John Lee Hooker - Mr. Lucky

Released in 1991 on Pointblank/Virgin, this audiophile treat finds the 'Hook in some very special company. Co-producers Roy Rogers, Ry Cooder and Carlos Santana (who all contribute musically on this title as well) persuaded the likes of Albert Collins, Robert Cray, John Hammond, Johnnie Johnson, Van Morrison, Keith Richards, Nick Lowe and Johnny Winter among others to join in and the result is one terrific record. This original analog recording is beautifully recorded and a highlight to the ump-teenth rejuvenation in the 'Hooks career. Album Description

This is hip, pretty baby...messed around and fell in love

First, I'm grateful that John Lee spent the final years of his life sharing his music with the world. I'm not even going to get into an argument about whether this is "pure" JLH in light of the guest musicians. I challenge anyone to listen to "This Is Hip," featuring Ry Cooder, and find fault. The same holds true for "Crawlin' Kingsnake," with Keith Richards and Canned Heat's Larry Taylor. When this album came out in 1991 it was a very welcome blast of John Lee, who STILL didn't care what they allowed...he boogied anyhow. He was still full of attitude and rocked harder than most musicians half his age. December 25, 2007

John Lee at the top

This great 1991 recording captures JLH with a galaxy stars in the Winter of his career. You might think this would be a recipe for an awful album -you'd be wrong.

From the first notes you know this is going to great. Johnnie Johnson's Piano (Chuck Berry's long time Piano Player) introduces us to "I Want To Hug You" and then that voice comes in. This is no messin' straightahead boogie. The title track follows with the Robery Cray band supporting JLH. This is my favourite track. Great guitar playing from Robert Cray with JLH refusing to be quiet in the background!

There are no duff tracks on this album, and if you like the blues there will be something for you. Oh this bliss.... September 22, 2007

Mr. Lucky, my review from Barcelona

If you are going to give an opinion about a John Lee Hooker's record, you must have present that your talking about one of the most important bluesmen of all times and this is not easy. Hooker has a very extensive discography. In my opinion he has records on several levels, but most of them are on a high level. This 'Mr. Lucky' is really good and even more if you take into account the contributions of his companions (Johnnie Johnson, Robert Cray, Albert Collins, Van Morrison, John Hammond, Carlos Santana, Johnny Winter, Keith Richards). All the songs are good, although I am partial to "I want to hug you" with Johnnie Johnson playing piano, "Mr. Lucky", "Backstabbers", "Stripped me naked", with Robert Cray, the impressive Albert Collins and Carlos Santana starting a row with their guitars (and in the case of Cray also with his extraordinary voice), "Susie" with an electrifying Johnny Winter's guitar solo, and closing this good LP "Father was a jockey" with the magnificent Jonh Hammond on guitar and harmonica. As a whole, a great disk. I recommend and I give it 4 stars.
July 29, 2007

Disappointing followup to The Healer

John Lee Hooker provided some very basic but important music in his time. The Healer was a landmark album bringing John back to the fore with some good cuts which made up for his musical deficiencies. This album attempts to go down the same road but in general fails to achieve the same heights. The best tracks are 'Stripped me naked' with Carlos Santana and 'This is hip' with Ry Cooder. I prefer the original JLH cuts of the track on the album. March 13, 2003

If you must have everything

Hooker's second album on the Pointblank label is a guest-heavy homage that doesn't have a great deal to do with John Lee Hooker as an artist and only occasionally plays to his strengths. Some cuts, such as the opening "I Want to Hug You" are just plain odd in their selection. This album is for the completist; sporadically enjoyable but unnecessary. The title cut is much better in its original version on "Urban Blues" (a somewhat chaotic but quite good album from the late '60s), while "Backstabbers" (actually "Backbiters and Syndicators", another remake from the same album) meanders too. The later cuts are better and, as usual, the fewer musicians playing with Hooker the less his sound gets mucked up. "Highway 13", "Father Was a Jockey" and yet another remake of "Crawlin' Kingsnake" are all quite nice. One wishes Hooker's late '80s and '90s producers more often had had the sense to leave him by himself or with minimal accompaniment. So, like all of Hooker's work on Pointblank, this is less about making a good album than honoring a lifetime of work. Still and all, worth having. His June 21st passing is greatly mourned. July 11, 2001

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