John Lee Hooker’s She’s Long, She’s Tall (She Weeps Like a Willow Tree): Hidden Live Blues Treasure

Before John Lee Hooker became “Johnny” he put out a little known live record in 1967, which was when Live at Café Au-Go-Go. Recorded at Café Au-Go-Go in New York City, Hooker was backed by Muddy Waters himself and other members of Waters’ band. This is a stripped back and low key live blues record that shows you another side of the artist.

One of the more stripped back and raw tracks is She’s Long, She’s Tall (She Weeps Like a Willow Tree). Flanked by Muddy Waters and his band, the track jumps out with some classic Johnny Lee Hooker strumming and some drums that really snap. There is a great deal of energy here and you can get some of the live vibe off of this track. The slightly sped up 4/4 time never lets up and the track itself has a great pace and drive. This is a classic blues arrangement performed perfectly. Furthermore, the track speaks to how talented Muddy Waters and his band is, because they flawlessly deliver the track and sound like they have been playing with Johnny Lee Hooker for 15 years.

Vocally this track gives you that smokey Johnny Lee Hooker timbre you love. He is both so smooth and so powerful…it is a tremendous vocal. Most of the time, this vocal is a perfect fit for his tracks about regret, drinking to forget your troubles or the world getting him down. On this track, Johnny dreams about a sexy woman he sees walking down the street. Hooker singing about how she “shakes like a willow tree” is the best euphemism for a nice ass I have ever heard. Hooker sings about seeing her, meeting up later that night, getting some “lovin,” and then boasting about how he is getting with her…gentlemen don’t tell Johnny…you naughty boy. In line with Johhny’s music, I can see this woman dumping him and leading him to record One Bourbon, One Scotch and One Beer…but that’s just my theory.

This is a great early live time capsule of Hooker’s music that is a joy to go through. The sound production is great and you can feel the intimate audience on this record. Moreover, the backing band is super tight and tracks are impeccably performed. If you are a blues fan, this is a fantastic little known live gem that you have to add to you collection.

Listen to: She’s Long, She’s Tall (She Shakes Like a Willow Tree)