Hooker 'n Heat

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
Studio album by John Lee Hooker & Canned Heat
Released	January 15, 1971
Recorded	May 1970 (1970-05)[1]
Studio	Liberty Records, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Blues
Length	83:40
Label	Liberty
Producer	Bob Hite, Skip Taylor
John Lee Hooker chronology
Get Back Home in the U.S.A. (1970) Hooker 'n Heat (1971) Goin' Down Highway 51 (1971)
Canned Heat chronology
Canned Heat '70 Concert Live in Europe (1970) Hooker 'n Heat (1971) Live at Topanga Corral (1971)
Singles from Hooker 'n Heat
"Whiskey and Wimmen" Released: May 1971

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 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

Professional ratings

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 in September 1970 (1970-09) from a drug overdose.^[7] The photo on 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.

Side one

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

Side two

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

Side three

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

Side four

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

• John Lee Hooker - vocals, guitars

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