Music

Music - Hooker

There's perfect symmetry in the way this four-disc anthology opens with a raw, solo acoustic 1948 rendition of John Lee Hooker's signature tune, "Boogie Chillen'," and then closes a half-century later with Eric Clapton teaming with Hooker on the same tune. Though the Mississippi bluesman who relocated to Detroit has been justly celebrated for his spellbinding repetitions and primal incantations, this comprehensive set shows just how much more range and depth there was to Hooker's music than basic boogie. Beyond the influential hits--"Dimples," "Boom Boom," and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" among them--the set shows his music touching on everything from religion ("Moses Smote the Water," "We're All God's Chillen") to sociopolitical commentary ("Democrat Man," "King of the World"). Even so, sensual pleasure remained his prime inspiration, and few bluesmen have made sex and liquor sound as sexy and intoxicating as Hooker did. Included are selections from his career revivals spurred by disciples (1970's teaming with Canned Heat, 1989's Grammy-winning collaborations with Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, and others), but the most powerful Hooker is the earlier stuff that cuts closest to the bone. It may be surprising that it has taken Hooker this long to be memorialized with a comprehensive box set, but when you consider how many labels he recorded for (almost all of which he outlived) and under how many different names (Texas Slim, Johnny Williams, et al.), it’s quite an achievement that this set even exists. --Don McLeese

Album information

Release Date (USA):	2006-10-31
Release Date (UK):
Artist/s:	John Lee Hooker
Label:	Shout Factory

Track Listing

1	Boogie Chillen’
2	Sally Mae
3	Black Man Blues – Texas Slim
4	Hobo Blues
5	Hoogie Boogie
6	Weeping Willow Boogie
7	Crawlin’ King Snake
8	Driftin’ From Door To Door
9	Catfish Blues
10	Moses Smote The Water
11	Huckle Up Baby
12	Wandering Blues – Texas Slim
13	Don’t You Remember Me – Texas Slim
14	Notoriety Woman
15	Let Your Daddy Ride
16	John L’s House Rent Boogie
17	Bumble Bee Blues – Johnny Williams
18	Leave My Wife Alone – John Lee Booker
19	Just Me And My Telephone
20	I’m In The Mood
21	Blues For Big Town
22	Stuttering Blues – John Lee Booker
23	Down Child
24	Boogie Rambler
25	Baby You Ain’t No Good
26	I’m Ready
27	Dimples
28	Every Night
29	I’m So Excited
30	I Love You Honey
31	Tupelo Blues
32	I Need Some Money
33	Democrat Man
34	No More Doggin’
35	Gonna Use My Rod
36	Whiskey And Wimmen
37	No Shoes
38	We’re All God’s Chillun
39	I’m Goin’ Upstairs
40	Teachin’ The Blues
41	You Lost A Good Man
42	Don’t Turn Me From Your Door
43	When My First Wife Quit Me
44	Boom Boom
45	She’s Mine
46	Frisco Blues
47	Birmingham Blues
48	Big Legs Tight Skirt
49	It Serves Me Right To Suffer
50	I’m Losin’ You
51	I Cover The Waterfront
52	One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
53	Let’s Go Out Tonight
54	Bottle Up And Go
55	Let’s Make It (Live)
56	King Of The World (Live)
57	I’m Bad Like Jesse James (Live)
58	Think Twice Before You Go
59	Mean Mean Woman
60	Burning Hell - John Lee Hooker & Canned Heat
61	Peavine - John Lee Hooker & Canned Heat
62	I Got My Eyes On You - John Lee Hooker & Canned Heat
63	Doin’ The Shout
64	Bluebird
65	Early One Morning
66	We’ll Meet Again
67	Loving People
68	Baby Lee - John Lee Hooker & Robert Cray
69	I’m In The Mood - John Lee Hooker & Bonnie Raitt
70	The Healer - John Lee Hooker & Carlos Santana
71	Mr. Lucky - John Lee Hooker & Robert Cray
72	I Cover The Waterfront - John Lee Hooker & Van Morrison
73	This Is Hip - John Lee Hooker & Ry Cooder
74	Bottle Up And Go - John Lee Hooker & John Hammond
75	Same Old Blues Again - John Lee Hooker & Robert Cray
76	Boom Boom - John Lee Hooker & Jimmie Vaughan
77	Chill Out (Things Gonna Change) - John Lee Hooker & Carlos Santana
78	Tupelo
79	Kiddio - John Lee Hooker & Charles Brown
80	Dimples - John Lee Hooker & Los Lobos

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