John Lee Hooker - John Lee Hooker: Face to Face

Yes, it is John Lee Hooker.......

This is a mixed bag of styles, but all of it is good. Every song is great on it's own terms. For those that like the "Vee-Jay" sound there are re-worked versions of "Dimples", "Mad Man Blues", "Wednesday Evening Blues" and "Boogie Chillen". I especially like "Wednesday Evening Blues" - if one did not know any better you would swear this one was recorded in the 50's! Most of the rest of the album has John Lee doing some very funky stuff with real soul - "Funky Mabel" is great! And yes, there are also one or two somewhat sugar-coated songs that initially seem out of character for John Lee, yet he still pulls them off with style. However, overall this is a very solid Hooker CD and one I have been returning to more often than I expected. I like this album MUCH better than "The Healer" album which is just too much guest star and not enough John Lee. "Face to Face vol. 1" is John Lee Hooker through and through from beginning to end; the guest stars are hardly ever noticed. You really should sample this CD, it is far better than you might think. May 25, 2008

Not John Lee Hooker

Well, of course it is John Lee Hooker, but these slick, mushy recordings are very, very far from Hooker's gritty 40s, 50s and 60s waxings, and songs like the saccahrine, string-laden "Six-Page Letter" are even wussier than the worst of his late 80s/early 90s guest star recordings. Hooker obviously didn't have a chance to listen to the final mixes.
Whatever you do, make sure you listen to this album before buying it! October 12, 2004

Amazing!

This is one of the most beautiful collections of John Lee's works. As a former employee of the Man himself, it is great to hear some recordings that were never released. "Six Page Letter" is breathtakingly beautiful, and "Funky Mabel" is as soulful as it is funky. "Dimples" is a real treasure. The CD has great sound quality and is now among my favorites.

I'm sure John Lee would have been thrilled to hear this delightful CD! December 23, 2003

A real treat

I'm more a jazz lover than a blues lover, but this album was a gem. I especially liked "6 page letter." November 14, 2003

Risen From The Grave

Mr. Hooker certainly isn't the only artist to release "new" music after his death. But his new CD sure-enough is better than almost anyone else who has. Rather than a plodding, macabre effort to cash in one more time (you know the ones I'm talking about), this CD is as vibrant as, well, life!

Following Mr. Hooker's recent success formula once again, a stellar cast contributes. And oh, mama, what a lineup: Van Morrison, Elvin Bishop, Jack Cassidy, Johnny Winter, Warren Hayes, Dickie Betts and George Thoroughgood. With these backing musicians, even I could sound passable. But behind Mr. Lucky you can imagine the great results. Serious performers only, if you please.

My personal favorite track is "Dimples" featuring a duet with Van The Man and Elvin Bishop on second lead guitar. But that choice might just change on repeated listens. There ain't a dog amongst the 15 tunes here, and how often can you say that about a CD anymore, even on so-called "Greatest Hits" packages? October 31, 2003

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