Got Love If You Want It

John Hammond

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 29, 1992)
• Original Release Date: April 28, 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B000000WIL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #173,137 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This is one of the best efforts of John Hammond's career. It features the old blues numbers that have been a staple of Hammond's work, but with a slippery, playful funkiness that was never there before. Hammond has always had a strong voice, and the music flows out of him more naturally and appealingly than ever before. In fact, he sounds so at ease that he falls right in with Charles Brown on the two numbers where Mr. "Drifting Blues" himself plays piano. Little Charlie & the Nightcats back up Hammond on seven of the album's dozen tracks. They introduce an easy-going swing to numbers by Little Walter, Johnny "Guitar" Watson and Howlin' Wolf that allows Hammond to give these old songs a new spin and make them his own. --Geoffrey Himes

From Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD
In the 1990s, Hammond's voice, guitar, and harp are those rarest of all instruments: the mediums of African-American expression managed absolutely by a white blues performer. Using producer J. J. Cale's band, Lil' Charlie and the Night- cats, and John Lee Hooker to prime advantage, he sends a steady charge of subtle fervency through backwoods or citified tunes from the likes of Charles Brown, Tom Waits, Chuck Berry, and Son House (whose "Preachin' the Blues" finds interpreter Hammond almost speaking in tongues). -- © Frank John Hadley 1993

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic mix of acoustic and electric artistry., October 28, 1999

By	Brett Zuver ([e-mail]) (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews

Got Love If You Want It is a spectacular album to introduce people to the vetran troubador of country blues-John Hammond. It has a great mix of solo acoustic songs paired with songs where John is backed by Little Charlie and the Nightcats as well as a great duet with John Lee Hooker. The two highlights for me are "No One Can Forgive Me But My Baby", written especially for John by Tom Waits, and John's cover of the Son House (or Robert Johnson) classic, "Preachin' Blues". The former is a perfect example of Hammond's pounding, rhythmic, solo acoustic playing paired with his great harp work; while the latter is an exercise in raw emotion and National Steel guitar slide licks and powerful singing (Hammond often closes his shows with this number-a showstopper).

This is a perfect blend of the Chicago sound blended with pre-war Delta sounds-a hands down winner!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars guaranteed to melt a woman's heart, March 4, 2001

By	booknblueslady (Woodland, CA United States) - See all my reviews

John Hammond continues to perform blues with a passion for the music. He has a voice, guaranteed to melt a woman's heart which is suited to the songs he chooses. He has a reputation as a skilled performer among fans and musicians alike.

Standout songs on this cd are Driftin' Blues, Nadine and No one Can Forgive Me but My Baby. Hammond gets an assist from John Lee Hooker on Driftin Blues. Their rendition is worth the price of the cd alone. Also helping Hammond out on this cd are Little Charlie and The Nightcats musicians Rick Estrin on Harmonica and Charlie Baty on guitar. They are slick veteran musicians who add to this sleek production.

This is a worthy record for a blues collection, especially those fond of acoustic blues. Those wanting to "keep the blues alive " should support a performer who has over the years done so much to foster an appreciation of the blues throughout the country.

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid blues, August 6, 2008

A Kid's Review

This album has some standout tracks, including Hammond's version of "You Don't Love Me," which most of us probably know better through the Allman Brother's version on the Fillmore East album, and "No One Can Forgive Me But My Baby," which I understand Tom Waits wrote for Hammond. Sure sounds like it. Bummer this is out of print, because this is solid, classic stuff.