John Lee Hooker - The Very Best of John Lee Hooker

A million or so collections, all from different record labels, document this Detroit blues guitarist's influential boogie-woogie career. This 16-song Rhino CD is an excellent starting point, with definitive versions of Hooker's classics "Boom Boom," "Boogie Chillen'," "I'm in the Mood," and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer." It's interesting to hear the singer's voice progress from a deep, growling slur to the more polished later material, such as his collaboration with slide guitarist Roy Rogers on Robert Johnson's "Terraplane Blues," but he never lost his bottom-line rawness. --Steve Knopper Amazon.com essential recording

A Legendary and Prolific Bluesman!

Some of John Lee Hooker's best known songs are compiled from his many years and albums onto this budget CD, with not one being one you will skip over. From "Boogie Chillen'" to "Boom, Boom," they are all here. Even the songs which made others famous, such as "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer."

"I'm Bad Like Jesse James" is a favorite of mine, with this particular song showing his inimitable rambling style so strikingly, a style which over the years can be found less and less.

It should be noted that the version of "I'm in the mood" on this album is different than the Chess side he recorded with the Chess brothers (I actually prefer the more polished Chess side). But regardless, each song is representative of a different time in his life, as this legendary bluesman recorded over 100 albums during his lifetime, one of the most prolific bluesmen in history.

A must own for any lover of the blues.
February 27, 2008

The Very Best

It was my first purchase of an album by John Lee Hooker and I was not disappointed, a great choice. I would definitely recommend it. May 9, 2007

Great blues by a legendary blues singer

This is indeed "The very best" of John Lee Hooker. It captures music from different times in his career, from his first "hit," "Boogie Chillen'" to "Boom Boom" to "I'm Bad Like Jesse James" to "Terraplane Blues."

I'll mention just a few to illustrate. "Boogie Chillen'" is noted as his first hit (1949). The guitar playing is extremely simple--but almost hypnotic in its effect. The simple riff is described by Hooker as "just an old funky lick I found." One theme is how boogie woogie is just trying to get out of him!

"Boom Boom" features a good ensemble playing well together. This song became visible after the Animals covered it and reached a wider audience. A nice set of lines well sung:

"She walked that walk and talked that talk;
And whispered in my ear,
And tell me that you love me.
I love that talk
When you talk like that."

His distinctive voice well serves this song.

"I'm Bad like Jesse James" begins with the central tag line for the song: "I'm mad, I'm bad like Jesse James." This is a story-telling song, telling what the singer is planning for someone who fooled around with his wife. And he gets mad (like Jesse James). He describes three guys he knows who will take care of the bad guy. He goes through a few scenarios, warning off the cad. Pretty graphic! The rhythmic drum playing works well, accenting the development of the story. This is classic John Lee Hooker.

This is a nice introduction to the work of one of the legendary blues singers. Those interested in learning more about the blues would be well advised to consider this CD.
April 5, 2007

Not my cup of tea

Old songs from a young J.L.Hooker. I never listen to this CD. Glad I bought it on sale. The CD has some decent guitar, but I don't like the chosen songs.

Not a favorite of mine. January 27, 2007

Boogie King

John Lee Hooker, "king of the boogie," is one of the most influential guitarists to ever record. He is also one of the most unique, as his rhythmic and dynamic senses are more free than what one may be accustomed to... he also changes chords rarely, if ever, in some songs. Now i myself have complained about 3 chord bands... this is different, this man hypnotizes you with his awesome, entrancing riffs and licks. This collection is probably the finest one disc compilation of this master's work and belongs in any music lover's collection. If you think that all blue sounds the same and all is 12 bars etc etc (any blues aficionado knows much better than to pay any heed to these ridiculously ill-informed stereotypes), John Lee Hooker is a good place to see that the blues is one of the forms most open for free expression and experimentation. October 4, 2006

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