Great White — Can't Get There from Here

intothewellsabyss
Jul 6, 2023
3 min read

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

24 years ago today, Great White said there “Ain’t No Shame” in “Rollin’ Stoned”!

On this day (July 6) in 1999, Great White released their ninth full-length studio album “Can't Get There from Here” via Portrait Records. The album was produced by Night Ranger/Damn Yankees bassist/vocalist Jack Blades. The track "Rollin' Stoned" was released as a promo single and received airplay on mainstream rock radio, while the album peaked at No. 192 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Background:

In 1999, after the release of “Can't Get There from Here”, Great White embarked on the “Summer Jam 99’ tour with headliners Poison, which also featured fellow L.A. bands RATT and L.A. GUNS. The albums featured single, "Rollin' Stoned" managed to chart at No. 8 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Aftermath:

In a memo dated January 20, 2000 Mark Kendall announced he was taking a hiatus from Great White. Shortly thereafter both Audie Desbrow and Sean McNabb left Great White. Russell continued to tour with guitarist Matthew Johnson. Desbrow, clearly very unhappy with the financial state of the band and Russell's addiction problems, posted a tirade on his website lambasting Jack Russell while claiming to have been "fired" from Great White. Meanwhile, it was rumored that Sean McNabb was fired for going to management and asking to see the accounting books, but the truth was, he was policing Russell's drug use and Jack wasn't into it. It was soon after that, the band mutually agreed that they needed a break, since many of the members were more interested in doing outside projects.

Critical Reception:

Rock Hard gave the album a rating of 8.5/10, stating;

“A disc as if from a single mould, with consistently strong songwriting and the usual transparent production, which makes every single blues vibe and every scratchy tone sound so real, as if guitarist Mark Kendall, singer Jack Russell and their robust rascals were about to walk through the door marching. And, that they don't repeat themselves despite maintaining their classic style is proven by tracks like the rough uptempo breaker “Gone To The Dogs”, the funny Guns N' Roses-meets-Beatles homage “Silent Knight” or that Don Dokken co-produced foghorn “Psychedelic Hurricane”.

"Expected" highlights of proven shot, grain and feeling are the “Freedom Song”, “Hey Mister”, the sunset number “In The Tradition” as well as “Rollin' Stoned” and “Wooden Jesus”, which have already been tried and tested on tour. Rock 'N' Roll to the very core, including the LA-ironic cover artwork."

Personal Note:

I caught this tour with my brother Shane at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan.

Great White’s setlist was as follows:

Call It Rock 'n' Roll

Face the Day (The Angels cover)

Lady Red Light

Wooden Jesus

Can't Shake It (The Angels cover)

House of Broken Love

Mista Bone

Save Your Love

The Angel Song

Going to California (Led Zeppelin cover)

Ramble On (Led Zeppelin cover)

Rollin' Stoned

Rock Me

Once Bitten Twice Shy

Great White’s lineup for this tour was:

Jack Russell - Lead Vocals

Mark Kendall - Lead Guitar

Sean McNabb - Bass, Backing Vocals

Myron Grombacher - Drums

Michael Lardie - Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards, Harmonica, Backing Vocals

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “Can't Get There from Here” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/cant-get-there-from-here/162426490

Click this link to listen to “Can't Get There from Here” via Spotify: Can't Get There From Here https://open.spotify.com/album/4YHmbZbBNbtkiiLDVOeqeJ

Click this link to follow Great White on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreatWhiteOfficial/

Click this link to follow Jack Russell’s Great White on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JackRussellsGreatWhite

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

Great White — Can't Get There from Here

Background:

Aftermath:

Critical Reception:

Personal Note:

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

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