Canned Heat & John Lee Hooker-Hooker N´Heat, Live at The Fox Venice Theater (1981)

Canned Heat always owed a debt to the great legends of the blues, hence their numerous covers of mythical bluesmen such as Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson II or Guitar Slim among many others. In mid-1970, the band wanted to pay tribute to one of the great bluesmen, John Lee Hooker, by inviting him to participate in their new album, which would eventually be titled "Hooker N' Heat". Released in 1971, it would be the last album to feature guitarist Alan Wilson, who passed away months before its release. Ten years later, singer Bob "The Bear" Hite wanted to honor his deceased former bandmate by organizing a concert at the Fox Venice Theater in Los Angeles. In addition to Canned Heat themselves and the Chambers Brothers providing backing vocals, he once again enlisted John Lee Hooker, among other guest musicians. At this concert, the spotlight was on the two vocal heavyweights (Hooker and Hite), whose sweaty performances, backed by the talented band composed of drummer Fito de La Parra, pianist Ronnie Barron, and guitarist Mark Skyer, delivered a repertoire brimming with blues feeling and boogie rock. The swaggering "Hell Hound", featuring Hite's commanding vocals and Hooker's sublime guitar, leads into the delightful blues numbers "The House of Blue Lights" and "Open Up Your Back Door". Hite, on the other hand, makes a majestic entrance with the medley "Let's Work Together"/"Going Up the Country". Meanwhile, John Lee Hooker maintains his commanding presence with his indomitable voice and stirring guitar in the fiery laments "It Hurts Me Too" and "It Serves Me Right to Surf".