Godson of Soul

Be the first to write a review

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Michael G. Nastos
Ellis Hooks had parents who, on either side of his heritage, were involved in theology, or were liquor runners. Coming from the heart of Alabama and heading to Europe, Japan, and New York to find his stardom, Hooks has become a classic soul singer in the mode of Arthur Alexander, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and Otis Clay. He uses a rock & roll or funk base in his rhythm, as there is more an emphasis on the down strokes rather than traditional back porch or rural sounds. He sports solid, unspectacular vocal chops, very good range, a gritty but not raw quality, and a repertoire that does reflect the up and down blues of life. Hooks wrote or co-wrote all of the material...
See more details below
This CD is Not Available through BN.com
See All Options

More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Michael G. Nastos
Ellis Hooks had parents who, on either side of his heritage, were involved in theology, or were liquor runners. Coming from the heart of Alabama and heading to Europe, Japan, and New York to find his stardom, Hooks has become a classic soul singer in the mode of Arthur Alexander, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and Otis Clay. He uses a rock & roll or funk base in his rhythm, as there is more an emphasis on the down strokes rather than traditional back porch or rural sounds. He sports solid, unspectacular vocal chops, very good range, a gritty but not raw quality, and a repertoire that does reflect the up and down blues of life. Hooks wrote or co-wrote all of the material here, with compositional and instrumental help from multi-instrumentalist and producer Jon Tiven and his wife, electric bass guitarist Sally Tiven. Occasionally veteran Chester Thompson or Billy Block pound out the punchy beats. On the upside, Hooks plays the slick gambler with a horn complement for the steady "High Roller," the re-formed playboy on the fast "Little Bitta Lovin'," and sings praise for humanity and love during "You Changed My Life." He's at he bottom of the barrel, with no family or home next to Jon Tiven's shimmering guitar on "Five Times," does a self-doubting/baby left me tune with "Black Nights, Blue Moon," and endures self-examination in "A Phase I'm Going Through." Mason Casey contributes some fine harmonica licks for the post-sex theme "Show Me Your Love," and rips up the shuffle boogie "Rock My Stone" with Jon Tiven shining on slide guitar. Steve Cropper makes a cameo guitar appearance on the nonplussed "Was It Something I Said?," while Marty Brown helps Hooks vocally, trying to wriggle out of the hustle on a woman opposite her seven foot boyfriend on "Chainsaw" (the lyric is, he needs a "chainsaw" to get out of this mess). Not so much blues as Memphis soul, but done well, Ellis Hooks has a fine future ahead of him, as this CD clearly indicates.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 8/9/2005
  • Label: Evidence
  • UPC: 730182613223
  • Catalog Number: 26132

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Ellis Hooks Primary Artist, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocals
Marty Brown Vocals
Steve Cropper Guitar
Bobby Womack Vocals
Chester Thompson Drums
Essra Mohawk Background Vocals
Billy Block Drums
Wayne Jackson Trombone, Trumpet
Jon Tiven Harmonica, Piano, Drums, Electric Guitar, Harp, Hammond Organ, Alto Saxophone, Hammond B3
Sally Tiven Bass Guitar
Laurence Singer Background Vocals
Mason Casey Harp
Technical Credits
Marty Brown Composer
Steve Cropper Composer
Jim DeMain Mastering
Jon Tiven Composer, Producer, Audio Production
Charlie Feldman Composer
Sally Tiven Composer
Steve Rogers Cover Photo
Ellis Hooks Composer
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously