Two Bugs and a Roach

by Earl Hooker

Overview

Earl Hooker's Two Bugs and a Roach is a varied lot, with vocals from Hooker, Andrew Odom, and Carey Bell in between the instrumentals, all cut in 1968. All in all, it's one of the must-haves in this artist's very small discography -- a nice representative sample from Chicago's unsung master of the electric guitar, including the title track, "Anna Lee," and the atmospheric instrumental, "Off the Hook." [For a compact disc reissue, Arhoolie added some tracks to the original lineup, including 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.] ~ Barry Lee Pearson & Cub Koda

Product Details

Release Date:	02/17/1993
Label:	ARHOOLIE RECORDS
UPC:	0096297032428

Tracks

1. Two Bugs and a Roach
2. Wah Wah Blues
3. You Don't Love Me
4. Earl Hooker Blues
5. Anna Lee
6. Off the Hook
7. Love Ain't a Plaything
8. You Don't Want Me
9. The Hook
10. New Sweet Black Angel
11. I'm Going Down the Line
12. Sweet Black Angel
13. Guitar Rag
14. Earl's Boogie Woogie

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Earl Hooker   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Pinetop Perkins   Piano
Gino Skaggs   Bass,Vocals
Levi Warren   Drums
Andrew Odom   Guitar,Vocals
Carey Bell   Harmonica
Louis Myers   Harmonica
W. Williams   Drums

Technical Credits

Robert McCullum   Composer
Chris Strachwitz   Producer,Photography
Wayne Pope   Artwork
Earl Hooker   Composer