John Lee Hooker – Mr. Lucky
This 1992 release was one of the jump-starters of Hooker’s ump-teenth career revival. This release is jam-packed with guest stars and has some great music.
Opening with Johnnie Johnson pounding the piano as only he can, “I Want to Hug You” is a super boogie-woogie and a fine beginning. I know almost nothing about Robert Cray, other than that he was another one of the new breed of blues players in the 80's, but his band backs up John Lee on the title track, a solid blues rocker, though nothing outstanding.
Albert Collins, on the other hand, bursts out with some incendiary licks on “Backstabbers”, a slow blues burner with some nice interplay between guitar, keys and sax and John’s passionate vocals. Albert really slays here! None other than Nick Lowe provides the groovy bass foundation for the swinging “This is Hip”, while Ry Cooder slips his slide riffs throughout. “I Cover the Waterfront” is a quiet blues ballad with the indomitable Booker T. on organ and Van Morrison on guitar and while this is a strong, emotional tune, neither guest really gets a chance to shine.
Following this is another low-key blue ballad, “Highway 13”, with John Hammond adding some sweet slide work around Hooker’s own unique licks. Very neat in a “Serves You Right to Suffer” vein. As much as I like Carlos Santana’s work in the 60’s and 70’s, I really don’t care for his new polished sound or for the smooth jazz of “Stripped Me Naked” – not a good song, not a good performance and frankly, a bit boring.
Johnny Winter is still a charge of electrical lighting when his guitar slices the speakers and “Susie” is propelled by his wild, imaginative ideas. This is really a showcase for him – Hooker is over-shadowed but does his best to keep up. Reprising his masterwork “Crawlin’ Kingsnake” with Keith Richards, they both show they still have it in them as they trade riffs and keep a fabulous groove going and pay homage and do justice to the stellar original. John Hammond returns to end the record with another patented Hooker boogie – this time done acoustically – with “Father Was a Jockey”, where JLH really belts out the lyrics. A terrific closer!
Not really in league with his older work, but the man was still capable of some fine boogie. I certainly wouldn’t start with this, but it’s a cool record that shows that the Hook still had it in him even in his later years.
Opening with Johnnie Johnson pounding the piano as only he can, “I Want to Hug You” is a super boogie-woogie and a fine beginning. I know almost nothing about Robert Cray, other than that he was another one of the new breed of blues players in the 80's, but his band backs up John Lee on the title track, a solid blues rocker, though nothing outstanding.
Albert Collins, on the other hand, bursts out with some incendiary licks on “Backstabbers”, a slow blues burner with some nice interplay between guitar, keys and sax and John’s passionate vocals. Albert really slays here! None other than Nick Lowe provides the groovy bass foundation for the swinging “This is Hip”, while Ry Cooder slips his slide riffs throughout. “I Cover the Waterfront” is a quiet blues ballad with the indomitable Booker T. on organ and Van Morrison on guitar and while this is a strong, emotional tune, neither guest really gets a chance to shine.
Following this is another low-key blue ballad, “Highway 13”, with John Hammond adding some sweet slide work around Hooker’s own unique licks. Very neat in a “Serves You Right to Suffer” vein. As much as I like Carlos Santana’s work in the 60’s and 70’s, I really don’t care for his new polished sound or for the smooth jazz of “Stripped Me Naked” – not a good song, not a good performance and frankly, a bit boring.
Johnny Winter is still a charge of electrical lighting when his guitar slices the speakers and “Susie” is propelled by his wild, imaginative ideas. This is really a showcase for him – Hooker is over-shadowed but does his best to keep up. Reprising his masterwork “Crawlin’ Kingsnake” with Keith Richards, they both show they still have it in them as they trade riffs and keep a fabulous groove going and pay homage and do justice to the stellar original. John Hammond returns to end the record with another patented Hooker boogie – this time done acoustically – with “Father Was a Jockey”, where JLH really belts out the lyrics. A terrific closer!
Not really in league with his older work, but the man was still capable of some fine boogie. I certainly wouldn’t start with this, but it’s a cool record that shows that the Hook still had it in him even in his later years.
posted by rich @ 1:58 PM
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