Hooker 'n Heat (1971)

"Canned Heat are the best back-up band Hooker has recorded with since those anonymously blazing hot shot country groups in the early Fifties. They are very much a back-up group here, making this one of Hooker's best albums in a long while. They have caught Hooker in a variety of settings: soloist in his own characteristic idiom; playing a fantastic series of duets with the late Al Wilson; and fronting the entire band (minus Bob Hite, who spread his infectious humor from the control booth) for some righteous, raunchy boogie. The second album in this 2-record set is given over to band numbers, and it's the best of the two. Al Wilson is very strong throughout, mostly in a very subtle way. Hooker and Wilson's generation-spanning empathy is very evident here. Henry Vestine, who had recently rejoined the band, is also very strong. And mention should be made of the earth-moving power of Antonio de la Barreda and Adolfo de la Parra. the Heat's south-of-the-border rhythm section. Let 'em boogie!" (Rolling Stone, 1981)