This rare 1960 Riverside blues date finds John Lee Hooker both in a trio setting with jazz musicians Sam Jones (bass) and Louis Hayes (drums) who were Cannonball Adderley’s rhythm section at the time and unaccompanied on a few numbers as well. A departure from his R&B Vee-Jay output, That’s My Story features more of a stripped down, acoustic country-blues sound courtesy of producer Orrin Keepnews. The compelling 12-song set boasts all Hooker originals and is highlighted by the warning shot of “Gonna Use My Rod,” the gospel-tinged “One of These Days” and the stirring solo cuts “That’s My Story” and “Democrat Man.”
