Hoppkorv

Hot Tuna | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 16, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA Fs Imports
• ASIN: B00005B74Q
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #272,783 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Santa Claus Retreat

2. Watch the North Wind Rise

3. It's So Easy

4. Bowlegged Woman, Knock Kneed Man

5. Drivin' Around

6. I Wish You Would

7. I Can't Be Satisfied

8. Talking 'Bout You

9. Extrication Love Song

10. Song from the Stainless Cymbal

Editorial Reviews

Originally released on Grunt. While Hot Tuna will forever be known first & foremost as an acoustic-based outfit, their 1976 release, 'HOPPKORV', showed that the band could rock with the best of them as well. 'HOPPKORV' remains one of Tuna's most straightforward releases compositionally & musically, as none of the tracks are extended by lengthy jams, giving the entire album an enticing 'wham bam thank you m'am' feel. Kaukonen & Casady get back to basics on such highlights as covers of Chuck Berry's 'Talkin' Bout You' & Buddy Holly's 'It's So Easy,' while the Kaukonen-penned 'Watch the North Wind Rise' remains one of Hot Tuna's best all-time originals. Fans of blues-based hard rock (a la Led Zeppelin) should definitely give 'HOPPKORV' a spin. 10 tracks. RCA/BMG. 2001.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite Tuna albums -- a classic!, February 20, 2009

By 

Johnny Boy "The Record Collector" (Hockessin, DE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hoppkorv (Audio CD)

Jorma and Jack really give their all here on their 1976 effort 'Hoppkorv,' released on Grunt Records. This album is a classic, featuring great acoustic songs and great electric songs. Let me start by saying this: If you have never listened to 'Hoppkorv,' you are missing out. THIS is Hot Tuna at their finest.

The electric stuff is superb. 'Santa Claus Retreat' is a great heavy metal track, because it does qualify under this genre. Great guitar work from Jorma, and an excellent composition. Jack's bass is pretty great too. What a way to kick off an album!

'I Wish You Would' was the first Tuna song I ever heard, a nice little electric blues number. Drummer Bob Steeler provides some excellent fills and rhythm, and Jorma's playing makes this a worthwhile track, definitely one of my favorites. If you want some headbanging blues, check out 'Bowlegged Woman, Knock Kneed Man,' which would impress any Black Sabbath and/or Muddy Waters fan.

Speaking of Muddy Waters, Jorma, Jack and Bob cover him here on 'I Can't Be Satisfied.' The keyboard playing, done by Nick Buck here, is pretty good, with some great electric guitar soloing by Jorma.

'It's So Easy' is a great Buddy Holly cover, with some mighty fine guitar playing (as always!) by Jorma. The group definitely does justice to the late great Buddy here.

'Song from the Stainless Cymbal' is a great little electric folk song written by Jorma. He plays excellently here, of course, and this is one of Tuna's more jam-oriented songs.

That pretty much summarizes the electric stuff.

The acoustic? Well, there's one in particular. 'Watch The North Wind Rise' is an excellent acoustic number that would have sounded great on the 1970 Hot Tuna self-titled debut album, if it had been written then. Jorma's songwriting reaches an all-time high point here. It is a truly beautiful song. A folk rocker, but still, an awesome song indeed.

Overall, I can recommend 'Hoppkorv' to just about anybody who likes great music. 'Hoppkorv' shows what Hot Tuna can really do, and it's a shame that this was their last studio effort until 1990, when the mediocre 'Pair a Dice Found' was released.

This is highly recommended. One of Tuna's finest, without a doubt. Definitely one of my favorite Tuna releases.

ENJOY!!!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's so easy, pick up the CD and enjoy!, June 7, 2007

By 

Craig Fenton "Craig The Airplane Man" (Airplaneville, New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hoppkorv (Audio CD)

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's.

The third and final in Jorma's "Metal Years" series "Hoppkorv" (Joining "America's Choice" and "Yellow "Fever") would turn out to be the last studio record for Tuna before the break-up.

Joining Jorma and Jack for the festivities would be once again Bob Steeler on drums and Nick Buck (This time found throughout the album).

Those that found fault with the shorter songs didn't listen to the content only looked at their stop watch.

"Santa Claus Retreat" is a underrated opening track. The pure Tuna rock sound proudly represented.

"Watch The North Wind Rise" would turn out to be one for Jorma's time capsule. The words and melody are on display for all to experience.

"It's So Easy" is a short homage to Buddy Holly. There is a sense of old time rock mixed with the Tuna Sound.

"Bowlegged Woman, Knock Kneed Man" mixes a funky Jorma and Jack sound with in your face Tuna rock and roll.

"Drivin' Around" is Nick Buck's contribution to the recording. Nick certainly got into the Jorma zone offering the band a perfect tune for the album.

"I Wish You Would" is a cover of the Billy Boy Arnold song. The Tuna treatment works very well!

"I Can't Be Satisfied" was tabbed from the great Muddy Waters song catalog. Hot Tuna's version delivers a knockout blow.

"Talking 'Bout You" is indeed the Chuck Berry classic. Hot Tuna puts some extra spicy ingredients in the arrangement for our taste buds.

"Extrication Love Song" is a Jorma original and it continues the solid rock and roll pace.

"Song From The Stainless Cymbal" isn't only the closing track on the last chapter of the golden Hot Tuna period but a magnificent creation by Jorma. His lyrics flow with the ultimate precision. Once again another example of a fabulous Jorma composition that any composer would be proud to call their own.

I had the honor of attending the final live Hot Tuna concert before they disbanded and nobody at the time walking out of the Palladium in New York City imagined that the "Metal Years" and the band would not be driving around again.

Thank you Hot Tuna for the amazing sounds and memories through 1977!
Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 1st, 2nd, now the 3rd, December 4, 2007

By 

ol'guy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hoppkorv (Audio CD)

"Hoppkorv" represents the third album of a paticular sound-phase for Hot Tuna along with "America's Choice" and "Yellow Fever". Not to say it's just more of same, far from it, but Hot Tuna will quickly switch back and forth from an acoustic-one-minute to heavy/electric the next. Both are great. It's just going to depend on which fan you talk to as to which is the more preferred. MY favorite is "America's Choice" but I cannot qualify that at all except to say it just seems to hit me just a little bit more than the others do. Bottom-line: I like this album....a lot!