John Lee Hooker | Sings The Blues [LP]

The album That’s My Story was recorded for the Riverside label in February 1960. This Orrin 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. Orrin 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 always compelling.