Canned Heat & John Lee Hooker — Hooker 'N Heat

Record Store Day 2019 Exclusive Yellow and Brown color vinyl / The performances by Hooker as a soloist on the first 5 or 6 tracks reveal an artist at the height of his powers. John Lee Hooker is still as vigorous and dynamic as a young man yet measured and sensitive as a veteran. They miked his right foot for the whole album so his stomping out the boogie beat adds to his strong vocals and masterful guitar work. Messin' With the Hook, Send Me Your Pillow are up tempo boogies while The Feeling Is Gone and Sittin' Here Thinkin" are soulful reflective blues.
When Alan Wilson joins him for the next half dozen tracks, you can hear two gifted musicians playing off one another. The Blind Owl accompanies JLH on harp, slide guitar and piano. In between cuts JLH talks about his approach to the album and his amazement at Wilson's ability to follow along and play off his guitar. You Talk Too Much and Burning Hell are my favorites. In the latter track you can feel the hellfire blazing. This was Alan Wilson's last recording session before his untimely death. That's why his photo appears on the wall behind the rest of the players on the cover art.