egroj world: John Lee Hooker • That's My Story

Thursday, January 30, 2025

John Lee Hooker • That's My Story

Review
by Alex Henderson
Although Orrin Keepnews' Riverside Records was primarily a jazz label, the company dabbled in blues in the 1960s -- and one of the bluesmen who recorded for Riverside was John Lee Hooker. Recorded in 1960, this Keepnews-produced session came at a time when Hooker was signed to Vee-Jay. The last thing Keepnews wanted to do was emulate Hooker's electric-oriented, very amplified Vee-Jay output, which fared well among rock and R&B audiences. Keepnews had an acoustic country blues vision for the bluesman, and That's My Story favors a raw, stripped-down, bare-bones approach -- no electric guitar, no distortion, no singles aimed at rock & rollers. Over the years, Hooker fans have debated the merits of his Riverside albums. Some much prefer him in an electric setting; others applaud the rural vision that Keepnews had for him. But, truth be told, both approaches are equally valid. While many of his electric recordings are stunning, he is also well served by the rawness that Keepnews goes for on That's My Story. From the sobering "Gonna Use My Rod" (which finds Hooker warning that he will shoot anyone who fools around with his wife) to the gospel-themed "One of These Days," Hooker's performances are often compelling. Most of the time, he is joined by two jazz musicians, acoustic bassist Sam Jones and drummer Louis Hayes, both Cannonball Adderley sidemen at the time. However, the blues giant is unaccompanied on a few selections, including the autobiographical title song and the overtly political "Democrat Man" (a passionate endorsement of the Democratic Party). While That's My Story falls short of essential, it is a solid, rewarding product of Hooker's association with Keepnews and Riverside Records.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/thats-my-story-mw0000267575

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Reseña
por Alex Henderson
Aunque Riverside Records de Orrin Keepnews era principalmente un sello de jazz, la compañía incursionó en el blues en la década de 1960 - y uno de los bluesmen que grabó para Riverside fue John Lee Hooker. Grabada en 1960, esta sesión producida por Keepnews llegó en un momento en que Hooker había firmado con Vee-Jay. Lo último que quería hacer Keepnews era emular la producción de Hooker con Vee-Jay, orientada a la electricidad y muy amplificada, que funcionaba bien entre el público del rock y el R&B. Keepnews tenía una visión de country blues acústico para el bluesman, y That's My Story favorece un enfoque crudo, despojado, desnudo: sin guitarra eléctrica, sin distorsión, sin singles dirigidos a los rock & rollers. A lo largo de los años, los fans de Hooker han debatido los méritos de sus álbumes de Riverside. Algunos le prefieren en formato eléctrico; otros aplauden la visión rural que Keepnews tenía de él. Pero, a decir verdad, ambos enfoques son igualmente válidos. Aunque muchas de sus grabaciones eléctricas son impresionantes, también le beneficia la crudeza que Keepnews busca en That's My Story. Desde la aleccionadora "Gonna Use My Rod" (en la que Hooker advierte de que disparará a cualquiera que tontee con su mujer) a la de tema gospel "One of These Days", las interpretaciones de Hooker son a menudo convincentes. La mayoría de las veces le acompañan dos músicos de jazz, el bajista acústico Sam Jones y el batería Louis Hayes, ambos compañeros de Cannonball Adderley en aquella época. Sin embargo, el gigante del blues está solo en algunas selecciones, incluida la canción autobiográfica que da título al disco y la abiertamente política "Democrat Man" (un apasionado apoyo al Partido Demócrata). Aunque That's My Story no llega a ser esencial, es un producto sólido y gratificante de la asociación de Hooker con Keepnews y Riverside Records.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/thats-my-story-mw0000267575

Tracks:
1 - I Need Some Money - 2:25
2 - Come On And See About Me - 3:06
3 - I'm Wanderin' - 5:12
4 - Democrat Man - 3:27
5 - I Want To Talk About You - 3:02
6 - Gonna Use My Rod - 4:20
7 - Wednesday Evenin' Blues - 3:34
8 - No More Doggin' - 2:42
9 - One Of These Days - 4:05
10 - I Believe I'll Go Back Home - 3:42
11 - You're Leavin' Me, Baby - 3:51
12 - That's My Story - 4:34

Credits:
    Bass – Sam Jones (tracks: 1, 3, 5 to 11)
    Drum – Louis Hayes (tracks: 1, 3, 5 to 11)
    Guitar, Vocals, Written-By – John Lee Hooker
    Producer – Orrin Keepnews
    Remastered By – Phil De Lancie

Label: - Riverside Records – 12-321
Country: - US
Released: - 1960
Genre: - Blues
Style: - Delta Blues