Album Review - John Lee Hooker – ‘Hooker’

By Patrick Luce Nov 11, 2006, 18:10 GMT

When John Lee Hooker died in 2001, the world lost one of the greatest bluesmen that we will ever know. Without doubt, John Lee Hooker was the master of blues rock mixed with a bit of “boogie,” and now ‘Hooker’ is the definitive collection of his work.

The four-disc set spans close to 50 years and covers Hooker’s work on 30 labels. It includes early Hooker recordings from 1948’s “Boogie Chillen’” to a new version of the same song recorded in 1998 with Eric Clapton.

‘Hooker’ is simply a must own for fans of blues music or of the legendary guitar player.
The collection was compiled by Shawn Amos and Patrick Milligan with help from Zakiya Hooker, Executor-Trustee and Eugene Skuratowicz, Estate Manager of the John Lee Hooker Estate.

In addition to four disc of great music, the box set also includes a great 57-page liner notes book – which also features plenty of pictures of Hooker taken throughout his musical career. The notes were written by music journalist Ted Drozdowski, and will provide both fans and new listeners a detailed history of Hooker’s life in Mississippi, his career, and his many achievements and accolades until his death in 2001.

Born in 1917 to Mississippi sharecroppers, John Lee Hooker began his career in Memphis before moving to Detroit. His early music can be described using the words of his hit single “Boogie Chillen,” and his sound continued to develop throughout his career. He became legendary with a series of albums in the 60’s and 70’s and iconic with the release of 1989’s ‘The Healer’ – which saw the master team up with a number of great musicians including Carlos Santana and Bonnie Raitt. The album also earned him a Grammy and brought him to the attention of a new generation of fans.

The four-disc collection includes 26 tracks on Disc One - including the original “Boogie Chillen’,” “Let Your Daddy Ride,” and “Stuttering Blues”;   25 tracks on Disc Two – including “Dimples,” “Whiskey and Wimmen,” and “Big Legs Tight Skirt”; 17 tracks on Disc Three – including “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” “I’m Bad Like Jesse James,” and “Bluebird”; and 17 tracks on Disc Four – including “The Healer,” “Same Old Blues Again,” and “Boom Boom.”

Out of the complete set, Disc Four was my favorite and features Hooker joined by a number of artists - including Van Morrison, Santana, Raitt, Clapton, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray and Los Lobos.

Even if you aren’t familiar with John Lee Hooker’s work and are simply a fan of music, this set is a good buy. If you are a fan of Hooker or the blues, you simply must own this collection. Much like Hooker’s music, this collection leaves all other "greatest hits" or "blues compilations" in the dust. In every note, Hooker’s genius shines, and there is not a disappointing moment on any of the four disc. I HIGHLY recommend this collection.

'Hooker' is now available at Amazon. Visit the music database for more information and a complete track listing.