The title track "Cold As Ice" is not a song for the faint-hearted woman in the listening audience. The reference "Cold As Ice" is a reference to a woman who can only be described as a modern day Jezebel. Rather than using hard-hitting lyrics that leave you wondering if the man thinks all women are evil Hooker he uses parody and humor to take a light-hearted approach to examining a toxic relationship. I am sure before long women in the audience at Hooker concerts will be singing 'He was cold as ice' and I suspect that would put a smile on the Blues man's face."

Hooker perks up when I asked him who came up with the idea for the cover of Cold As Ice. "I did." He is dressed completely in white, a suit, fedora, shoes, shirt, tie and boutonnière. He is standing on an iceberg or glacier and other than his name all that appears on the front cover is the title Cold As Ice in a pale blue and white font. Not only does the image aptly communicate the name of the title track but it sends a not so subtle message that this man is cool.  The CD cover is the best that I have seen in years.

"When you say something is hot you want to get in the desert or have some fire behind you," Hooker says laughing. "If one listens to the lyrics (Cold As Ice) the girl was cold. If that is your title track then of course you want to put emphasis on what you are singing about. I have to represent something about the track. You know what I'm saying? This here woman was cold and deceptive," he says.

Songs such as "Four Hours Straight" focus heavily on sexual prowess but once again it becomes more of an underlying theme for a discussion about relationships.  I asked Hooker if there is a risk associated with putting out songs so heavily imbued with sexual themes. He replies quickly and strongly, "Just listen to your rap music they are the ones that are raunchy. What I said you will hear on a bus you will hear in a movie theatre or a café. It's the Blues I am not talking about any detailed sexual content. I am not talking about body parts. I'm singing the Blues. Four hours straight is just a boast of one's sexuality. It's as simple as that. He makes muscles about his sexuality. It's not rated x. I'm not using (curse words) because I don't curse. That's my answer."

"I Got To Be Me" is symbolic of the career path that Hooker has taken. Early in his career he was expected to follow in his famous father's footsteps. During hiatus people probably whispered about the wasted talent and since his comeback too often others have inferred the influence of his father upon his career.

"He (Hooker Sr.) was so tall in stature and cast a giant shadow. If I was out there trying to fill his shoes I would fall flat on my face. I mean this was the great John Lee Hooker. I am nowhere near him. I'm not even trying to be. I am out here being me. That is the point of this whole thing is to be me not anybody else. Like the song says, "I Got To Be Me". Blues fans everywhere should be glad he is.

September 2006

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