At long last one of my CD “wants” has finally been released – Good Times a’ Comin’, the second album from Hookfoot.  Beginning as the backing band in the studio for Elton John, up through and including Tumbleweed Connection, they ventured out on their own and created at least two amazing studio albums out of the four released (and a later live recording), those being the self-titled first and the above, my favourite of the four.  Led by Caleb Quaye, a superb multi-instrumentalist (guitar, keys, bass and lead vocals) and Ian Duck (guitars, harp and lead vocals) with Dave Glover on bass and Roger Pope on drums, the quartet all contributed to the compositions, though Quaye and Duck are the main writers for this recording.  Caleb Quaye’s guitar work, a lot of it through Leslie (remember those days?), is absolutely wonderful.  Fluid, edgy, speed-riffed and then subtle, he dominates the solos and floats between many styles.  And here is the cool thing about Hookfoot – they borrowed from a number of different artists of their era and blended great songs with memorable hooks and on top of those blended vocal harmonies.  I hear early Neil Young, Grin, Eagles (the rockier side as opposed to country), definitely Home, early Elton John (no surprise there) and even some Wishbone Ash (their shorter songs).  With interesting lyrics, you are immediately drawn into the song structures and then blown away by the musicianship.  So Hookfoot sounds comfortably familiar, even if you haven’t heard them before.  And yet, once you are immersed in this album, you realize that though they have adopted styles well, their songs are unique and just as enjoyable as any of the above-named artists. 

The album opens with “Sweet Sweet Funky Music”, a fast rocker that gets your toes tapping.  It is fun and gets your attention, and is very typical of the day with the Hookfoot flavour.  After that, the next nine songs all play out with originality and with great storytelling.  “Living in the City”, “If I Had the Words”, “Gunner Webb’s Changes” and “The Painter”, comprising the rest of original side one, move from ballads, rock, and electrified folk with solos from Quaye that will make you drool.  Duck and Quaye harmonize beautifully together, and their voices have a Crosby/Nash way that adds extra layers to the material.  More of the same follows the next five tracks , which includes a little blues number, “Slick’s Blues for Jumbo” that features Quaye on acoustic guitar and Duck on harp.  And it is followed by my personal favourite track, “Look to Your Churches”, a commentary on the state of the poor compared to the wealth within religious organizations.  As I mentioned, a lot of meaty lyrics ride along beneath great melodies.
As a bonus track, the band covers “Gimme Shelter”.  Now, I personally feel this is one of the greatest rock songs ever made, and it would be hard to even come close in my view to Merry Clayton and the Stones’ rendition.  However, the boys give it a noble try, turning it into a straight-ahead rocker that is at least acceptable to these ears.

As far as I know, this album and the other three Hookfoot studio recordings are only available now as card cover replicas in Japan (the first album came out in France a few years back, but I am not sure if it is deleted).  The gatefold replica, including the original LP grainy texture, is perfectly done.  The CD mastering engineer, Yoshiro Kuzumaki, has done an excellent job of remastering.  There is absolutely no hiss, the sound is even, the bass is punchy when called for, and the stereo separation is as it should be.  I am not in the camp of “all remaster card covers from Japan are superior”; in fact, I would say it has been hit and miss for me over the years.  But in this case, I think this reissue works and I can recommend it.  Besides, if you have been waiting for as long as I have for this release, you really have to take it when you can get it.  I generally use CD Japan (direct link to album), an excellent mail order house with a site in English that offers different shipping options and bonus Yen points that help with the higher costs.  Explore their site for all kinds of reissues and SACD discs often not available anywhere else.