Canned Heat With John Lee Hooker – Carnegie Hall 1971 | Album Review


cannedheatjohnleehookercdCanned Heat With John Lee Hooker – Carnegie Hall 1971

www.cannedheatmusic.com

Cleopatra Records

songs-6 time-49:53

Canned Heat and one of their major influences John Lee Hooker recorded live at the venerable Carnegie Hall shortly after the release of the boogie summit recording “Hooker’n’Heat”. Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson died shortly after the recording to be replaced by guitarist-vocalist Joel Scott Hill. Bassist Antonio de la Barreda was also added to he band. This is the outfit that toured with John Lee Hooker behind the release. They performed separately and together. Unfortunately for some inexplicable reason the entire show wasn’t recorded. What remains is of varying quality. The vocals were mixed way high up with the band sounding distant during vocal passages. At times the guitars sound unintentionally distorted. The performances themselves are of varying quality, but what remains is an interesting meeting of mentor and protégés.

“Framed”, a song I never heard done by Canned Heat is presented here in a good version although as elsewhere the sound is off. Henry “The Sunflower” Vestine lends his trademark acid-drenched guitar sound to a sprightly take on “Let’s Work Together”. John Lee Hooker joins the band for “Hey Babe” with a powerful vocal. He appears briefly Shake’n’Boogie” which turns out to be a noisy and messy boogie workout.

Guitar feedback leads into a fleet-fingered guitar intro from Henry that turns into a noisy version of “Back Door Man” with harsh sounding vocals by Bob “The Bear” Hite and Joel Scott Hill. The guitar playing is pretty much a mess and we get an ok drum solo from Fito de la Parra displaying his amazing bass drum skills. Remember any self-respecting band in the late sixties and early seventies had to have a long drum solo. Hooker and the band close things out with a nicely rollicking “Tease Me Baby” featuring some good but un-credited piano playing.

Although John Lee Hooker gets some quality time here Cleopatra Records’ Canned Heat-Stockholm 1973 release is of much better quality. This recording serves as a document of a highly touted collaboration of the seventies rock era. There are some good moments here, but a few too many slipshod ones. Some good Canned Heat is better than none.

Please follow and like us:
0