Boogie Chillen
On the way to the Oregon coast I put on Hooker N Heat and listened to it for the first time. I have to admit I double checked that I selected the right playlist when the album first started. The album starts out pretty much with John Lee Hooker on his own. It isn’t until a few tracks have gone past that you start to hear that amazing harmonica playing of Alan Wilson kicking in. The first few tracks are ok, not great but ok. They are not too much beyond of the formula of Hooker’s stripped down blues except these tracks do not cut right through you to your soul like most of his stuff can.
For me, it’s not until about 7 tracks into the first disc when “Drifter” comes on and then it just grinds that slow blues pain out for the whole 5 minute track. The playful back and forth between Hooker and Wilson is amazing on this track. The album goes right into “You Talk Too Much” an up tempo shuffle that just gets your toes tapping and your heart aching at the same time. With the tempo slowly rising into a rolling groove, this track gives a large hint at what is to come for the rest of the album. “Burning Hell” is another great track that takes some time to get started after a few minutes of studio chatter. The album continues it’s groove straight to the end and finishes up with a kick ass version of Boogie Chillen No. 2 that you can hear for yourself. After that, go Buy it