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John Hammond, Jr.: Hot Tracks

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Vanguard Records
Released: 1979
Time:
 33:14
Category: Blues
Producer(s): John Hammond Jr.
Rating:
Media type: CD
Web address: www.johnhammond.com
Appears with:
Purchase date: 2012
Price in €: 1,00





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (Bo Diddley) - 3:17
[2] Who's Been Talking? (Chester Burnett / Howlin' Wolf) - 2:46
[3] Sugar Mama (John Lee Hooker) - 3:23
[4] Howlin' for My Darlin' (Chester Burnett / Willie Dixon / Howlin' Wolf) - 3:25
[5] You Better Watch Yourself (Little Walter) - 2:19
[6] Pretty Thing (Willie Dixon) - 2:59
[7] Caress Me Baby (Jimmy Reed) - 3:50
[8] Nadine (Chuck Berry) - 3:44
[9] Last Night (Little Walter) - 3:06
[10] Sweet Home Chicago (Marc Benno / Robert Johnson / Robert Leroy Johnson / Leon Russell) - 4:25

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


John Hammond, Jr. - Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals

The Nighthawks:
Jan Zukowski - Bass
Pete Rayusa - Drums
Jimmy Thackery - Guitar
Mark Weiner - Harmonica

Captain Jeff Zaraya - Engineer
Jules Halfant - Design

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


1979 LP Vanguard - VSD 79424
1996 CD Vanguard - VMD 79424



HOT TRACKS marked John Hammond’s return to his original label Vanguard following a short recording detour, fleetingly to Atlantic and then for a longer spell at Columbia (the company for which his father John Hammond Snr had recorded Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan, Bruce Spingsteen and many other seminal figures). Teaming John Jr with the Nighthawks, “Hot Tracks” paid tribute to the blues and R&B heroes who had first inspired him: legends such as Bo Diddley, Howling Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Little Walter, Jimmy Reed, Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry and Robert Johnson.

In 1979 when Hammond recorded this album, the dust from the punk rock explosion was only just beginning to settle. Many artists were looking to put some steel back into their musical backbones following a decade of encroaching MOR/soft country/disco sounds. The Nighthawks were a rock band drenched in the Chicago blues sound and a perfect foil to help restate Hammond’s urban bluesman stylings. The album’s sleevenote writer makes the point that Hammond’s sound retains much of the grit of the 60s British Rhythm & Blues bands (the Animals, Yardbirds, Rolling Stones et al) and this is true - he is probably closer to that ethos and sound than any other American singer and musician. His version of such blues as John Lee Hooker’s Sugar Mama are brooding performances with blistering amplified harmonica, spitting and growling electric guitar licks and a grindingly powerful rhythm section.

acerecords.co.uk



In September of 1979, John Hammond went into Vanguard Records' 23rd Street Studio in New York with the Nighthawks -- Jimmy Thackeray, guitar; Mark Wenner, harmonica; Jan Zukowski, bass; Pete Ragusa, drums -- and cut this record, one of his best (and which might've sold better with maybe some better cover art). The sounds are alternately hot and soulful on the ten-song collection, featuring covers of songs by Little Walter ("You Better Watch Yourself," "Last Night"), Chuck Berry ("Nadine"), Jimmy Reed ("Caress Me Baby," one of Hammond's slowest, most seductive numbers), and Robert Johnson ("Sweet Home Chicago"). Highlights include a stunningly beautiful rendition of Howlin' Wolf's "Who's Been Talkin'," a wailing reconsideration of John Lee Hooker's "Sugar Mama" with a really searing guitar break, a very powerful version of "Howlin' for My Darling," and even the best cover of Dixon's "Pretty Thing" this side of Bo Diddley himself, where Hammond and company manage to be raunchy and smooth at the same time. Nothing's going to make anyone forget Walter, Wolf, or Willie, but this isn't a bad way to spend 40 minutes, especially given the really crunchy guitar sound achieved by Jeff Zaraya and the uncredited producer. A real diamond in the rough, and one of Hammond's best albums.

Bruce Eder - All Music Guide
 

 L y r i c s


MAMA KEEP YOUR BIG MOUTH SHUT

Hey, mama, keep your big mouth shut
keep your big mouth shut
hey, mama, keep your big mouth shut
keep your big mouth shut
Your daughter she's old enough to make up her own mind
she's got sense enough to know, yeh
wether she wants to be mine
keep your big mouth shut
keep your big mouth shut
hey mama,keep your big mouth shut
keep your big mouth shut
I'm in love with your little girl
an' your little girl's in love with me
you know we're togeter now
an' oh how happy we could be if you'd
keep your big mouth shut
hey mama, keep your big mouth shut
keep your big mouth shut
You say i'm not good enough to be your daughter's man
but when trouble comes her way
i'll be right there to hold her hand
hey mama, keep your big mouth shut
keep your big mouth shut
Your daughter, she knows what she wants
an' she's got what she knows about
the way that she loves me, ouch, jus'
knocks me out
keep your big mouth shut
keep your big mouth shut
Hey mama, keep your big mouth shut
keep your big mouth shut
[spoken] get our coat an' hat
now go on home an' leave us alone


WHO'S TALKIN'

I felt the ghost of trouble leavin' town
a back draft rumble on a silver greyhound
can't say for sure now lookin' back
but a strange new feelin'is what I had
a voice said man get your things
get up off them old box springs
you got somewhere to go
you ain't been there before
some kind of thirst for something more

Who's there, who's there talkin' to me
who's there, who's there talkin' to me
who's there talkin' to me

The sign said this is where the road ends
on the back side it read it's where it begins
I walked into a painting by artist unknown
nobody was waiting I kept on goin'
I drew clear water from an old stone well
Up from the bottom came the voice again

Who's there, who's there talkin' to me
who's there, who's there talkin' to me
who's there talkin' to me

There once was a road through here I can tell
it's almost overgrown now but not quite yet
bracken tangle around my feet
night time's falling it's getting hard to see
I passed by a graveyard while headed easy
everybody there resting in peace
so thank you very much whoever you are
for letting a fool such as me get this far

Who's there, who's there talkin' to me
who's there, who's there talkin' to me
who's there talkin' to me
who's there talkin' to me
who's there talkin' to me


SUGAR MAMA

Sugar mama, sugar mama, sugar mama please come back to me
Sugar mama, sugar mama, sugar mama please come back to me
Bring me my granulated sugar1, sugar mama, and try to ease my misery

You've got this new grade of sugar, sugar mama, an you done made me love it too
You've got this new grade of sugar, sugar mama, an you done made me love it too
You've got this granulated sugar, sugar mama, ain't nobody else got, but you

They been braggin' 'bout your sugar, sugar mama, been braggin' all over town
They been braggin' 'bout your sugar, sugar mama, braggin' all over town
Now, the bootleggers2 want you to sell 'em enough to make whiskey,
but you won't sell 'em about four or five pounds

I like my coffee sweet in the mornin', you know, an I'm crazy 'bout my tea at night
I like my coffee sweet in the mornin', you know, an I'm crazy 'bout my tea at night
Don't get my sugar three times a day, oh, Lord, then I don't feel right


HOWLING FOR MY DARLING

She's hot like red pepper,
Sweet like cherry wine
I'm so glad she love me,
Love me all the time
She's my little baby,
Sweet as she can be
All this love she's got,
It belong to me
If you hear me howlin',
Callin' on my darlin'
Sayin' ooh-hoo-hoo-hooee

Every time she kiss me,
She make the lights go out
Up early in the morning,
She make me jump and shout
This bad love I've got,
Make me laugh and cry
Makes me really look,
That I'm too young to die
If you hear me howlin',
Callin' on my darlin'
Sayin' ooh-hoo-hoo-hooee

Every time she kiss me,
She make the lights go out
Up early in the morning,
She make me jump and shout
She my little baby,
Sweet as she can be
All this love she's got,
It belong to me
If you hear me howlin',
Callin' on my darlin'
Sayin' ooh-hoo-hoo-hooee
Hooh-hoo-hoo-hooee

She's hot like red pepper,
Sweet like cherry wine
I'm so glad she love me,
Love me all the time
This bad love I've got,
Make me laugh and cry
Makes me really look,
That I'm too young to die
If you hear me howlin',
Callin' on my darlin'
Sayin' ooh-hoo-hoo-hooee
Hooh-hoo-hoo-hooe


YOU BETTER WATCH YOURSELF

[Intro]

You better watch yourself
You better watch yourself
You better watch yourself
I've got my eyes on you

Well you steal my heart, and you go away
Don't tell me you'll see me another day
You better watch yourself
You better watch yourself
You better watch yourself
I've got my eyes on you

Well I give you all my love
All my things too
Fine Cadillac baby watcha gonna do?
You better watch yourself
You better watch yourself
You better watch yourself
I've got my eyes on you

[Solo]

Well people are talkin',
All over town
You say you're gonna love me but you put me down
You better watch yourself
You better watch yourself
You better watch yourself
I've got my eyes on you

[Outro]


PRETTY THING

You pretty thing
Let me buy you a wedding ring
Let me hear the choir sing
Oh you pretty thing

You pretty thing
Let me walk you down the aisle
Darling, where our love is found
Oh you pretty thing

Let me kiss you gentle
Squeeze and hug you tight
Let me give all my love
The rest of my life

You pretty thing
Let me hold you by my side
And become my blushing bride
You pretty thing

Pretty thing
Let me dedicate my life
You will always be my wife
Oh you pretty thing


CARESS ME BABY

Caress me baby, like the wind caress the trees
Caress me baby, like the wind caress the trees
I want cha' to love, love me baby, like a soft, soft summer breeze

Strollin' by the river on a real moonlighted night
Strollin' by the river on a real moonlighted night
I love you, you love me baby, er'ything gonna be alright


NADINE

As I got on a city bus and found a vacant seat
I thought I saw my future bride walking up the street
I shouted to the driver, "Hey conductor, you must slow down
I think I see her, please let me off the bus"

Nadine, honey is that you?
Oh, Nadine, honey is that you?
Seems like every time I see you
Darling, you got something else to do

I saw her from the corner when she turned and doubled back
And started walkin' toward a coffee colored Cadillac
I was pushin' through the crowd tryna get to where she's at
And I was campaign shouting like a southern diplomat

Nadine, honey is that you?
Oh, Nadine, honey where are you?
Seems like every time I catch you
But you're up to something new

Downtown searching for her, looking all around
Saw her getting in a yellow cab heading uptown
I caught a loaded taxi, paid up everybody's tab
Flip the twenty dollar bill and told him catch that yellow cab

Nadine, honey is that you?
Oh, Nadine, honey is that you?
Seems like every time I catch you
But you're up to something new

She moved around like a wayward summer breeze
Go, driver, go, go on, catch her for me please
Moving through the traffic like a mounted cavalier
Leaning out the taxi window trying to make her hear

Nadine, honey is that you?
Oh, Nadine, honey is that you?
Seems like every time I see you
Darling, you're up to something new


LAST NIGHT

Last night I lost the best friend I ever had
Last night I lost the best friend I ever had
Well, she gone off and left me, oh,
make me feel so bad
Well, it's early in the morning
when my love come falling down for you
Well, it's early in the morning, baby,
when my love come falling down for you
I want you to tell me, baby, tell me
what are we gonna do
Well, I'll wait till tomorrow,
they tell me every day brings some bottle of change
Well, I'll wait till tomorrow,
they tell me every day brings some bottle of change
Well, I love you, love you baby,
honey, ain't it a crying shame
Last night I lost the best friend I ever had
Last night I lost the best friend I ever had
Well, she gone off and left me,
oh, make me feel so bad


SWEET HOME CHICAGO

Ooh, baby don't you want to go?
Ooh, baby don't you want to go?
Back to the land of California1, to my sweet home Chicago

Ooh, baby don't you want to go?
Ooh, baby don't you want to go?
Back to the land of California1, to my sweet home Chicago

Now one and one is two, two and two is four
I'm heavy loaded baby, I'm booked, I gotta go
Cryin' baby, honey don't you want to go?
Back to the land of California1, to my sweet home Chicago

Now two and two is four, four and two is six
You gonna keep monkey'in 'round here friend-boy2,
you gonna get your business all in a trick
But I'm cryin' baby, honey don't you wanna go
Back to the land of California1, to my sweet home Chicago

Now six and two is eight, eight and two is ten
Friend-boy, she trick you one time, she sure gonna do it again
But I'm cryin' hey, baby don't you want to go
To the land of California1, to my sweet home Chicago

I'm goin' to California, from there to Des Moines, Iowa'y3
Somebody will tell me that you, need my help someday,
cryin', hey hey, baby don't you want to go
Back to the land of California1, to my sweet home Chicago

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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