-up. After several tours and 3 albums, including Future Blues, he was recruited by British blues man John Mayall to be a member of the Bluesbreakers,
recording the adventurous album, titled USA Union. The band featured Mandel with Canned Heat bass player Larry `The Mole` Taylor, and legendary violinist Don `Sugarcane`
Harris. Mandel also appeared on another significant Mayall album, Back To The Roots, on which Eric Clapton and Mick Taylor also guested. He left thereafter in 1972 and
teamed up with Sugarcane Harris, forming the band Pure Food and Drug Act. Other PFDA members included Randy Resnick on guitar, Victor Conte on bass, and Paul Lagos on
drums. They released 1 album on Epic Records titled, Choice Cuts. He resumed his solo career, releasing several more albums for Janus Records in the 1970`s including the
classics, Baby Batter, The Snake, and Shangrenade, the ground-breaking record where Harvey employed 2-handed fretboard tapping. Mandel was one of the first rock guitarists
to utilize this technique, years before Eddie Van Halen and Stanley Jordan came along.