Hooker 'n Heat
1971 studio album by John Lee Hooker & Canned Heat
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Hooker 'n Heat is a double album released by blues musician John Lee Hooker and the band Canned Heat in early 1971.
| Hooker 'n Heat | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 15, 1971 | |||
| Recorded | May 1970[1] | |||
| Studio | Liberty Records, Los Angeles, California | |||
| Genre | Blues | |||
| Length | 83:40 | |||
| Label | Liberty | |||
| Producer | Bob Hite, Skip Taylor | |||
| John Lee Hooker chronology | ||||
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| Canned Heat chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Hooker 'n Heat | ||||
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It was the first of Hooker's albums to chart, reaching number 73 on the Billboard 200 chart.[2] Hooker plays unaccompanied on side one and "Alimonia Blues"; on the remainder of side two and "The World Today" and "I Got My Eyes on You" Hooker is accompanied by Alan Wilson on various instruments. The full band plays with Hooker on the rest of side three and all of side four.[3]
The song "Whiskey and Wimmen" was released as a single.[4]
Release and reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [5] |
| Record Collector | [6] |
Hooker 'n Heat was released on January 15, 1971,[3][7] and has received positive reviews from critics. The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings describes the album as “one of the few occasions when younger musicians partnered [Hooker] to wholly beneficial effect.”[5]
Album cover art
This was the last studio album to feature harmonica player, guitarist and songwriter Alan Wilson, who died of a drug overdose in September 1970.[7] The photo of the band for the album cover was taken after Wilson's death, but his picture can be seen in a frame on the wall behind John Lee Hooker. Guitarist Henry Vestine was also missing from the photo session. The person standing in front of the window, filling in for Henry, is the band's manager, Skip Taylor.[8] Careful examination of the photo reveals that Henry's face was later added by the art department.[8] Although featured on the cover, vocalist Bob Hite does not sing on the album.
Track listing
All songs written by John Lee Hooker except as noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Messin' with the Hook" | 3:23 |
| 2. | "The Feelin' Is Gone" | 4:32 |
| 3. | "Send Me Your Pillow" | 4:48 |
| 4. | "Sittin' Here Thinkin'" | 4:07 |
| 5. | "Meet Me in the Bottom" | 3:34 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Alimonia Blues" | 4:31 | |
| 2. | "Drifter" | Charles Brown, Johnny Moore, Eddie Williams | 4:57 |
| 3. | "You Talk Too Much" | 3:16 | |
| 4. | "Burning Hell" | John Lee Hooker, Bernard Besman | 5:28 |
| 5. | "Bottle Up and Go" | Tommy McClennan | 2:27 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The World Today" | 7:47 |
| 2. | "I Got My Eyes on You" | 4:26 |
| 3. | "Whiskey and Wimmen" | 4:37 |
| 4. | "Just You and Me" | 7:42 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Let's Make It" | 4:06 | |
| 2. | "Peavine" | 5:07 | |
| 3. | "Boogie Chillen' No. 2" | John Lee Hooker, Bernard Besman | 11:33 |
Charts
| Chart (1971) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian (Kent Music Report)[9] | 24 |
| US Billboard 200[2] | 73 |
Personnel
- Canned Heat
- Alan Wilson - harmonica; piano on "Bottle Up and Go" and "The World Today"; rhythm guitar on "I Got My Eyes on You" and "Peavine"
- Henry Vestine - electric guitar on "Whiskey and Wimmen," "Just You and Me," "Let's Make It," and "Boogie Chillen' No. 2"
- Antonio de la Barreda - bass
- Adolfo de la Parra - drums
- Bob Hite - producer