Arhoolie Records
1969
Two Bugs & A Roach
About This Album
For a compact disc reissue of Earl Hooker's debut, Arhoolie added some tracks to the original lineup, making for a much more varied package. In addition to the contents of Two Bugs and a Roach (itself a varied lot, with vocals from Hooker, Andrew Odom, and Carey Bell in between the instrumentals, all cut in 1968), there are two tracks from stray sessions in late 1968 and July, 1969, along with four very early sides probably recorded in Memphis in the company of Pinetop Perkins, Willie Nix, and an unknown bass player. Of these, "Guitar Rag" is the least together, hampered by a bass player who can't find the changes, but "I'm Going Down the Line" and "Earl's Boogie Woogie" are both top-notch uptempo boogies full of fleet fingered soloing. "Sweet Black Angel" was the A-side of a stray single from the early '50s and appears to be from another session, although it's an excellent example of Hooker playing in the Robert Night Hawk style. All in all, one of the must-haves in this artist's very small discography. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10)

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