Earl Hooker - The Moon Is Rising

Album: The Moon Is Rising
Size: 182,4 MB
Time: 78:59
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1998
Styles: Blues
Art: Full

1. The Moon Is Rising (7:01)
2. Earl's Blues (3:22)
3. Conversion Blues (4:48)
4. Guitar Rag (4:34)
5. Hooker N' Steve (6:45)
6. I'm Your Main Man (3:38)
7. New Riviera (4:18)
8. Strung Out Woman Blues (4:58)
9. Little Carey's Jump (3:51)
10. Take Me Back To East St. Louis (4:13)
11. Improvisations On Dust My Broom (7:43)
12. Improvisations On Frosty (6:40)
13. Can't Hold Out Much Longer (9:13)
14. Swingin' At Theresa's (7:49)

The first eight tracks of this 79-minute compilation of late-'60s material originally appeared on Arhoolie's Hooker'n'Steve LP; a couple of others showed up on Arhoolie's His First & Last Recordings, while the four remaining cuts were previously unreleased. Hooker didn't have long to live when these were laid down in 1968 and (for the most part) 1969, but he's in real good form on guitar, although he only takes an occasional vocal (other band members help out on other tracks, and some are instrumental).

Indications are from the liner notes that the sessions were run on a no-frills budget, but it's very respectable '60s Chicago electric blues with a shade of funky soul and a hot live feel, and Hooker's guitar has an upfront bite and presence. Actually, the instrumentals are highlights, particularly "Hooker N' Steve" with its smoking guitar-organ duets. /Richie Unterberger, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

The Moon Is Rising mc
The Moon Is Rising zippy

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